The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-08-29
CALL A HALT!
A Rejected Nyack Teacher
Named for Principal of
School No. 20.
VERY STRANGE PROCEEDINGS
Director Reid Heads a Move
ment to Shut Off Inyes-
tigation.
VERY STRANGE PROCEEDINGS
4 DISCIPLINARY FAILURE.
Mr.. Demarest the Subject Of Two
Educational Rows in Two
Cities.

Before the Board of Education d.
journed last night big row took place
between President Voorhees, and Director
John Reid over the appointment of John
A. Demarest to fill the vacancy caused
by the death of Principal D. " Kirby, of
No. 20 School.
The objection to Mr.. Demarest arose
from the statement that he had recently
been dismissed from the principalship of
Union Free School in Nyack.
Mr.. Reid for once got the best of the
president, and Mr.. Demarest was ap-
pointed to the position by the votes of all
the members except the president and
Mr.. Garrison.
There is something very peculiar in
the manner in which this was brought
about. Mr.. Reid moved John A Dem
arest's appointment to take effect from
September is, at a salary of ST. $50 year.
Mr.. Garrison moved that further action
be postponed for week in order to in
vestigate Mr.. Demarest's ability Mr..
Garrison's motion was not seconded.
President Voorhees, said he hoped Mr..
Garrjson's motion would prevail, as the
matter OF appointing principal was one
school system. While the president was
talking, Mr.. Kelly seconded Mr.. Reid's
motion. Mr.. Moran called the attention
of the president to the fact that there
was motion before the house. The
president insisted that he himself had
seconded Mr.. Garrison's motion. Mr..
Reid objected. "I'il take the floor, then,"
said the president.
"Just as you please" replied Reid, with
cutting sarcasm. sYou generally do as
you please" Mr.. Kelly was called to the
chair
sThe Board cannot afford to make a
mistake in this matter" continued Mr.
Voorhees,, taking the floor. II have no
feeling in the matter. II Mr.. Demarest
IS proved to be a worthy man ! will cheer
fully vote for him. T. knew nothing of
him, but when | heard it intimated chat
an effort was being made to have him ap-
pointed to No. 22 school. l began
m aking an investigation. Here is the
result, u letter from each member OF the
Nyack Board of Education" Mr.. Voor-
hees produced bundle of letters. Mr.
Reid simultaneously produced another
bundle.
LETTERS AND LETTERS.
"J. G. Gregory, of the Nyack Board of
Education," resumed Mr.. Voorhees,,
writes me that in his Judgment Mr..
Demarest is not up to the high standard
required of the principalship of No. 20
OF the Board writes that Mr.. Demarest
was not success. President NJ Kline,
of the same Board, writes that Mr.
Demarest was not success. Charles
Tice, of the same Board, writes that Mr..
Demarest was not a success"
How is it.' enquired Director Pings
ten, that all use the same stereotyped
expressions?"
Because they have decided unani-
mously that he was not success. A gen.
tleman, under whom Mr., Demarest lab
ored for long while." continued Mr..
voorhees,, but who asks to have his lame
withheld"
II object to the communication being
reatl without the gentleman gives his
name, " interrupted Mr.. Reid.
Mr.. Voorhees, read the communication
and did not divulge the name. The gen
tleman. who was subsequently ascer-
tanned to be the State Superintendent of
Schools in New York, wrote that he had
met Mr.. Demarest and found him pos
sessed of certain social attractions. He
wonld be glad to say something in his
favor, but was compelled to acknowledge
that he found him lacking in personal
culture and conspicuously deficient in
scholarly attainments. As a teacher he
was not a success.
"Under these circumstances. gentle
men," continued Mr.. Voorhees,, II feel it
incumbent upon this Board to at least
make an Investigation"
"When you are through interrupted
Mr.. Reid, "I'll proceed to read little
batch. of correspondence in the same
line"
Mr.. Reid first read letter signed by
several fellow teachers, giving their I'M
qualified approval of Mr.. Demarest as a
school conductor, q gentleman of high
moral standing and scholarly attain
ments, an able superintendent and
strict disciplinarian. Edwin d. Bowen
n Tn,rr,t ,tr na 1nkN lei,
florist of Nyack, deeply regretted MIR.
Demarest's departure from Nyack, and
the editor of the Nyack Journal wrote
that Mr.. Demarest had won the
respect of the entire commu-
nifty. The editor wrote that Mr.
Though that amounts to nothing in
this Board"-said Mr.. Reid pausing,
ewhereupon general laugh ensueQ.
MORE LETTERS AND MORE LETTERS
s"ThiS editor writes" continued Mr..
Reid, that many deem Mr. Demarest's
forced resignation q matter of regret II
you want any more III read 'em I know
what the Presidents hitting at Mr.
Reid read several more communication
in the same strain from various school
officials highly endorsing Mr. Demarest
as teacher, and apparently staggered
his fellow members when he read another
signed by N. Hines, M. Thies, Ed. H.
Cole, j. G.. Gregory, and James III.
Christie, the members of the Nyack
Board of Education. setting forth that
Mr.. Demarest had commanded high re-
spect, was enthusiastic In his work, and
deSirous of doing his best"
Il thinE," interrupted Mr.. Garrison,
1--WE have certainly cause for investigat-
ing Mr.. Demarest's character.
Mr.. Voorhees said the explanation was
easy. The Nyack Board of Education
had given Mr.. Demarest recommends
tion, such as it was, after dismissal, SO as
not to shut him out of livelihood, but
when called upon to recommend him to
SO responsible position as principal Of
No. % they could not do so conscien-
tiously.
II have warned you, gentlemen" he
continued. 81 will personally pay the
expenses Of the Boards trip to Nyack to
make an investigation. We have time
before the schools open. 1t will not do to
appoint man to this position whom the