Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-06-20
HAS ONLY INSULT.
Ament's Abuse for the Teachers
Praiser.
RDICULE OF MISS NELLIE MOORE

RDIOULE OF MISS NELLIE MOORE
Gailaatry Of tbs Man Who says He Has
Doas NotAinE TO ORsaa the Lsoy
rsashsss 81 Rock Isiand-An Ideal 0sr-
t1eman.
Another gallant illustration was
afforded in this mornings Union of
the regard Supt. Ament has for
those who may differ with him. In
last evenings ARGUS Miss Nellie
Moore. an experienced Instructor
from Defiance, Ohio, who has been
aiding In the Rock Island county
teachers normal, gave her impress
sions and observations of Rock Island
teachers in . manner very compli-
mentary to them. On this account
she is held up to ridicule in a COM
munication from the pen Of Supt.
James E. Ament. She is termed q
Lady Moses and the normal in
which she has taughti is termed this
little institute. The superintendent
then goes further in the sarcastic
strain Of which he boasts an adapta-
bility. and attacks the educational
system Of Ohio, from which state
Miss Moore comes, rs inferior to that
Of Illinois, and one point of COMPARE
son which he'makes disparagingly of
Ohio is that that state has not sim
gle state normal school. Yet this
individual who processes belief in
normal school ideas has not graced
the Rock Island county normal by
his presence, but rather contents
himself with belittling it and its
instructors. He presents statistics
incidentally to show that Illinois
pays more per pupil per annum for
education than Ohio does, and more
in the cities. as well as more in the
average monthly salary. These facts
are submitted by the superintendent
as affecting an argument in favor of
Illinois. yet this same Ament has
been loading the columns OF the
Union of late with statistics, the in
tent OF which was to place the Rock
Island schools at disadvantage, by
attempting to chow that they were
supported at higher cost than is
/ cXptuucu III Obu6I OltlcS-
strong Argument Assailed.
The interview with Miss Moore
proved a sumner to the superintend-
ent in view Of his past pretcnces and
efforts to break down the standard OF
efficiency of the Rock Island teacher;
so he assails the argument in their
behalf with this weak and illogical
deduction: IL believe every respec-
table educator will acknowledge that
it is next to impossible to tell what q
teacher is or what she can do till she
is seen actually engaged in the work
of teaching. Our schools are not
now in session. and there is not,
therefore, any opportunity to in.
speet them. Still, our Lady Moses
has discovered more in FIVE days
gossip than an actual spectator
could do in q year. though watching
the schools while in session."
1t need only be said.that Miss Moore,
a comparative stranger. observed
more true merit in the Rock leland
teachers in . week than Ament has
in year. and for having done this
she is attacked this morning by the
superintendent in the useof epithets
that stamp him as devoid of the in
stincts of = gentleman. Aside from
the ordinary expressions applied to
Miss Moore, this one phrase show.
ng the superintendent's attempt at
punnery is sufficient to indicate the
trend of the fellows mind: "In De-
fiancs OF its leaders for the past cen.
fury, one Moore prophet has arisen
and told us that pedagogy is not q
profession. and that some of its fol
LAWYERS without any sort Of special pre-.
Iparation may be accounted en- mas &c
the best in the land" Dignified,
Isn't it?
While innocent Of any purpose te
subject Miss Moore to the fmperti-
nence contained in the screed tina,
came out this morning. The ARGUS
feels nevertheless the duty 1t owes e
the lady to apologize for having
given publicity to her thoughts. 1,
Understands now that despite the
fact that the Sunday Sun is extinct
no lady is safe from abuse who maj
raise her voice in defense of the
teachers OF Rock Island, while Amen,
is in the community, and there is 9
paper which will throw open it,
columns TO his diatribes. Mis-,
Moore. it should not be overlooked
made no remarks or comments OF
Supt. Ament, did not even mention
his name. She merely spoke hel
lopinion OF Rock Island teachers
For this she is held up to ridicu'e BY
this vicious and impudent indi
vidual.
II any defense were needed of tn,
Rock Island teachers in their course
il their action in protesting agaiDs
Ament required justification. tina
defense and justification WAS amply
furnished in this mornings Union.
That 1irea Fsssins.
BUsEY. ILL.,. May "a. 1851 wa
Ifpou blod nth that x;raI Hool:,r -