The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-04-02
.SUPT. ]. G. CHAPEL
RESIGNS POSITION
BOARD REQUESTS RESIGNATION
WHICH is RENDERED
Superintendent Assigns Various Reasons
for Action of Board, All of Which
10 Denied by Latter.

"A very unfortunate circumstance IN
connection with the affairs of the Public
Schools of Clio has arisen during the
current week, whereby j. G. Chapel has
resigned as superintendent and much
public agitation in relation to his resig-
nation has taken place.
Briefly, the facts in the case seem to
be about as follows: That the school
board became dissatisfied with the disci-
pline they claim has existed and with the
general management of the schools
Following number of conferences with
Mr.. Chapel, they decided to ask for his
resignation at the end of the school year
and Secretary B. S. Jennings was dele
gated to tell Mr. Chapel of the Boards
decision. Mr.. Chapel claims that Mr.
Jennings came up to the school building
at recess and more or less publicly gave
him the information, thereby humiliat-
ing him. Mr.. Jennings, on the other
hand, says that he called Mr.. Chapel
aside and gave him the information
privately, and that if any of the scholars
heard it, it was because of the questions
Mr.. Chapel put to him, but that he
thinks none of them heard it, and that
it certainly was not his intention to
humiliate Mr.. Chapel or give any publi-
city whatever to the matter. Following
this talk between Mr.. Jennings and Mr.
Chapel, meeting of the Board was
held to confer upon the matter at which
time Mr.. Chapel rendered his resigna-
tion to take immediate effect, except in
case the Board would increase his salary
to $125. 90 per month, in which event be
would remain until the end of the school
year. 1t should, perhaps, be stated
that the contract entered into between
the Board and Mr.. Chapel gave either
party the privilege of canceling the
same at the end of the first school year,
otherwise it was to remain in force for
q two year period.
The Messenger does not propose to 60
into the pros and cons of this matter to
any extent because the testimony is
conflicting. Mr.. Chapelfeels aggrieved.
on the one hand. and on the other hand
the board feels that it has tried to do
its duty. The school board is elected
for the purpose Of directing the affairs
of the schools; it is quite possible that
it may often have sources of informa-
tion that it does not always feel at liberty
to make public, and in any event it will
have to be admitted that no superin-
tendent can be wholly successful who
cannot work in harmony with at least q
majority of the Board.
We have no disposition to criticise
Mr.. Chapel. Like the most of our
citizens, perhaps, we have not visited
the schools as often as the best citizen
ship would require, and our personal
knowledge is not sufficient to base an
intelligent opinion upon Everyone,
sowever, will agree that Mr.. Chapel
has been first-class citizen, who has
hupported everything that makes for
the moral advancement of the commun-
ity and the young people committed to
his charge, and everyone will hot e that
he may find his future field OF labor
agreeable and successful, wherever it
may be.
The boys and girls of the High School
have shown their regard for Mr.. Chapel
in no uncertain way during the week,
and it is complimentary to them, as
well as to him, that they have done so.
Mr.. Chapel has advised them to give his
successor the same measure of support
that they have accorded him, and this is
good advice, because the success of the
schools and their value in shaping the
lives of the boys and girls who attend
them is more important than the tenn
porary interests or opinions of any indi-
viduals, no matter which side they may
take in this or any other similar matter
We believe we are correct in assert
ing that facilities at the school at pres
ent are not of the best. There are
several changes that need to be made
in the way of equipment and room before
before any corps of teachers can secure
the best results. The public schools of
Clio constitute its most important public
enterprise. incomparably so, and it is
up to our citizens to see that all the
means of efficiency are provided.
w. ID. White, of Ortonville, teacher
of several years experience, we under
stand, has been engaged to take the
superintendency of the Clio schools and
will doubtless assume his duties within
few days. For some time past he has
been taking pedagogical course at the
Ypsilanti State Normal and would seem
to be properly qualified to make a sue
cess of his work here. That he will be
successful in the largest possible degree
will. we are sure, be the wish of every