The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-08-31
DEMARHS7'S CAREER.
He Was Dropped in West
field for the Same Rea
sons as in Nyack.
" ARM PERSONAL FRIENDS
A Good Teacher Of Mathematics,
but No Disciplinarian--
Facts for Director Reid.

rdtt6 III Dlfttl0T KeiQs
There was published exclusively in THE
JERSEY Cry NEWS. yesterday, nara,
tive Of the reasons why the Nyack Board
Of Education dismissed John A. Dema-
rest, the principal OF the school there.
Summarized, they were incompefency
and lick Of executive ability, with a gen
erous mixture Of bad grammar on the
I part Of Mr. Demarest.
To learn why be left Westdeld, THE
Sunday MORNING NEWS sent a reporter 70
that pretty village yesterday. School
Trustee Edward l. Embrey was the first
/ gentleman called on. aud he was very re-
luctant to say anything, but when he
was asked il Mr.. Demarest had been dis
missed from that school he promptly re-
| pile -
mo, he was not dismissed. he was sim
+ ply not re-engaged.p
is it not true that he desired to be con-
tinued as principal in your schooig"
Yes, but we declined TO have hlm any
longer. .
why was that, Mr.. EmbreysY
His discipline was bad in the school
He WAS good and moral man, desir-
able friend, but he did not make good
principal because he was not disciple
/ MARIAN
1T was said at Nyaek. Mr.. Embrey.
| that he used very bad English, is that
| trues"
The gentleman hesitatad. tried to evade
/ the question and finally. as If determined
to tel all the truth. replied
| Yes; his grammar was not such as
would be expected from him.
/ rs he a college graduatess
Il do not think he is. But will say
this, even If his English is not good, he is
an excellent mathematician. .
I'm your opinion, do you think him a
| fit man to be principal over a school CON
| tanning twenty-five teachers and one
thousand chiidrens'
1--WE did not think him the proper
man TO remain in charge OF our school
with its five teachers and three hundred
aud fifty children, Tor he did not have
discipline in the school,
Then you would hot recommend him -
HE would make a good teacher OF
mathematics, but not a good principal
As said before, the principal objection to
/ him was his total lack of discipline
/ wish you would see DR.. J. B. Harrison
beforeEou return to Jersey City He and
ex-senator Miller were in the Board
when it was decided not to retain Mr.
Demarest. | Went into the Board about
| that time, and am not as thoroughly
| acquainted with the facts as Dr. Harri-
| son. hope you will not use my name in
! connection with this interview, for I am
a warm friend Of Mr.. Demarest, who is a
| good man."
| ELOQUENT RETTcEScE-
DR.. Harrison enphatically declared he
I VT0Htn NOT mako nIfliIc the +
Denlarest was not retained in the West
( field school, when he was asked for them.
/ Il do not want to say anything about
/ Mr.. Demarest," said the doctor. when
man is down don't like to hit him,
and the fact that he did not stay here
a short time at Nyack is
an evidence that Mr.. Demarest
| is down. If trustee of another school
came to me seeking information about
/ Mr.. Demarest would talk more freely to
him, but | will say nothing for publica-
ton further than that Mr.. Demarest was
a sincere and hard working man who
would do the best he could wherever he
was"
Mr. Embrey's interview was then read
to the surprised physician, who with
much hesitation admitted that what MIR.
! EInbrey had said was correct.
is it not fact that you would not re-
new his engagement. although he So
licited it, proof that you thought him in
competent to keep proper dIscipiinesN the
| Doctor was asked.
/ Il suppose it is.
| ''Then his discipline did not suit your
81 do not want to say word that will
injure Mr.. Demarest, replied DR.. Harri-
SOU
But, does not your refusal to affirm or
/ deny place Mr.. Demarest in as bad a light
| as if yon declared him not to be compe-
1 tents''
II have nothing to say"
''Do you think be can manage the Jer-
sey City school2n
Il don't know. We did not keep him. y
How long was he principal OF the
| Westfield schoolsn
Two years l believe
'Did he ever have any trouble or fights
| with his pupilssn
| Il don't recall any,
UNSATISFACTORY.
After leaving DR.. Harrison the re-
| porter questioned several persons about
! Mr.. Demarest, among them being Mr. l..
| NJ. Whitaker, who said that ali he knew
| about Mr.. Demarest was that he did not
appear to have given satisfaction while
| in Westfield. The other people said the
| same, but all agreed that Mr.. Demarest
was personally a pleasant and a religious