The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-12-07
MISS DORCHESTER'S DIPLOMA.
Superintendent Houghton and Kearney
School Mistress.

Superintendent Houghton and Kearney
School Mistress.
Considerable interest has been awak-
ened in County School circles by the
differences between the Rev. George
c. Houghton, the County School Superin-
tendent, and Miss Dorchester, a Kearney
school mistress. AT the meeting of the
Kearney Township Committee on Tues
day night Mr.. DAILY reported that County
superintendent of Schools Houghton had
notified him not to pay Miss Dorchester's
salary, as she had not appeared before the
County Board of Examiners to secure
certificate.
School Superintendent DIR. Williams
said that the reason Miss Dorchester had
refused to appear before the County
Board was because DR.. Houghton had in
suited her. DIR. Wiliiams said tnat Miss
Dorchester had been examined by State
Superintendent Chapman and held a
State certificate.
DIR. Houghton, when I called upon him
yesterday. expressed surprise and refused
to believe that DR.. Williams had made
any such statement.
"Well," he added, ssif DR. Williams
made that statement, l will hold him to
strict account
will you tell me, Mr.. Houghton."
asked, "what the trouble between you
and Miss Dorchester is?"
Last summer" the doctor replied
s'While was away on yachting tour q
letter was received at my house from Mr..
Keynton, of the Kearney Public School,
asking for some school supplies and two
certificates for school teachers. The GER
tiicates were asked in the same way as
any one would ask for bushel OF pota-
toes or any article of merchandise. 1
sent the supplies to Mr.. Keynton. and
also sent letter, in which l stated that
it would be impossible for me to grant
two certificates until was satisfied as to
the competency of the applicants. That
was the last of the matter until one night
, last October young lady presented her
self at my residence and said that her
name was Miss Dorchester, and that she
had been sent to me by Mr.. Keynton to
secure a certificate. asked her if she
had ever taught school before, and she re-
piled that she had taught in New York.
Then asked her if she held a certificate
from New York. She said she did, but
had left it home. | thought this rather
queer. and told her that it did not look
well, to say the least, to forget the most
important part of her errand. She then
told me that Mr.. Keynton had told her
that he had written to me and that there
would be no trouble in securing certifi-
cate.
Il told her that such proceeding could
not be thought OF. She departed, and
when / heard that she was teaching
school in Kearney promptly notified Mr..
DAILY not to pay her any salary. II this is
the insult that DIR. Williams refers to,"
continued DR.. Houghton, Il think it is
only my plain duty. I intend TO hold him
accountable for that word insult any
how"
"But, DR.. Houghton," asked, does not
State certificate entitle Miss Dorchester
to position as school teacher in any part
of the State?"
mo, il does not, anyone desiring posi-
tion as school teacher has to appear before
the County Board of Examiners. The law
is very distinct on this point. l under
stand that Miss Dorchester was formerly
teaching school in New York, but as she
did not produce any certificate to that
effect. when she called on me, think the
course l have taken in the matter per-
fectly proper"