The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1910-06-02
TEACHERS REGRET DEPARTURE
Retiring Superintendent and His Wife
Will Make Long Trip Through the
Northwest Before Beginning Duties
at Manitowoc.


After a term of six years Peter j.
Zimmers gave up his duties as super
intendent of the Kenosha city schools
on Tuesday evening and he has left
Kenosha accompanied by his wife for
an extended trip trough the west.
The trip will include visit to Spo
kane and many other cities in the
northwest and the retiring superinten-
dent will spend-at least six weeks rest
ing before he goes to Manitowoc to
begin his arduous duties as superin-
tendent of the schools of that city.
The Kenosha schools viii be without a
superintendent from now until the end
of the year, the latter part of the pres
cnt month. The work of the superin-
tendent will be done by the principals
of the various buildings.
The retirement of Mr. Zimmers was
not officially noticed by the members
Of the board of education or the teach
ers Of the schools, but the retiring sup
erintendent carried with him many in
teresting letters received from the
teachers and school patrons in which
regret for his retirement was expressed.
Mr.. Zimmers will return to Kenosha
the latter part of July for few days
visit, but he has already removed his
family to Manitowoc and has opened a.
home in that city.
The retirement of Mr.. Zimmers is
regretted by many of the people of the
city who have takels deep interest IN
the schools, but most of these people
appreciate the fact that Mr.. Zimmers
has secured a much better position
than he had in Kenosha. The retiring
superintendent leaves as his monument
in Kenosha one of the best systems of
schools to be found in the state. Great
improvements have been made since he
was first elected as superintendent of
the schools. The natural growth of
the city has caused the number of
pupils in the school to be nearly
doubled and the teaching force has
been increased by more than forty
teachers. Many new departments
have been opened during the six years
and the plans for these new depart
ments were nearly all worked out by
the superintendent. Then there has
been an important work that has not
been so noticeable and that has been
a decentralization of text books in the
city. Kenosha school patrons have
seen few changes in text books since
the coming Of Mr. Zimmers and it is
pretty certain that the line of books
now in use in the schools will be CON
tinued for many years.
The retiring superintendent has seen
the construction of three new school
buildings and the enlargement Of the
Central building. He has brought
about better organization among Che
teachers, has fostered the athletic spirit
among the students Of the graded
schools as well as the high school, His
advice on school matters has been
sought many times by members Of the
board of education and he has given
it without fear or f or
1t is declared tina the main reason
for the retirement Of Superintendent
Zimmers was that he desired to get
somewhere where politics was not so
prominently brought out in the man
agement of the schools. In Manito-
woe the schools are under the direction
of a nonpartisan school board.
Mrs. Mary D. Bradford, the new sup
erintendent of the Kenosha schools will
finish up her work at the Whitewater
Normal the latter part of this month
and she will at once remove to Keno
sha. Most of the teachers have al
ready signed contracts for the new
year and Miss Ella Powers, the clerk
of the superintendent will be in charge
of the Office work until the end of the
year.