The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-09-04
Mr. RE|D'S SIDE.
He Shows the Letters That
Made Him Favor Mr.
Demarest's Appoint
ment.
THEY ARE OLD AND EVASIVE.
He Never Made Any Personal
Inquiries, and Regrets He
Did Not Do So.
Will Stand by Demarest because
He Thinks 1t Right.

DlrectOr-at-LRrge John Reid at the last
meeting Of the Board of Education as
sured the appointment of John A. Dema-
rest, comparatively obscure man, as
principal of School No 49, AS published
in The JERSEY CITY NEWS the following
day, this appointment was bitterly
fourght by President VOORHEES, and Mr..
Garrison of the Board. and letters were
read by the president which stated that
MIR. Demarest was not properly fitted for
so responsible position. Presi-
dent Voorhees, read one letter from
the State Superintendent of Schools
of New York, which reflected
seriously on Mr.. Demarest as a capable
principal. The letter was confidential
one and he declined to make public the
name OF the author. but said he would
give it privately to the individual mem
bers of the Board. When this letter was
read President Voorhees insisted on de-
ferring action on the appointment of Mr..
Demarest for a week to enable the Board
to investigate his record as teacher and
principal. He and Mr.. Garrison insisted
that ii Mr. DemareSt was dismissed from
the principalship of the Nyack public
school for want of capability, he was not
the man chat Jersey City desired.
Mr.. Reid opposed any delay in the mat
ter and Mr.. Demarest was appointed.
On Saturday The JERSEY CITY NEWS
published interviews with the members
of the Nyack Board of Education, all of
whom declared that Mr.. Demarest was
dismissed because he lacked executive
ability and was not good disciplinarian.
On the following day a similar reason
was given by the Westtield school trus-
tees for not retaining him as principal of
= %1,x.r. y.t,x u rnf
ing to Nyack. This school has but $50
pupils on the roll and the Nyack school
has about $50 children.
REID HAS HIS SAY.
To learn Mr.. Reid's reason for urging
Mr.. Demarest's immediate appointment
without any investigation, The JERSEY
/, ITY NEWS sent reporter to his house
for an interview.
when eight months ago / came into
the Board of Education - said the direc-
tor-at-large, II succeeded Mr.. Benson, of
the Journal. found thing IN a curious
condition and it was every man for him
self. / did not like this manner of doing
business and said SO then and say SO
now. l thought that each member of
the Board should best know what the
schools in his district required and | de-
clared that to be my belief For that
reason when any of the members said
their schools required certain things, /
action in this particular that | think /
owe the appointment of Mr.. Demarest.
1t was my school to be filled and l had
been consistent and majority voted to
give me the appointment"
How did you happen to select Mr..
DemarestT
ssHe came to me last MAY with letter
of introduction from John Reid, of Hobo
kenyon know old John Reid-every one
does. Well, he endorsed Mr.. Demarest as
teacher, and asked me to do something
for him when | could. Never dreaming
that my school would be the first to re-
quire principal, told Mr.. Demarest
when vacancy was made. He, OF course,
had other letters of recommendation,
which will show you presently"
.'And is this ali the influence that was
brought to bear in this appointments"
1t is, so far as am concerned. 1t has
been said that Sheriff Davis backed Mr..
Demarest; if that is true do not know 1t.
/ never spoke to the Sheriff about the
subject at all. The first person | spoke to
about the appointment was Mr.. Mul-
doom. 1t was when we were returning
from the funeral of Principal Kirby. and
/ told Mr.. Muldoon that as vacancy had
been made in my school. / would ike to
fill it. / think he replied 1 hope you
will Subsequently l spoke to one other
member of the Board about the appoint
ment, and he conceded my right to it.
The JERSEY CITY NEWS has published a
number Of interviews which declare Mr..
Demarest to be untitled for the position.
Ii he is not a proper man regret 1t, but
before making conclusions, read this letter
and tell me how a man could endorse 1t
and then say what he did in HE JERSEY
CITY NEWS. This is one of the recommen-
dations Mr.. Deniarest gave me, and one
that bore weight"
This letter, which is three years old.
was then handed me by Mr.. Reid
'OLD LOVE LETTERS
WEsTF1ELD, N. j., July %, 1887.
To 1uhon, it mag cOncern:-
Mr.. John A. Uemarest having served as princi-
pal of our public school for the past two years,
and being now about to sever his relations with
us to accept more desirable position, it affords
us pleasure, to testify to his qualifications
educator He has proven himself an earnest,
faithful and successful teacher. Pupils under
his Immediate supervision have made satisfac-
tory progress, and evinced indications of
thoroughness of instruction. His methods lead
TO the exercise of the individual facilities Of his
pupils. He has enjoyed the esteem and conf
dence of those committed to his charge. The
discipline OF his department has been satisfac-
tory. He has made many warm friends who
deeply regret his leaving our school and village.
1t will be gratifying to us to know of his success
wherever located. Respectfully.
j. B. HARRISON,
JAMES l.. MILLER,
f. L. EMBREy,
Trustees.
swhat do you think of thatr asked
Mr. Reid.