Rayson Smith Is Made Lecturer on Education at Graduate School

President Conant delivered a neat poke at Governor Curley and brought a widely known educator to Harvard yesterday when he appointed Payson Smith, ousted Massachusetts Commissioner of education, as lecturer on Education at the Graduate School of Education.

Dr. Smith will give an introductory course on educational administration during the second half year, beginning in February.

Fired December 19

He was thrown out as commissioner of Education on December 19 as the result of the Teachers' Oath Bill controversy, which Dr. Smith did not favor, after a service to the State extending 19 years.

Dr. Smith was born in Portland, Maine, attended the Westbrook Seminary and Tufts College, where he received his A.M., and then became an instructor in Greek at West brook.

Superintendent of Schools

Later he was principal and superintendent of schools in Canton, Maine, and in Auburn, Maine, From 1907 to 1917 he was Maine State Superintendent of Schools, after which he became Massachusetts State Commissioner of Education, the position now held by James G. Reardon.

In 1928 Dr. Smith declined the appointment of President Coolidge as U. S. Commissioner of Education. He has always been an objector to politics in education, and has led drives against slang and immoral movies. He holds honorary degrees from the University of Maine, Bates College, Bowdoin College, Rhode Island State, and Norwich University.