The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-04
BLISS EXPLAINS
KEARNY SCHOOL
SUPT. ASKS JUSTICE.
Writes Why He Left West Hudson
Town to Take Better Position
at Brockton, Mass.
he Editor Of the EyenIng star:


To the Editor of the Evening Star:
During the past few weeks there has
appeared in the Newark and Kearny
papers various statements and insinuations
concerning my resignation as supervising
principal of the Kearny schools, The facts
of the case have been so distorted as to
render them practically unacceptable.
The utter absurdity of many .of-the state
ments afioat made 1t unnecessary for me
to take any notice Of them, but many let
tiers from Arlington have convinced me
that 1t is due my former friends that some
statement should be made, and ] trust You
will allow me to reply through the col
ulnns of you paper.
For the past two Or three years it has
been well known to m of the
Kearny Board of Education that / was
anxious to make a change and my rea-
sons were well known to them. Some two
or three months before the close OF the
last school year | became an applicant
for the Br0ckton superintendency. The
selection was delayed so long that L prac-
tically gave up hope of securing the posi-
tion. and, so on or about June IL, | signed
renewal contract with Kearny. This
was done after l had seriously debated
whether 1t would be better to sign my
contract m chen ask for a release II
elected at Broekton, or let 1t be known
that l was seeking another position and
ask for an extension of time. l finally de-
cided that the former course would be
DclttI lOI iuO lnltItSiS VI lHo hGdlhy
/ knew that a spirit of unrest and dis
satisfaction prevailed among the Kearny
teachers last spring. and a rumor of 9
change in supervision would have tended
to, make matters worse as is always the
case except when such change is very
badly needed.
About a week after my Kearny contract
was signed / was surprised to receive a
letter from Brockton inviting me to meet
the board on June 20, whef / was formally
elected. I told the Brockton board that !
was under contract. They assured me that
no board would stand In the way of a mans
professional Advancement to the extent Of
refusing a release, especially so early In
for feeling there would be no difficulty, for
on two previous occasions when my
chances of election to some other position
We're. about even | was assured that the
board would not stand in my way IL I
could better myself, and one Of these occa-
came in mid-year.
More than this, In the nine years of my
term Of service In Kearny; no teacher or
principal applying for a release before the
opening of schools had been refused, and
almost without exception such release had
been granted during the school year, even
when It resulted In positive harm to the
l saw no reason why my appli-
cation should be refused when a chance
for promotion, both financially and pro-
~fessionally came TO me such as probably
would not come again for many years at
lepst.
returned to Kearny on July / and at
called on the president Of the board
and stated the case. He told me that my
work had been of such a character that
release ought to be granted, and he
me that he would see to it that
resignation Was accepted. I then filed
my resignation with the secretary.
During the. subsequent days l saw sew
of the board members, and talked the
over with them Individually. No
one Of these men even minated that my
was Objectionable to them. l left
town supposing the matter was settled
and was more thar sur
lrised to learn that my resignation was
tabled and an attempt made to blacken
NY character In the eyes of those with
1 had been associated for nine years.
| gave Kearny nine OF the best years of
ny life. ] spared no time, no effort to
build UP the schools. L gave a service Of
he heart that money cannot buy. Any
'air-minded man will admit that for a
part Of that time the salary was
iery inadequate for the work l was called
Upon to perform.
neither ask nor expect appreciation or
hanks. All l ask is even-handed Justice.
Thanking you for this privilege. / am
yours very truly, d. C.SRLISS.