The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-08-19
PLAYING A PEDAGO0UE.
A Conspiracy In the Jersey city Board Of
Bducation-An Ambitions Yeuns scheei
superinte ndcnt's Wings Clipped.


superintendcnts Wings Clipped.
Since Jersey City has sweled herself into
metropolitan proportions BY the consolidation Of tho
minor Cities nothing until yesterday had occur cd 10
engcuder bad blood between the newy. welded
municipalities. The nght. which eliminated
Ia the disastrous setting back OF the pre-
tensions OF Hudson City, was finished In the Board
OF Education Of the consolidated city last night
K. o. Chapman, q youngster who al one time was
PRINCIPAL OF one OF the public schools OF Hudson
City, was elected last April School Superintendent
OF Jersey City. This ONCE had been hold By pro
nlnent citizen and was regarded S post OF hon
or. No salary was attached to II, ana no attempt
to exercise any immediate control 10 the govern
ment Of the schools bad ever been made by any
previous incumbent. The Superintendent was sr
oDicio Q member Of the Board OF Education, and u
he attended iis meetings and put In an Appearance
at the stated school exntninatons he nod generally
1lcd the bill. The practical duties Of the once
had always been discharged by the Assistant School
Superintendent, saared official:
For many years past Mr.. William L. Dickenson.
an ACCOMPLISHED scholar and q capable executive
inicndent IL fact he has grown gray IN the SER
vice. When Mr.. Chapman qualified for his once he
evidently bee lms inten'ey jealous Of Mr.Dickenson.
The laer been almost perpetualy nrassed by the
now nedged Superintendent with voluminous dircc-
tions school sffsirs. The veteran was assailed
ordinate teachers were frequently :coun termanded.
until at last patience gave out and an appeal was
made to the Board Of Rducation.
List night its members met. Those from the
Hudson City District were bitterly against M Dick
the representatives OF Jersey City, many Of whom
trembled under him when boys nt school.
The signal for action Was the presentation by
Mayor O'Neil who Is On sr-QDfio member. OF
series OF tW elve resolutions. all defining the duties
Of the Assistant Superintendent Among other
schools and conduct examinations In the absence OF
the Superintendent This excited the ire OF the
youthful Chapman, who In supplicsting accents, ap
pcaled to the Board to eSpunCe II. Mr.. Rooney, OF
Hudson City, came TO tie rescue, and necused the
Mayor OF springiug the election OF Mr.. Dekenson
on the Board before ita mem knew each OF ier.
This innucndo was resented by Mr.. O'Neill, when
= downy. faced youth from HUDSON City, neIt step
ped into the arena and urged that poor Chapman
was prosecuted martyr In not being allowed 10 run
the educational machine. He also came to grief.
did also his resolution introduced later In the
ing, to nx the Assistant Superintendent raary at
OF Mr. Diekenson were finally passed Dy % yesa,
I nays.
The decisive vote did not satisfy the ambitious
Chapman, SO he presented . resolution requiring the
Assistant Superintendent to follow implicitly the
directions OF the Superintendent. This was promptly
upt In chsneery, the Board refusing to adopt II by
stil more decisive vote. Salt wrs now applied to Mr..
Chapman's fayed constitution, in the pas sage OF a
resolution m king II MIR. pckensons duty to audit
all money claims submitted to the Board.
Some time ago Mr.. Chapman was voted q salary OF
S2,JO0 per onnum. Not satisfied With this extrnor-
drary dlscr patton In his Iavor he has since
been nosily endeavoring to dsplace u really useful
voted Mr. Dickenson o ssiary the same rs that paid
Mr.. Chairman