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and from the high school of that place. three years later. He then spent some time as a student in Westfield College, Westfield, Illinois.

Left by the death of his father to his own resources he then spent six years -1897-1903-as a teacher in the country schools of Clay county, Indiana. In the latter year, he was chosen as superintendent of the Carbon schools, Carbon, Indiana. He continued his work there as head of the Carbon schools for three years. He now begun to feel the need of a larger preparation. Having attended the Indiana. State Normal during vacations, he entered and finished his work in that institution, graduating in June, 1907. He was assistant in Mathematics during the spring term before he graduated. In 1907, he was chosen principal of the Hulman School in Terre Haute, Indiana, and served in that capacity for three years.

His work in the Hulman School was marked by such earnestness and thoroughness that it secured for him not only the good will of his pupils but the hearty support and commendation of teachers, patrons and officials.

Having made use of his vacations to further prepare himself for his life work in Chicago University, he graduated from that institution in 1910. In the fall of that year, Superintendent J. H. Tomlin was called to Evansville, Indiana, from Terre Haute. Superintendent Tomlin found Evansville in need of a principal for the Baker school. On his recommendation Mr. Oberholtzer was elected to the place. He filled the position with entire satisfaction for the past year. The

Courier said of him: "Patrons, teachers and pupils of the Baker school

are sorry indeed to lose the services of so able an educator as Mr. Oberholtzer while they are pleased at his success in gaining a position which he is so well qualified to fill."

Not yet satisfied with his preparation, Mr. Oberholtzer is seeking a Master's Degree in Chicago University and is spending his summer there. Surely the professional world cannot ask more of a man. Mr. Oberholtzer has certainly paid the price and we hope will receive his reward.

Clinton on losing its Superintendent, Orville C. Pratt, to Wabash, Indiana, sought for a worthy successor to that educator. Out of a list of half hundred applicants Mr. Oberholtzer was finally chosen to succeed Superintendent Pratt. Not only must Mr. Oberholtzer maintain the high standing of the Clinton schools, but he must be able to solve the problems of adjustment. that arise in a growing city like Clin

ton.

His large experience in country. schools; in mining districts like Carbon, Indiana, his four years of experience in two of the large city systems of the state, certainly qualify him above the average to successfully head the Clinton schools.

His large preparation is evidenced. by his sixty months, eight years and life state licenses.

The School Board of Clinton has shown its good judgment in making this selection.

Professor Oberholtzer is at the threshold of life. He possesses the maximum or preparation and experi

ence.

He is a husband and father; has a strong personality; makes friends readily; has the true democratic spirit;

his personal life is clean and pure. He is such a man in thought and in action. as patrons of schools should demand as leaders. The citizens of Clinton and especially the patrons of the schools are to be congratulated in the selection of Professor Edison E. Oberholtzer as head of their schools.

T. J. M.

Prof. J. S. Johnson.

The recent election of a new Superintendent of the Shoals schools is another illustration of what can be accomplished when there is a determination to overcome obstacles. We refer to Prof. J. S. Johnson, who was born and reared in Pike county. His parents were poor, and his mother died when he was a mere lad. A fight for an education against poverty then began. He completed all the common branches and all the subjects that were

included in the high school which he attended. He received the highest grade as a graduate from the common schools. He began teaching at the age of 17 in the district schools. He taught four years and attended the Oakland City College during during the Spring and Summer Sessions.

Mr. Johnson was next elected Assistant Principal of the Petersburg high school, where he remained for two years. He next accepted the Principalship of the Columbia Township school in which Oakland City is located. His next promotion was his election as Superintendent of the Richland city schools, which position he held for four years. When he took charge of same there were 140 pupils and five teachers, but when he closed his work there were 300 pupils and nine teachers.

Mr. Johnson resigned to enter Indiana University. He received his A. B. in June, and since then he has been doing postgraduate work there. He is now 32 years old, and we predict for him a bright professional future.

