Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1918-05-28
MISREPRESENTATION ARE MADE IN
EFFORTS TO BELlTTLE SCHOOL
BOARD OF DISTRICT NO.
LOCAL PAPER NOT CONTENT in ITS EFFORTS TO START SCHOOL
FIGHT AND MAKES CHARGES 1T is POWERLESS TO SUBSTAN-
TATE CONCERNING BUSINESS DEALINGS OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES
ATTITUDE IS CONDEMNED BY TAXPAYERS OF COMMUNITY

fOT the past lew WeehS lue HldlleT
of the dismissal of p M. Collins and
the election of A. r. Kent as super
intendents of the schools of Indepen-
dent School District No, A. has been
receiving a great deal of publicity
through private conversation and some
through the columns of the Times.
The Times claims that the school
trustees did not proceed with the
dismissal of Collins in an ethical
or courteous manner; that they did
not act with the proper prudence in
the selection of a successor; and fur
Their that the successor has misrep-
resented his educational qualifications
and that his reputation as to financial
responsibility is off color.
The Herald has investigated the
several charges made by its esteemed
contemporary and finds, first that
the charge that Collins was treated
discourteoGsly is groundless; in fact
he was treated more courteously than
any of the many superintendents of
schools of this district whose services
have been dispensed with in past
years; there was no personal animosi-
ty on the part of the trustees against
Collins; in fact they had the most
kindly feeling for him personally and
the change was simply made for the
best interests of the schools; that
Collins had been given the opportunity
to resign before his successor was
announced and he publicly announced
his resignation in the columns of the
/ Times.
Collins stated in his resignation
to the board that he wished to be
relieved on April Goth. AT a sub
sequent meeting of the board at
which Collins was present, he was
asked directly whether it was i'm
perative that he should leave on April
26th. He stated emphatically that it
was.
The board therefore considered it
self fortunate in being able to secure
Supt. Kent's services for the remain
der of the year.
The Herald does not at this time
pretend to be in a position to Judge
whether or not the charges against
Supt Kent are true. 1t does know
however that he was elected to the Of
| flee upon recommendation from the
editor of a leading northwestern
educational journal, state superin-
tendents of public instruction, county
superintendent of public instruction
and many members of school boards
where Supt. Kent has served in the
past 16 years as superintendent.
There can be no doubt but that the
school trustees exercised as great dill
| igence and caution in the electing of
Supt. Kent as has ever been displayed
by any board in this county or any
other county.
If the charges against Mr.. Kent
are true an exposure can harm him
but little. He has nothing TO loose.
But the accusations which The Times
has been printing of late are surely
harmful to the schools Of this district
and are sinister reflections against the
members of the school board.
/ 1t is a known fact that the Times
! had in its possession several day S
before its first article against the
school trustees and Supt. Kent was
published, information upon which
it's accusations against Mr.. Kent were
founded. 1t is also true that no word
of this knowledge reached any member
of the school board until the day
before the Times printed its flamboy-
ant article If the Times had had
the best interests of the school dis
trict at heart why did it not present
to the school trustees any information
it may have had and give the trustees
an opportunity to investigate the
charges against Mr.. Kent?
Is the Times presuming that the
people of this district and Boundary
county will ever believe that DR.. r
E. Fry, A. j. Kent, Fred Gleed, T. j.
Jones, Jos. Jacoby and w. II. Richard
son, all school trustees, were ever in
the slightest manner discourteous to
Collins or that individually or collect
lively, they would hire man as sup
erintendent of schools whom they
even suspicioned as one who would
make false representations of his
educational standing or ability, or
was irresponsible in financial trans
actions? The Times dares not
answer yes" 1t must answer" no
and then it is necessary to explain why
it did not give the school board the
data it had concerning Mr.. Kent and
allow them to satisfy themselves oil
its falsity or veracity before publicity
was given. Again we say that this
publicity is harmful to the local
school and casts abroad the impression
that our schools are handled by
| trustees VINO pay no ATTENTION u
their duties.
In its article on the school matter
the Times proves conclusively thai
it had an axe to grind for it has moi
been content to merely publish alleged
information concerning Supt. Kent but
it has gone so far in its effort tC
belittle the school trustees that it has
deliberately and maliciously misrep-
resented facts concerning the bust
ness transactions of the school board
The Times says; Shortly after the
election of Mr.. Kent here severa
new sewing machines were ordered
for the school Several additiona
teachers were employed, and prepare
lions set on foot for the publication o.
a school catalog."
Now il the editor OF the Times haC