Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-01-09
WAYS OF AMENT.
Friction Rather Than Harmony
His Apparent Policy.
BELITTL1NG ROCK ISLAND SCHOOLS.

Teachers of Long Years. Service Indignant
and Ready tn Resign - An Unpopular
superints ndent and His Motives and
Methods.
The statement made by Super
intendent of Schools Ament in his
interview (e) in the Union of yes
terday morning. as alluded to in
last nights ARGUS. that whatever
in the excuse line was accepta-
BILE to the teacher was accepta.
BILE to him, has occasioned consider
able comment among the teachers of
the Rock Island schools, from the
fact that it is SO tlagrantly inconsis-
tent with the idea he has sought 10
impress upon the mind CT every
teacher in the Rock Island corps
since he came here. From the first
his attitude has been that of disgust
and dissatisfaction with the entire
system and all connected with it.
The effect Of his demeanor toward
the teachers has been to dishearten,
rather than to encourage them, and
many of them have been driven to
the point Of desperation and despair
by his conduct toward them and his
manners generally.
Hardest Term She Had Ever Had.
A primary teacher. and one OF the
best in the state of Illinois expressed
the feelings of the teachers generally
when toward the close OF the fall
term, she said to an ARGUS represen-
tative: II never welcomed the holt
day season as do this year. have
worked harder than ever 1 did in
my life, and the result as far as
am concerned has been less satisfac-
tory. 1t has been the most severe
term | have ever put in in the school
room. because ! have had so much to
contend with in the attitude of the
superintendent toward me and the
rest of the teachers. His conduc,
has been such that we dread to hear
his footsteps in the hall and we are
i'll at ease when he is in the room.
He is hypercritical to the extent OF
| rudeness. 1t seems that nothing
that we can do, strive as best we
may, can please him. / shall be
heartily glad when the school year
is over. School work under him. in
stead of being pleasure-as it has
always been to many of us-is q
drudgery. There are some of us
who cannot stand the treatment we
have had another year. We are no,
accustomed to it and we do not think
teachers in general are"
Froze Them by His Manners.
From Mr.. Ament's first appear.
ance before u.s." said another teacher
recently, she froze us by his man
ner. Instead of showing a spirit OF
sympathy with US and a purpose to
work in. harmony with us for the
good of the schools, he evinced q
disposition to hold himself aloof
He sought to impress us all with
awe at his superiority and his sell
Importance. He told US bluntly
never to speak 10 him when in the
room visiting US. He was able, he
said. to take care of himself, and he
has carried out that disposition by
declining to recognize us on the
street. / know of teacher who me,
him one afternoon and whom he de-
liberately snubbed when she spoke t.
him. He belittled us and domineeret
over us from the first
a Professional Mans View.
A Rock Island professional man
who had had visit from the super
intendent Of a business nature, came
into TIE ARGUS Office not long age
and stated that from his brief inter
view with the gentleman he consid
cred him no person to be at the heat
of the schools. "He has not tn,
manners of school man," he said
HE is as directly opposite to Mr.
Kemble as a man could be, and if h,
conducts himself toward the teacher!
as he did toward me, l hardly SCI
how they can get along with him.
should dislike exceedingly to have :
son Of mine go to a school under hi.
administration"