The Leavenworth weekly times., 1879-05-29
MR.. RIDDLE RESIGNS.
Action OF the Board OF Education
Complimentary Resolutions Adopted
What Mr kiddie Means to Do-Hi.
&ucces.ar

NEW YORK, May 2i-At meeting of
the Board Of Education, yesterday after
noon, Superintendent Kiddle resigned h,
position. A number of spectators, mostly
teachers, sat Outside the railing. When
the president announced that communics
tions were in order, Commissioner Wick
ham arose and ssid that he desired to
present a communication from Henry Kid
die, Superintendent of Schools, together
with an accompanying resolution. The
clerk then read the following letter:
10 the Hmord6le the Board of Education:
GENTLEMES: l hereby tender my res
ignation of the office Of City Superintendent,
the same to take effect on the lst day of
September next, or as soon thereafter ss nv
successor may be elected by your Board.
This notice is given thus early in order to
afford The Board ample time and opportu-
nifty TO make arrangements % fiji the pcsi-
tion to be vacated, IS well as TO enable the
undersigned to complete the business
OF the Department for the present term,
so that he may deliver up the office
unimpsred TO his successor. In thus sever
ing my connection with the school system
of this city, in which | have been engaged
as teacher or Superintendent for more than
forty yesrs, deem il proper to cay at pres
ent that | take this step in pursuance of a
settled purpose carefully and deliberately
considered for some months, and depending
exclusively upon my desire to devote nv
time aud energies TO other pursuits.
l also at this time desire TO express
my warmest hanks to the members Of the
Board, seyeraily and collectively, for the
aorElarna renaa.altu ,,a.,fo,,.l
me, and for III my acts OF personal kindness
and consideration. Very Respectfully,
HENRY RIDDLE,
City Sup't.
New York. May 81, IS 9.
The resignaiion was accepted. all the
Commissioners voting in the affirmative
except Commissioner fraud. Commission
er Walker then offered the following reso-
!utioas, which were unanimously adopted
WHEREAS, The Board of Education has
received and accepted the resignation Of
OF Henry kiddle, A NJ, who has held Il e
Office o. City Superintendent of the city
schools since 1870, and who for period of
twenty nty-seven years prior to that date had
been connected with the public school sys-
of the city OF New York either as assistant
superintendent or as principal, and in these
various relations has exercised beneficial
Influence upon the educational interests of
the city and OF the State, the value and e1-
tent Of which il is difficult to estimate :;
therefore,
ReSolUei, That in accepting the resIgna.
ton of Mr.. kiddle the Board desires 10
place upon record an expression OF its sim
cere regret at the termination OF his long.
f.ithful and valuable services in connection
with the public schools Of the City Of New
York. His sound sense and discretion, his
power of clear and accurate statement, his
learning in his profession, his capacity for
detail united TO large administrative abili-
ty, his enthusiasm for sound instruction,
strict discipline AID all moral, liberal and
wholesome il huences in the school life of
teachers and pupils, his patience, industry
and devotion, are qualities not often found
united in one person, but have been illus
trated for many years in his daily official
liie
ResIred, That copy of these resolutions
properly authenticated be presented to Mr..
Krdi!e
The action of Mr.. Kiddle in thus avoid
ing discussion by the Board of the yexa-
tious questions to which his recent course
has given rise, was generally commended by
the Commissioners in conversation after
the meeting.
The feeling among the members OF the
Board is one Of extreme sympathy for Mr..
Kiddle. Com missioner Bell, who returned
from Europe on Monday last, said that he
heard OF the affair with much regret. The
offise Of Superintendent Of schools in a city
like this was difficult one to fill, and few
men possess qualifications for such place in
SO marked a degree as Mr.. kiddle. He
believed that Mr. Riddles course was
prompted by sincere conviction, and that
his mental balance was unimpaIred. But
he thought that no one holding the opin-
ions which he entertained could properly be
retained as Superintendent after giving to
the world book like the one Just publish
ed. Commissioner fraud, who has re-
msined s,esdfsst in his friendship for Mr.
Kiddle, said that the pursuits to which the
latter in the future would devote his time
and energies would be of a purely literary
charscter, particularly as he was possessed
of sufficient means to enable him to do so
without embarrassment.