Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-07-17


Editors 1T seems the Board has appointed
Mr.. Kissell, for one year from and after the
first day of September next, as Superin-
tendent of the City Schools. and Teacher Of
the intermediate School, at an ANIMAL salary
Of twelve hundred dollars-eiQht hundred
for services in the intermediate school, and
four hundred as City superintendent. This
eight hundred is to be paid out of the
Teachers Fund, of course; but mark the
contract little further. Mr.. Kissell is to
devote three hours per day to said Interme.
diate School. Now, to one not initiated
into certain mysteries. it seems very strange
that the Board should in its wisdom agree to
pay that amount Of money for 90 small q por-
ton of the gentleman's time. Eight hundred
dollars year for teacher employing only
three hours per day. some would think, q
little extravagsnt for these hard times
especially 90, when 1t is not expected that
the Intermediate School will be in session
more than about half the year. or at the
farthest. not exceeding nine months.
Why is not Mr.. Kissell paid by the
month. ~ other teachers are paid, whose
pay stops 80 soon as the school stops? But
no. there must be distinction. And why?
Are Mr.. Kissells services for three hours
per day, equivalent to those of another
teacher who devotes his whole timer
The Board should have discovered by
this time that Mr.. Kissells management is
very unsatisfactory to a large portion of the
people. He has shown the ruling elements
Of his character to be money and elf-glori-
fication. He complains that men do not
appreciate his services. But he may be
assured that his labors in the way of sharp
practice. are duly considered. Look back
little and witness this practice.
After Mr.. Kissell's election 40 County Su-
perintendent. and his salary fixed at one
thousand dollars per annum, by reason of
his far-seeing financial skill, he discovers
that his County Superintending has nothing
to do with the city. and he hastens to in
form the Board that not moment Of his
valuable time will be devoted to the City
Schools. unless they will appoint him City
Superintendent, and fork over cool five
hundred, in addition to his County salary.
as compensation.
There was no law for this, but Mr. Kiasells
services were deemed essential, go he re-
ceives the appointment under the style Of
"City Superintendent and Teacher of the
intermediate School" And the Board were
led to believe they had made good hit. for
it would cost eight or nine hundred dollars
to get another teacher for the intermediate
School alone, whereas this was secured for
five hundred, and the City experimenting
to boot. But what did the sequel show
Why, that his being teacher of the interme-
date school was the veriest moonshine, ex-
isting only on paper and in salary-he pay
ing no attention whatever to said echool.
What next in the way of sharp practice?
The Supreme Court declares the School Law
nconstitutional-the State Board convene
to bring order out of confusion; Mr. Kis-
sells financial tact is brought to bear upon
the Board in the shape Of certain weighty
suggestions; and sure enough, power is
given to towns and cities to appoint their
own Superintendents. All right. Fortune
favors the brave He is now prepared TO
make his application to the City Board ;
having scanned the future well, his course is
taken; and if his whole mind and soul had
been uttered. the sentiment would have
been thus. Gentlemen, 1 am convinced
the people of Scott County will not elect me
again to the Office of County Superintendent
of Schools. Ny services, valuable as you
know they are. cannot be appreciated at oil
bv the people of the rural districts, nor in
deed by large number of the inhabitants
of this city" This last has been source
of great trouble.
"When saw fit to put down that ignora.
niue of the etone school house, who merely
knew how to read-when saw by my
superior power of scanning character, that
he would not willingly yield to all my die
tates. and when considered that there
must be but one head in this matter, and felt
that that head should be mine and that if
this man were allowed to retain his place,
he might get ahead of me. in the estimation
of some at sleaet. You remember how the
people in that region rose up against my
authority, and 90 fierce was the struggle,
that l, hero ~ IS am, was we'll nigh van
quished, and. indeed. would have been
for the time, had not the wheel of fortune
turned in. my favor, by taking out Of your
Board one l could not manage, and filling
the vacancy by one suited to my wanta OF
course this is all attributable to the su-
preme ignorance and stupidity Of the peo-
pie. You are aware (but they are not) that
my services cannot be dispensed with with
out great loss to the school-that there is
no other person 20 competent for the posi-
tion-that without me the standard Of cd
ucation. now rising toward the heavens,
will quickly trail in the dust from whence
Ihave elevatsdit say YOU know this. but
how have you learned it BY your asso.
eiat;oa with me; in the language Of another
-"you have learned Of me-" Ny wisdom
has gnided you every step through this
mighty contest" (sensation-s pause-ths
Board nod sssent-ths speaker then pro-
ceeds.) "Now, gentlemen, II you wish to
secure my services in future. speedy action
must be had. greatly desire the success
Of your schools But you very we'll know
that such services % have to render can
not be had without fair compensation
ia 49, Gs.r ~u3mtAmAAnk