Bridgeton pioneer., 1888-08-02
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
Mr.. Ames Appears and Makes
a. Statement.

A special meeting of the Board of
Education was held Monday evening,
July Both.
The following members were pres
ent-Lambert, Miner, Silvers, Bright,
Corey, Peck, Kienzle, Lott, Ayres,
Hort, Nichols, and Supt. Sharp.
The minutes of the last meeting
were read and approved.
Mr.. Corey reported that the work of
repairing was progressing at the Sec
ond ward school.
Bill of John G. Pierce, 1926, for
work at Second ward school, was
ordered paid.
Mr.. Ames came before the Board
| and made statement in writing,
which he refused to leave with the
Board. In this statement he denied
the charges made, and declared that
he should hold the Board responsible
for his salary. He refused to make
any other statement or answer any
questions.
The following charges and specitica-
tions were then read. Mr.. Bright,
member of the Visiting Committee
who was absent at the last meeting,
signed them:
To the Board of Education Of the City
of BrSdgeton- Greeting:
| Whereas, it is necessary that every
teacher in our public schools should
so deport them selves, and especially
the Principals of our schools, in such
manner as to set an example for good
before his or her subordinate teac hers,
SO as to maintain their respect and
hearty cooperation in advancing the
dignity and intellectually of the pu-
pills under their respective charges; and
more especially should larger amount
of dignity and manhood be shown by
the Principal of any of our schools, he
having the care of more advanced
scholars, and is training them for a
start on ife's journey, with perhaps
no further opportunity for tuition than
that given by the Principal Of our pub
lie schools.
Now it is with regret that We state
to this Board, that during the past
school year, Alfred B. Ames, Principal
of our Third Ward School, having the
confidence and respect of the whole
Board of Educgtion, has sc. far. forgot
ten the dignity Of his position as to
make love to one of his pupils, not
then and not yet buta little past the
age of fifteen years. 1t is a published
and public fact that during the year
he applied to the parents of this pupil
for privilege to keep company with
her at the residence of her parents
This privilege was denied him. as we
are informed, on account of the pupils
youth. In spite of this denial, he still
further lowers the dignity of his posi-
ton by keeping up clandestine meet
ings with the said pupil, and his favors
and preferences for said pupil became
matter of observation to all.
| On Intervening of June 18th, 1888,
the regular annual meeting of the
Board OF Education, for the election of
year, Mr.. Alfred b. Ames, in clandes-
Daniel B. Ginenback, Justice of the
Peace, and was then and there mar
ried to his said pupil, not yet sixteen
years of age. After the ceremony the
pupil returning to the home of her
parents, and he, Mr.. A. 3. Ames, re-
turning to his own home or elsewhere
beside the home of the pupils parents,
and the next morning, in a clandestine
manner, departed from this city. 1t
is matter of pnblic record in our city
that by. the connivance of Mr.. Ames.
his pupil, or the Justice in making the
return of said marriage by the Justice
| to the City Recorder, the age of said
pupil was returned as being that of
nineteen years, when it is known that
| she is not yet sixteen.
Now in presenting the above speciti-
| cations against Mr.. A. B. Ames, we
charge him with conduct that destroys
the dignity of his position as Principal
| and respect of his associate teachers,
4 and of the older class OF scholars com
ing into the grammar department and
under his immediate care for the ensu-
ing year. IL destroys his influence for
good in the school.
We charge him with conduct in
violation of his obligations as a teacher
during the past year of service (the
knowledge only coming to the Board
since his re- election) to secure the love
of one of his pupils, and that while his
legal and NJ oral relations to his pupils
was that of parent and child, and to
act in that relation was part OF the i'm
piled contract entered into by him
upon entering upon his duties as
teacher in said school, and more
| especially were these duties implied
when he assumed the position of
Principal. But instead of a regard for
| these sacred obligations, he neglects
them all and so far lowers the dignity
of his position as tc act as clandestine
lover to one of his pupils, and his
course of action and the methods en-
| Moved nv him heva haap such as tn
destroy all respect and regard for him
| by the patrons of the school.
| BENZ. T. BRIGHT,
L NIIrr q