St. Paul daily globe., 1894-08-16
A WORD FOR GILBERT.
CONGDON REFUTES REARDCN,S
CHARGES.
He Was One Reardon Said Would
Testify to immortality in the
Schools.

q 1t will be remembered that Assem-
blyman Reardon, at the time of his
fiaSc0 before the school board commit.
tee that convened to hear his evidence
that immortality prevailed in the st.
Raul schools, asserted as straw to
5catch at that he could prove his charges,
had the cnmmittee power 10 bring be-
fore 1t certain persons. Among the
persons named 10y him who. he assert
ed. would testify that the public schools
are sink holes Of iniquity." was Prof.
e. Ii. Congdon. musical director of the
schools. The following letter from Mr..
t Congdon indicates that the professor
would prove a poor witness for MIR.
Reardon:
:. see that | am mentioned as an avail
able witness to prove that the St. Paul
public schools are sink holes of in
lquity'' and that Supt. Gilbert is not a
hJ person for the position he now hollis.
As ain out OF town and not likely To
return for week. Offer my testimony
through the columns or your paper. 1
nave Travelled considerably through the
East during the present vacation and
have met good many prominent school
men at the meeting of the National
Educational association, held at Ashury
Park, n. J., during the first part of
July.
l find that Supt. Gilbert is considered
one of tie abtSt and most progressive
uperlntendentS in the United States,
and that the ST. Paul schools nave
gained natiooal reputation. Wherever
go, L am always proud to claim ST. Paul
as my home and acknowledge my rela-
tions to its public schools.
During the past eight years | have
been associated with Mr.. Gilbert in the
81. Paul schools. and ought 10 know
something of his personal character and
the estimation in which he is held by
the teachers aud principals under him.
He certainly commands the respect and
receives the most hearty support and CO.
operation of our entire teaching force,
with possibly very few exceptions. L
never knew superintendent who had
less opposition among his teachers than
Mr.. Gilbert. In making this statement
l know whereof l speak, for l have
made monthly visits TO every school in
the city during the whole time that
have held my present position.
Personally L consider Supt. Gilbert
one OF The rising leaders of educational
thought in the country. l do not believe
tiob OiAO EpO OCCu QiSCOfSltt
against his moral character that will
bring reproach either 10 himself or the
public schools. If he is playing a dual
role, he has been most successful in con-
cealing FROM his associates the part of
which he is accused.
When recall the beautiful acts of
charity performed by thousands of our
school children, when wagon loads of
clothing and provisions are dealt out by
childish haEus 10 the deserving poor !:
when remember the many cases where
cigarette smoking amung the boys has
been almost entirely suppressed; when
L think of the splendid discipline that
has been maintained In our schools
without resort 10 corporal punishment; /;
when behold class of joyous children
led by all earnest teacher Oh field eX-
curSion, and brought, through the in
telligent study of nature and the con-
temptation OF its truths, into close re-
lation with natures God; when l am
reminded that it is the policy OF our
schools TO LABOR on with wayM ard youth
instead of turning them into the streets
to morally rot, and when reflect upon
the personnel of our teaching force,
composed Of so many beautiful charac-
terS 10 whom the training of our chill
dren is entrusted, cannot believe that
any one else believes that our public
schools are ''Sink holes of iniquity" !"
H. G.. H CONGDON