The School Board believe that they have selected a very strong man for Norwood’s superintendent of schools in electing Mason C. Stone to that position. They also believe that Mr. Stone will make a very worthy and valuable citizen of the town. The selection of Mr. Stone was, as Mr. Sanborn describes it, somewhat of an accident. Mr. Stone dropped in rather- casually to Mr. Sanborn’s office one day and made a lot of inquiries about the schools here and other matters. It transpired in conversation that he had already been looking over the town considerably before calling on any of the School Committee. It was late in the season and there were from three to five men all of whom stood some chance of being selected for the superintendent’s position. Mr. Stone told the board something of his career but didn’t present any letters of recommendation. He gave however what locked like some pretty strong references and Clifford B. Sanborn and George Harding Smith as a subcommittee of the Board examined into them.
One of the references was to Dr. Atkinson, superintendent of schools at Newton and much noted as an educator. Dr. Atkinson talked over several of the men whom the Board had been considering and spoke well of all of them. On the name of Mason C. Stone being mentioned to him he said it was hardly possible that they could secure him. He was a first-class man in every way but was in all probability a much larger man than Norwood would be willing to pay for. He was much surprised to learn that the Board was likely to secure him. Mr. Sanborn and Mr. Smith have since received letters from a number of prominent educators among others Superintendent Edson of the New York City schools. These though businesslike and to the point are all very Battering to Mr. Stone.
Mr. Stone has had, it would seem, a decidedly brilliant record as an educator and has risen from the ranks as a teacher, -where good superintendents start. He was graduated from the University of Vermont in 1882 and had had about the usual experiences in school teaching for a few years until he was made an instructor in the University of Vermont. After that he was called to the superintendentcy of schools in the Easthampton district in Massachusetts. One of the several towns in this district which is the larger one is of about the size of Norwood. Subsequently, Mr. Stone was made state superintendent of the schools of Vermont. He held that important position for about eight years and during that time the State Board of Education of Massachusetts much impressed with certain systems of work he had introduced in the Vermont schools sent a committee to investigate his new system.
They tried to introduce some of his ideas in Massachusetts but the state legislature happened to be in an unusually economical mood and would not consider their bill. While state superintendent in Vermont, Mr. Stone was called to the Philippines by Dr. Atkinson, general superintendent of instruction there. He was superintendent of schools in the province of Negros Occidentaland, later on, in Manila where he received a salary of $3,500.
Mr. Stone has gained fame as a lecturer and been prominent in several educational conventions. He is about 42 years of age and it is believed that he has resolved to come to Norwood and establish a home here with Mrs. Stone because he likes the appearance of the town and because he wishes to take lighter work than he has been accustomed to, in a smaller field than formerly. The School Board believes that a chain of circumstances has led them to hit upon the right man. At least they hope so.
Mr. Stone Resigns.
Just as we are going to press we learn that Mr. Stone has asked at the last minute to be released from his engagement here as he has been offered a position with a large publishing house at a much bigger salary than Norwood could afford to pay. The school board, this afternoon, elected as superintendent, William C. Hobbs of West Newton, who has been supervising principal of West Newton schools and has had a wide experience as superintendent in various Massachusetts towns.
(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)