PROFESSOR JAMES W. CRABTREE
A Sketch Prepared by a Prominent Educator
THE candidacy of J. W. Crabtree for the office of State Su
perintendent of Public instruction is one that commends
itself in the highest degree to the rank and file of both
school men and school patrons interested in the progress of the
schools of the state. Among the teachers of the state there is
perhaps no other man so well and favorably known. During
the seven years that Mr. Crabtree was inspector of the schools
for the University of Nebraska he had the opportunity of com
ing into the closest touch, not only with the faculty of the
State University and all the many high schools of the state,
but also with the faculties of all the other colleges and normal
schools. This splendid spportunity for discovering the condi
tions and needs of all
the various public ed
ucational institutions
of our state, Mr. Crab
tree made wise use of,
it seeming ever to be
his purpose not only to
know personally the
men and women who
were carrying on the
work of the schools,
but to seek ways to
help them to increase
their efficiency and to
make their schools
stronger. There are
many teachers and su
perintendents in all
parts of the state who
feel that much of their
success is due to his
kindly interest and
wise counsel at critical
times in their careers.
Mr. Crabtree is a
man of strong person
ality a personality
that inspires the best
efforts of those who
work under his direc
tion. He has a broad
way of looking at all
things, a keen percept
tion and sympathetic
understanding of the
' difficulties under which
teachers and superin
dents are working.
Mr. Crabtree is to a
large extent and in the
very best sense of the
word self-made, his
parents having come
to Nebraska in early
days without means
and his early education
having been obtained
by alternately working
by the month on the
farms in Nebraska
and attending country
school until he entered
the: State Normal, of
which institution he is a graduate. While carrying on his work
at the State Normal, he spent some time teaching country
schools to help pay the expenses of his education. At -other
times he chopped wood and did chores for the professors, and
during summer worked as a farm hand. This is the way of
getting an education that develops the best quality of man
hood develops men ready and capable for sevice to the world.
The excellence of Mr. Crabtree 's work as a country teach
er attracted the attention of "the school board of Ashland who
offered him a position in the Ashland high school. After one
year in that position he was advanced to the superiritendency
where his work was so successful that that period is looked
back upon at Ashland as an epoch in its school history.
From Ashland he went to the State University as instructor
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in mathematics, then into the principalship of the Beatrice
high school, making an epoch for; another school from which
position however he was soon recalled by the University and
made inspector of high schools. The system of inspection or
ganized by him formed the basis for the work of inspection in
the states since taking up that work. After an experience of
seven years in that position he was elected to the presidency of
the State Normal School at Peru, si position he held for six years
and would still hold had he not been too big and broad a man
to let petty, narrow partisanship dictate to him in the manage
ment of the institution under his charge.
Mr. Crabtree, while a republican in politics, believes, and
has testified to that be
lief by the sacrifice of
a position, that the
educational institutions
of our State both great
and small should be
run not in the interest
of individuals or of
narrow partisanship,
but in the interests
solely of educational
welfare of the youth
of this great state.
He is a friend of the
laboring man and his
family. He believes
that the child of the
laborer is just as good
as the child of his em
ployer and entitled to
equal advantages with
it. He accords to the,
men who work in the
mills and shops the
same right to organize
to protect and promote
their interests that he
accords to men who
work in offices as
managers or as mem
bers of a profession to
further the interests
which they represent.
Above all he is a gen
uine friend of youth
and has consecrated
his life to a service in -
behalf of boys,, and
girls. ( ' -v
-()-The
above unsolicit
ed letter was written
by ,one of Nebraska's
successful educators ;'a
man who has himself
felt the inspiration and
profited by the exam
ple of Prof. Crabtree.
There are hundreds of
other successful teach
whe have written in
similar terms of Prof.
Crabtree' s work: All
over Nebraska the prominent teachers are working for and
hoping for the election of this capable man. Practically all of
Prof. Crabtree 's life has been spent in Nebraska, and his
many years of school work in the state---every year a success
ful year has put him into closer touch with the great school
system and made him familiar with its needs. This familiarity,
coupled with his ability as an organizer, educator and discipli
narian, makes him the ideal man for Superintendent of public
instruction. Prof. Crabtree's candidacy is due to a demand
coming from taxpayers, teachers, graduates of the state's
educational institutions and business men generally. In his
election those most interested in education see the school sys
tem put in charge of the best possible chief.
Put an "X" after the name of James W. Crabtree.
