Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-04-17


Sentiments Over His Departure, and Con-
graduate Rock Island On Its Gain Feel
ing Over the Matter.
The Carroll, Iowa. Sentinel, of last
Friday has the following concerning
James f. Ament, who was recently
elected superintendent OF the Rock
Island public schools. succeeding 5.
s. kemble who has resigned after
long and faithful service to enjoy a
needed and well earned rest:
superintendent Ament received
official notice yesterday of his unani-
nous election to the superintendency
of the Rock Island public schools.
Mr.. Ament is justly proud of this
recognition of his worth. Rock Isl
and is, beyond question, one OF the
finest cities in America. The school
population is about 1000, about
5000 of whom belong to the schools.
Over this army of children corps of
nearly 100 teachers is required to
preside. The old Rock Island super
intendent, S. S. kemble. has been at
his post for 90 years. He voluntarily
resigns for a much needed rest. The
board of education. together with the
superintendent. have been looking
over the country for nearly a year
for n suitable man, and have finally
recorded their unanimous choice in
favor of Superintendent Ament.
ITO Sentinel reporter Mr.. Ament
said today: OF course, feel proud
OF my election at Rock Island. l
did not enter the field till late, as |
did not decide to leave Carroll till
the night of the last meeting of our
new school board. hope l may be
permitted to say here, with i'll will
toward none, that no inducement
could have drawn me from my work
in this town had not the new board
assumed an attitude that seemed to
me destructive to the growth of the
schools. To say that it is the enten-
ton to keep the schools up to their
present standard affords me very lit
tie comfort, for the schools can never
stand still under my management:
they must grow. The schools should
grow stronger and better every year
of their existence. | feel under no
obligation whatever to the present
Carroll school board, aside from
President Michigan and the two old
members who have been so loyal to
the interests of the children of this
city. All honor, too, to the retired
members who did what they knew to
be right and stood by it,
Expressions Of Carroll Citizens.
"A. w. Patterson said: .Thi:
matter is no surprise to me. To my
certain knowledge Superintendent
Ament could, in the last few months
have had his choice of several sucf
positions as he has accepted. 1t wa.
this that led us to take the action W,
did last January. To say that | an
very sorry does not express the mat
ter. l feel that Mr.. Ameht's going
away is almost an irretrievable los
to this town.
IN W. Beach said: All have t.
say is that we must learn sooner OF
later that the time has gone by wher
brains can be bought for pot o
mush.'
IL. +. Anderson said: .Supt
Ament was offered last year $50
more than we were paying him. bu
he stood by US. As he is ambition
to make his work better each year,
am not surprised at the turn thing
have taken
ID. +. Schumacher said: Il an
broken up over this matter. W
never had such schools as we are hav
ing now, and l would willingly g
down into my own pocket to keeI
Supt. Ament in the schools. But
congratulate him on his success. an,
believe that he has done right"