Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-29
RESIGNS IN HUFF,
ALLEGING B|GOTRY
War in Kearny Board Over Dis
elimination Against Cath
ole Teachers.

Town Council last DlBht- Mdyoi
Louis M. Brock refused to permit
Councilman McAteer's resignation to
be read and the meeting was hur-
riedly adjourned while councilmen
protested.
When members of the Board OF
Education openly professed their
preference for teachers of Protestant
faith for the public schools OF the
town a storm of indignation was
aroused, which eliminated with the
nublic demonstration of displeasure at
the meeting last night. Members OF
the education board who declared Tor
Protestant teachers are also members
Of the Board of School Estimate.
from which Councilman McAteer re-
signed last night.
The Mayor Objected.
When Councilman McAteer ascer-
tanned that the mayor had received
his resignation, addressed to the
executive council, he requested tnat
LIT be read. The mayor demurred'
| stating that the appointment to the
estimate board rested with the mayor
and that he preferred not to nave
| the resignation read. =.
al don't care to let 1t go that way,
answered Mr.. McAteer, you shouidn
stand in my way. My resignation
means a protest. l am not submitting
II because of any duties imposed as
a. member of that board, but. simply
because 1 don't feel that l can as
sociate with men in my official du-
ties who are not in accord with the
principles of Americanism.
The audience met this declaration
with a storm of applause, but Coun-
Gilman McAteer announced that ne
considered the matter too grave Tor
applause, while he had no doubt that
the people who applauded were in ac-
cord with him. He continued;
ut is too serious for the town and
the State to think that members OF
an official body who are charged with
the care of the young in our public
schools would dare to declare ideas
of their own regarding religion In the
public schools.
Councilman Out OF Order.
The councilman then announced he
would not vote for adjournment I'M
less his resignation was presented to
the Council. Mayor Brook declared
his only objection was that the resig-
nation should be brought up for pub
lie discussion. When McAteer was
about to hand Clerk Ross a copy OF
his resignation the mayor declared the
councilman out Of order.
"Well. can 1 not resign as chair
man of the finance committee?'
asked the councilman.
Yes" replied the mayor.
THAT carries with it my resigna-
ton from the Board of School Esti-
mate" safd McAteer.
The latter sat down and wrote out
| his resignation. The clerk read II
and McAteer moved 1t be accepted.
No one seconded the motion. Then
the mayor called for an adjournment
and in an instant McAteer was on
his feet. Councilman William F..
Davis shouted: 1T don't think we
should adjourn"
The mayor. however, walked from
| the council chamber. but neither
Clerk Ross nor anyone else could tell
who moved for adjournment or who
seconded the motion. The members
of the Board of School Estimate are
Mayor Brock, Councilman McAteer
and Walter R. Chapman, Gerrish
Newell and George A. Alexander,
president and vice-president respec-
| lively of the Kearny Board of Edu-
cation.
McAteer's Statement.
The statement given out by Coun-
Gilman McAteer after the meeting Is
as follows:
| In submitting my resignation as a
| member of the Board of School Esti-
mate, as a protest against the dis
| eliminating acts of the Board of Edu-
| cation. | do so with very much re-
gret. l regret that my resignation
| Is necessary, though 1t Is JustihaDle.
| 1t would be inconsistent for me to
| serve longer with men in connection
the town who express themselves
| against teachers in the public schools
who are not of their religious. faith.
l say that my resignation is justi-
knowledge of actual discrimination
| against the employment of Catholic
| teachers. My resignation is neces-
sary because an ugly situation would
with the men who believe in the prin-
| ciple of discrimination in the public
| schools, and who serve with me at
| the present time on the Board of
| School Estimate.
would call the attention of the
Mayor and members of the council to
the statement of members of the
| Board of Education when they ap-
| peared before the council with their
present school budget. At that con-
| ference the difficulty in getting good
teachers was, a question that received
| serious consideration. 1t was said
-. - f-T cd in a 4
degree for the extremely high jump
! in the teachers salary scale.
Since then l have learned that at
least one Kearny girl, whose father
| is citizen and taxpayer Of the town,
made application for appointment as
teacher in our schools (and when
say our schools, | mean the public
| schools, in which l have a deep in
ated from our Kearny High School
with highest honors: she later at
tended and graduated from St.. Eliza
beths College. at Convent Station
n. j. a college whose graduates are
in every way competent and are en-
titled to teach in any public school
in the State, or in fact. the United
ton was not favorably received by
the Board of Education and she has
received no reason therefor.
would suggest that this is sub
iect for councilmanic investigation.
as after all. the people who pay the
taxes hold the members of the coun-
ell to account for the present heavy
tax burden, whether IL be for schools
or town purposes.
II is unnecessary for me TO tell the
members of this body that the prin-
| ciple which certain members of the
| Board OF Education would inculcate
in our educational system Is Hntag.
onistic to the liberal beliefs OF al
Americans.
Kearny taxpayers will be asked &c
raise s109, 1861 for public school pur-
poses In the town for the school year
beginning July |. This was reported
last night at a meeting of the coun-
ell The Board Of School Estimate
/ nu..nnA. Go r,fs, Ai...a nil