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Prof. John P. King, the new Superintendent of Schools at Union City, was born and reared in Wabash county where he taught for several years in the district schools. In 1903 he received his A. B. from the Department of Philosophy in Indiana University, and in June this year he received his A. M. Although his major was in philosophy his thesis was on "The Distribution of Grades in Indiana University-a Comparative Study." This study attracted the attention of the members of the faculty, and at a meeting Dr. William Lowe

Bryan expressed the opinion that the thesis should be printed and distributed among the members of the faculty. Mr. King was then asked to continue his comparative study the ensuing year, and at a fair salary; but he preferred to accept the Superintendency of the Union City schools. He was formerly Principal of the Van Buren high school, and at a later date he accepted the Superintendency of the Cloverport schools in Kentucky, and next the Superintendency of the Marion schools in that state.

Mr. King writes as follows: "I was a subscriber for the Indiana School Journal twenty-five years ago and received a great deal of help from it. The present paper seems very greatly improved both in appearance and in contents."

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are fourteen teachers in the high school, and the enrollment is 327. The Principal is Prof. Ira P. Rinker, former Superintendent of Schools at Fowler, Ind. The teacher of History is Miss Laura M. Moore, a graduate of the Indiana State Normal School and of Indiana University. Mr. Gayler closed his work in Indiana in 1902. He was former Principal of the Mills school at Crawfordsville. He next accepted the Superintendency of the Keithsburg schools, where he remained for five years. In 1907 he was elected Superintendent of Schools at Princeton, Ill.

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Self-respecting teachers resent the offer of an insignificant premium to induce them to subscribe. They do not desire to be placed in a class with ignorant men and boys who are induced to chew tobacco by means of premiums.

In a spirit of curiosity we obtained from the "Tobacco Trust" a list of the premiums used to encourage excessive chewing. A few of them are as follows:

For 100 premium tags, a gold filled, silk ribbon watch fob.

For 50 premium tags, a base ball bat. For 25 premium tags, a complexion brush.

For 25 premium tags, a baby bracelet.

For 75 premium tags, a pair of roller skates.

For 225 premium tags, an ostrich plume.

For 50 premium tags, a gravy ladle. For 75 premium tags, a pie knife. For 3500 premium tags, a punch bowl.

For 12 premium tags, a pair of Boston garters.

Just think of an ignorant man making a hog of himself in the excessive chewing of tobacco to secure some of the above-named premiums! How mortified a County Superintendent

must be when he realizes that a few of his teachers do not take an educational journal upon the basis of merit! Careful investigation discloses the fact that the premium takers read but little, consequently they do not take rank with the best teachers in their respective townships. We venture the assertion that there is not a single County Superintendent in Indiana who favors the taking of an educational journal

upon any other basis than that of merit.

Miss Neva Deardorff, who entered the public schools of Hagerstown when six years old, graduated recently from the University of Pennsylvania with the degree of Ph. D. She sailed from Philadelphia to London, where she will do historical research work at the British Museum in the revision of her thesis, "The English Traders of the Baltic in the Sixteenth Century."

To meet the requirement of the faculty in the above-named institution Miss Deardorff will have the thesis published in book form, and as a further requirement a copy will be placed in each of fifty of the highest institutions of learning in the United States.

She graduated from the Richmond High School in June, 1904, at the age of seventeen. She next graduated from the University of Michigan with the degree of B. A. Her ambition is to become a historian.

San Francisco, June 27, 1911.
Mr. J. W. Walker, Bus. Mgr.,
The Educator-Journal,
Indianapolis, Ind.

My Dear Mr. Walker:

On reaching San Francisco I find your letter of June 19th and also a copy of the June number of the Educator-Journal. I wish to thank you for your kindness in this matter, and I wish especially to thank you for your very generous presentation of the interests of the National Education Association in that number. It is one of the best numbers ever issued in our behalf. We are grateful for your generosity.

We deeply regret that you and Mrs.

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