Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-14
member from the First ward, Van Nes'
and V-inDard 4


voting and was granted that privilege.
Judge Campbell then moved that the
board declare vacancy in the Office OF
superintendent of schools, which was sec
onded by Mr.. Levy.
The chair asked il there were any reasons
and Judge Campbell said: Il don't object
10 giving a few reasons Mr.. chairman"
He gave his reasons in substance as fol-
lows: In the first place, not majority or
this board every elected anybody superin-
tendent for the coming year. Bnt, that
is not the reason. put it upon the ground
that we ought 70 have some other person
for superintendent than the present incum-
bent in city the size OF Wichita, with
fully 0,00O inhabitants and so many differ
ent schools and school houses as we have.
Mr.. Chichester is lot qualified; he is not a
big enough man for the position He
showed that in the past two years. l
recommended him again last year because
| thought he would become a stronger
man. The Judge did not think, from what
he had heard. that Mr. Cnidester visited
the schools as frequently or as thoroughly
as superintendent should. He did
not believe, either, that the other
teachers looked up to the present
superintendent as they should TO the right
sort of man. His acquaintance with
representative people Of the city was too
! limited and he was not man wao IS
able to meet and impress the business men
of the city. as TO his merits The speaker
also thought we ought to have more talent;
We pay enough to have good man.
Chairman Brown asked the vice presi-
dent. Mr.. Van Ness, to please occupy the
/ chair while he took the floor and spoke
against the motion to declare a vacancy
He prefaced his remarks by saying, that 1t
might possibly be considered 2 piece of
presumption on his part to leave
the chair, bat apologized for the
same by saying that he felt
compelled to do so, when movement
of this kind is made, involving the honor
of the board and of the city and her citi-
Zens who have her interests at heart" He
continued by cautioning the board not to
tale any such step under what he charac-
terized as the leadership Of some, who had
led them into grave errors in other mat
tiers. He said he was acquainted with the
history OF the board. for two years and had
! inquired into il for some time prior 70 that.
One Of the mem beers of this board, he said,
/ was at one time superintendent of our
/ city schools and by the same leader
ship was removed. The new appointee
! after very brief acquaintance was also
removed by the same leadership and new
man elected. He did not believe in rush
! ing things. That superintendent was
summary removed and now under the
| same leadership, they want TO remove the
present Superintendent. Mr.. Brown, con-
| tinuing, said, and now, ask you If fol-
/ LOWING under this reckless leadership is
not a dangerous uhing?" He did not care
to discuss the question of the legality of
! that election, but appealed to the board 10
/ be very sure Of the ground, TO be very Ger
/ tain that removing Prof. Chichester was
/ the proper course TO pursue. he asked,
rs the city of Wichita willing 20
stultify tself:' And he added,
! this unstead.ness, this recklessEess :
! injxriug the reputation Of the city. Mr..
/ Brown expressed himself in no uncertain
! words when he said, i desire TO denoUnce
! such proceedings as strongly as pariia-
mentary language will permit" Al
/ though ne mIsht not be satisfied with all
OF the actions of this board, still he was
ready to stand by and sustain the board.
The gentleman took occasion to say. that
he did not care for the insinuations, the
guerrilla warfare as the called the efforts
TO GUST Prof. Chidester. Whatever might
be the final action OF the board, he pledged
himself 20 stand by il
IN speaking of Prof. Cn. fester he said
that he considered him fully competent to
fill the place, and gave him d very compli-
mentary recommendation. He asserted
that lie had visited the schools, he thought,
~
times as much as any other member of the
board, and his information from the teach
ers was that Nj Chichester was not dere-
Hct in the number or the length OF his VS.
its TO the schools. He thought an estab-
lished man VIII DO better than a new one,
| especially a. this work here requires not
only a man who can conduct schools after
! they are established, but start new schools
out in the proper way.
Judge Campbell answered Mr. Brown,
saying that he DID not consider himself
called upon TO defend himself. In all mat
tiers connected with the school board, he
had done what he thought was 10 the best
interest Of the schools, Mr. Geo. E. Camp
bell, he said. was never removed, but q
man was elected to fill the his place in
whom the board discovered they had been
mistaken and they let him go. He had
always given Mr. Chidester MS hearty
support during school years, and said moth
ing until it came time TO chose his successor.
He thought Mr.. c. 5 success largely due TO
the efficient corps OF city teachers, and
challenged Mr.. Brown to call up the teach
ers and abide by their opinions of Mr..
Chichester.
Mr. Brown said he was willing to DO
that
The Judge said he had all possible inter
est in having good schools. He had I great
many children. TIE last time he counted
them there were seven.
Mr. Levy a 1 that a number of Irrelevant
things had been said. He thought that
WITCH Ia a. the largest city III the state
was entitled TO better talent, a man
of more scholastic attachments than Mr..
Chidester possessed He had (as he told
both Mr.. Brown and Mr.. Chidester) moth
Ing against Mr.. Chidester. He was in
favor of a change but thoaght the incom-
ing mem bers would be held responsible for
the condition Of the schools. He therefore
moved that the further consideration OF
the matter be deferred until the next regu-
lar meeting, tbs first Monday IN August
the sixth aud as all Of the new members
but the two from the Fifth ward were
present, they would be fully acquainted
with the matter.
Considerable discussion arose about the
manner IN which the application OF can
didates for the SUPPLEMENTARY had been
kept. The chair and clerk explained that