Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-05-01
HE is NOT THE MAN
Supt. Ament and His Instincts
as Shown.
An EXECUTIVE HEAD NEEDED.

True Interest OF the Schools SUFFERING
Because Of Obstinacy and selnshnesa-
What Would Naturally be Expected Of
One with Heart In the Work.
II there were any better proof
necessary Of the instincts and char
acter Of superintendent of Schools
j. f. Ament, than have been shown
in his treatment Of the teachers, his
conduct since his reappointment has
furnished the evidence.
cation meeting Wednesday evening
was fair sample of the way he re-
CARDS the present unfortunate situa-
ton in the school affairs OF the city.
Instead Of taking a grave view Of the
crisis that is upon US, and using his
utmost endeavor to bring order out
OF the present unhappy condition.
for the good OF the schools, the gov
eminent Of which is entrusted to his
keeping, he seemed to enjoy the
wrangle that disgraced the proceed
iDgs. The warm words between DR..
Kinyon and President Robbins caught
his fancy greatly, and when DR.. Kim
yon INDUCED in an insulting sally he
became convulsed with laughter.
The Very Opposite Would be Expected.
OF man realizing, as he cannot
fail to, despite his egotism, that he is
responsible for the present lamenta-
bic state OF affairs, one would expec:
him to evince an entirely different
disposition. There is in every COM
munity distinctive feeling toward
the schools. They are rightly re-.
gardad as composing an institution
which is lite closer to the people
than anything else supported by tax
payers, and it has until recent wears
been the rule here to hold the system
above politics and above turmoil.
1t was for years an honored practice
here to select men by common con-
sent TO serve as directors and thew
we're elected without opposition.
The Argus does not now know of an
instance where such q course failed
of getting the most acceptable men
in the city on the board. The
consequence was tudI tuc eCuOOlS
ran smoothly. because they were
managed in a business-like manner,
and there was no friction. no diecord
or resentment because of q contest
at the polls preceding the election
Of directors. Prejudice was unknown.
and all connected with the staff CT
teachers were selected purely on the
question of merit.
How Different the Situation To-day.
But how different the situation to-
day! Can anyone imagine the long
time superintendent, S. 3. kembie,
standing before the public under
such charges as face Supt. Amen.?
Can anyone picture Supt. j. b.
Young. Of Davenport. or Principal
W. II. Hatch, who in his day here
was favorite. insisting On holding
an office where SO much opposition
existed? To act as Supt. Ament is,
when the very fact that SO of his
corps Of teachers are praying for his
removal. is sufficient to disqualify
him and, il he possessed the interest
in the schools that a superintendent.
should. to say nothing of self respect.
he would for the good of the schools
as we'll as his own reputation with
draw.
Is is the duty of the superintendent
to maintain discipline, not to destroy.
Mr.. Ament can never again restore
order in the Rock Island schools.
He is not the man; he must 90. aud
no action OF the present board will
keep him here. The people will turn
him out in June il he does not resign
in the meantime. He may as well
understand that and arrange his
affairs accordingly.
The Board and the Teacher.
The public without exception, SO
far as The ARGUS has been able to
learn. upholds the policy that the
teachers in response to the oppor-
tuuity to present charges, merely
submit to the board the resolutions
adopted at their recent meeting
That is all they have to say, and
there is no reason why anything fur
Their should be done. The teachers
have no reason to expect fairness or
even proper consideration at the
hands Of the board of education as
ut present controlled. The best they
can do is to present their case. which
= T. III