Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-20
CLIFFORD QUITS SCHOOLS
Tenders Resignation to Position to
Which He Was Just Reelected.
TWO OFFERS FROM THE EAST
Part of Time TO h Given Forestry
Service and Remainder 10 the
Philadelphia Public
Schools.

Prof. Wesley N. Clifford. superintendent
of the public schools OF Council Bluffs. to
which position he was reelected for another
year. but a few weeks ago has notified
President Emmet FINLEY Of the Board OF
Education that he intended rendering his
resignation to take effect September 1.
The announcement that superintendent
Clifford intended leaving Council Bluffs
came as a great surprise to President Tin
ley as II did to the other Members of the
board when they learned of II later in the
afternoon. Mr.. Clifford has received two
flattering offers of work elsewhere which
he has decided to accept.
The offer OF one position comes from the
National FORESTRY department at Washing
ton. D. c., and the other comes from Phil
a~delphia where he has been offered the
position Of the head of the Department Of
Commerce in the boys high school.
Mr.. Clifford has decided TO accept both
positions. The forestry department is anx-
ious to secure his services and Mr.. Clifford
Is not willing to give up entirely his school
work. Forester Pinchet. head Of the for
estry department, rather than lose Mr..
Clifford's services suggested that he devote
part of his time to the work OF that depart
ment and the other part to his work in the
Philadelphia High school. This arrange
ment Mr.. Clifford was assured by the
school authorities of Philadelphia would be
entirely satisfactory to them.
Mr.. Clifford will leave today for Eldora,
where during this week he Will act as
one of the instructors at the Hardin
county institute, From Eldora Mr.. Cliff
ford will on Saturday go to Washington
to confer with Forester Pinchot.
The work that the forestry department
wishes Mr.. Clifford to undertake is to
prepare material for use in the public
schools throughout the country. In other
words, II is roposed by the department
to make Mr.. clifford the connecting link
between the public schools of the coun-
try and the teachers in them and the
educational work of the national depart
ment of forestry.
When seen yesterday afternoon Mr.. Cliff
ford said: There are many reasons why
/ should accept the offers l have received
from Washington and Philadelphia. In
the first place, they offer larger re-
Enumeration and, In fact. either of them
would mean bigger compensation than
thai of the position here. Then, again,
10th positions are practically for life, and
I will not be subjected to reelection at
the end of each school year. The posi-
tions will be free from the responsibility
which l have had here. They will af-
ford me the opportunity to teach and
also to attend the University of Pennsyl-
vania, where 1 hope TO take an advanced
degree. 1t will also afford an opportunity
for my daughter to attend Bryn Mawr
collega or sone-other leading college in
the immediate vicinity OF Philadelphia
and still remain at home. This is in itself
n great inducement for me to accept these
offers. At the same time l sincerely re-
greet leaving Council Bluffs, where l have
so many friends both in and out of the
schools"
On returning from Washington Mr.. Cliff
ford will remain in Council Bluffs until
September to finish up the work of or
ganizatlon for the new school year which
opens Monday, September Z.
Mr.. Clifford was elected principal OF the
high school In 1898 to succeed Prof. II. b.
Hayden, who was promoted TO the posi-
tion OF superintendent of the North Des
Moines High school. In 1900 Mr.. clifford
was elected superintendent and only re-
Gently was reelected to the position for an
other year. During the period OF his sup
erlntendency the work In the public schools
of this city has attracted the attention Of
the leading educators OF the COUNTRY
Mr., Clifford owns a nice home at 800 Fifth
avenue, opposite the High school building,