Rock Island Argus., 1896-05-16
ADIEU FROM AMENTi
Anticipated EpistIe Appears at
Last.
OCCUPIES SIX PAGES OF TYPE.
The superintendent Combines Resignation
and Defense and Devotes Himself to
Praise Of Himself and Condemnation of
His Enemies Here and Elsewhere.

and Defense and Devotes Himself to
Praise Of Himself and Condemnation of
His Enemies Here and Elsewhere.
The much anticipated "defense"
on the part of Superintendent Of
Schools James E. Ament appeared in
this mornings Union, in the form OF
a supplemental sheet OF six pages.
At the outset of this lengthy contri-
button Mr.. Ament says: .By the
time it is in print l shall have
handed in my resignation. fully
realize how hopelessly futile would
be the effort on my part, a stranger,
single-handed and alone, to attempt
to turn the tide Of popular sentiment
created by 60 self-interested women
and an inscriptions newspaper. In
the main. shall leave my profes.
sional reputation to take care OF
itself, and ask only for my right to
be considered a human-not a mons
ter. One other consideration has
prompted me to offer this commnni-
cation. A number of people have
said this to me during the past week
Through The ARGUS we have re-
peated!y heard the teachers side OF
this story throughout the year, but
practically have not had wo,d from
you. Why don't you give the public
your side o: the question: It was
my intention to bear the lash without
a single murmur or complaint, as
has been my policy in the past.
want to say. in this connection, that
in writing this letter. 1 am not act
ing upon the advice Of the board. in
dividually or as a body. They will
not know its contents till they sea it
in public print"
The Story of His I.ifs.
Mr.. Ament then takes up the story
of his life az teacher, his prcpara-
tion for the work. aud publishes such
letters Of recommendation as are no
doubt possessed by any educator of
standing, seeking the same for whom
he may have served, either as pupil
or instructor, and many of which
nevertheless are apparently Of per-
soBal nature in which event their
use is au abuse of confidence to say
the least. Mr.. Ament traces his
career at North Bend. Ne6., and at
Carroll, Iowa, both Of which places
he left after bitter opposition had
been made to him, and seeks to
show by letters, of nature lauda-
tory OF himself, that he has al
ways been much abused and that
such opposition as has been arraved
against him at points where he has
been located in his professional ca
reer before coming here, has been
due entirely to spite work. Those
who speak praise of him he permits
to be heard without comment: those
who have in any way antagonized
him at North Bend or at Carroll
he has only vituperation and abuse
for. Dwelling upon mis- coming to
Rock Island, he speaks OF having
carried on correspondence for sew
eral years with Supt. Kemble with a
view to his succeeding to the super
intendeney here, he having from the
first time he passed through Rock
Island cherished hope that he
might sometime make it his home
for few years. Il say" he ex-
lplains. ..for few years, because if
one hopes for even moderate financial
success in teaching he must aim
high. A large number OF cities pay
salaries To superintendents ranging
from IS. 600 TO $500 per year. |
once mentioned my desires in these
matters to Mr.. Robbins, and learned
for the first time that honest ambi-
tion is crime"
He publishes letters from Supt
Kemble, which unguest'onably were
OF a personal nature. relative to his
religious convictions. and which a
manly impulse would under no cir
cumstances have warranted giving
TO the public, and he shows further
by his construction of an assurance
from Supt. Kemble as to the senti-
ment of the teachers that he came
here prepared to take issue with che
teachers. He discusses the High
school principalship. attempting to
show that THE ARGUS was per-
sonaliy interested in an ap-
lpoin,ment which he disapproved.
a fac; which this paper has already
fully demonstrated the falsity of
Through the members of the board
OF education themselves. He ac-
cuses Mr.. Halsev, who came
here upon his recommendation
of treachery and of insubordi-
nation, and then by some more
letters he seeks to break down the
character Of Mr.. Halsey and to preju-
dice the public mind against him.
| all of which is quite contrary to the
suggestion he prompted in the Union
before he knew Mr.. Halssv was
against him. He attacks Miss Kirk.
lpatrick. principal OF No. 6. and ac-
cuses her Of advising the teachers as
esrly rs September not to go to hi,
Office for meeting with Miss Kali, an
accusation which Miss Kirkpatrick
denies. She merely spoke her dis.
approval OF the plan on one occasion
iwhere the day was exceedingly warm
and the teachers were already
overworked in the presence Of
of others and her expression reached
the ears OF Mr.. Anent. whose con.
duct toward her afterwards led &c