The St. Joseph observer., 1920-02-21

grammar school princfpals-Miss En-
ma Mumm, Hosea. Miss Frances Bur
ris jackson; Miss Fannie Brennan,
Webster. and Miss Elizabeth Bolen.
South Park.
The Other Side
The other side was made up from
unorganized but vigorous opponents
chief among whom were Rev. Dr.
John F.. Casszey, pastor Of Francis
Street Methodist Church; the Rev.
Charles Wentworth, pastor of First
Methodist Church: Mrs. c. A. Clark.
president of the Blair Bliss Parent
Teacher Association: X. T. Green, T.
NJ. Longmuir. Bert T. Thayer. Wiley
o. Cox and Mrs. H. NJ. Robertson.
After the racket had been kept 60
ing until near / O'Clock in the morn
ing, il was then discovered that the
deadlock was 80 complete there was
no chance of its being broken, and
an adjournment was taken until Mon
day night The grievances OF those
opposed to Mays are consolidated in
these resolutions which were adopted
at a meeting held earlier in the week.
and which were read at the board in
curry Wednesday night. Here are the
resolution charges:
Why Ma's Is Unsatisfactory
I'VE. teachers and principals of the
elementary department, high school
teachers and patrons Of the st. Joseph
public schools in mass meeting as
sembled, do, in response to the invita-
ton of the board of education, pre-
sent to them the following statement
OF our objections to the administra-
ton of Mr.. Vernon G. Mays:
He has failed to organize his
teaching force. with the result that
there Is great loss Of time and en-
Iergy, and doubt and uncertainty in
the minds of his teachers, wherea s
there should be clear and definite
program, understood by the teachers
so that it could be followed with as
surance. He is vague and indefinite
in all his directions, and what he may
wish to convey is lost in a volume of
words.
His methods are destructive of
discipline. He inspires no confidence
in his teachers, is unable to secure
cooperation, and has, by lack of
leadership, lost the support and con-
fidence of his assistants.
His administration at the opening
of the school year killed enthusiasm
by tactless and pessimistic forebod-
lngs OF desertions and disloyalty with
in the teaching force and insulting
reflections on the hospitality of St.
Joseph.
He has, by lack of stimulating
leadership, driven from the teaching
corps many forward looking teachers.
He valves rules and regulations
in certain individuals and enforces
| Itechnicalities as to others.
]
"On a technically he has deprived
our school of competent teachers, and
would have excluded others of ac-
knowledged ability, had not the board
OF education interfered and righted
the injustice.
Lacks in Executive Force
His lack of executive force. his
vacillating ana indefinite conduct. has
convinced both teachers and patrons
that he is not competent to hold the
position he is endeavoring to occupy.
lie does not grasp and cannot appre-
ciate the province of an executive.
He seeks to act personally, even in
trivial matterss, rather than to secure
action through competent assistants,
under cooperative effort.
While he has been occupied with
such details, matters that are vital
have been neglected.
"As result of his clumsy and nro-
crastinating policy. the supplementary
readers purchased at a great expense
to the district have been rendered
practically useless.
AT the beginning Of his admins
tration, four years ago. he pronounc-
ed the course of study OF the St JOS
eph public schools antiquated. Grades
five, six, seven and eight are still US
ins this 'antiquated course the re-
vised course 8ont into effect in grades
one to four only at the beginning of
the present semester.
1T is obviously impossible to man.
age over 400 teachers and secure
practical results in thirty-five separate
schools, and among 1850 children
without executive authority.
i We make this complaint not with
any personal feeling toward Mr.. MAYS.
The welfare of the children and the
standing Of the schools are too impor-
tant to permit mere personalities to
enter into our consideration. ANY NJ