Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 156, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 July 1915 — EXPRESS APPROVAL OF SCHOOL CRITICISM [ARTICLE]

EXPRESS APPROVAL OF SCHOOL CRITICISM

Disappointed Teachers and Applicants and School Patrons Say That Change is Needed.

The names of many others who have run across Superintendent Lamson’s pruning knife in the matter of licenses to teach school are being supplied to The Republican every day and the list is surprisingly large. Mrs. William Petty, who is said to have been a splendid teacher and who taught successful schools in this county for a number of years, was denied a license kui; year. Miss Day Jordan, a successful teacher for a number of years, was also refused a license. Miss Rosabelle Daugherty, a graduate of the Rensselaer high school, failed to receive a license although she took the normal course. Miss Zelda Daugherty taught for six years, sending her papers to the state superintendent to be graded after failing to be licensed by Mr. Lamson. She quit teaching because she did not approve of Mr. Lamson’s control of the schools, saying that housekeeping suited her much better than having to contend with the poor encouragement he gave to his teachers. There were only 14 took the June examination in Jasper county this year. FonnearlSuperintendent* Hamilton states that when he was the superintendent, there were almost always from 40 to 50 took the examination. It is regarded by many that it does no good for Jasper county applicants to take the examination, for they feel that they are sure to be turned down. One of John Tilton’s daughters was denied a license until lost September and it was too late then to get a school. During the year two or three vacancies occurred, teachers who had made such a miserable showing that Mr. Lamson could not stand for them being let out, but Miss Tilton was not given any place, other teachers being brought in from outside to supply the vacancies. The Republican is being congratulated by many who are deeply interested in our schools and by those who have heard the rumblings about the fact that Jasper county boys and girls were being turned down, for having brought these matters to the attention of the public. It seems unanimously agreed, so far as we have been able to ascertain, that Mr. Lamson is not qualified to manage the schools of the county and that there is a lack of inspiration in the important work of education. One teacher remarked that the most depressing thing that ever happened in their school room was a visit from Mr. Lamson. It was a wet blanket they said and it took a long time to recover from the effects.

One teacher reported that a problem had vexed her slightly in one of her schools and she asked Mr. Lamson how it was to be solved. He replied: “Oh, don’t pay any attention to such little things.” That year her success grade was reduced and she was surprised to find upon inquiry that the basis for the reduction was the very thing about which she had 'asked the superintendent’s advice. Another teacher said that she had never yet received a direct reply to any question asked Mr. Lam son about school management and expressed herself as believing that he either did not know or did not care. Louis H. Hamilton, who managed to keep up a deep spirit of interest in ‘the schools of the county when superintendent, visited his schools frequently and helped his young teachers all of the time. He did not have an assistant in his office and did not have an automobile for which the taxpayers put up the money but he had the schools on a much higher plane than they are at this time and he managed to keep practically all of them in the hands of Jasper county teachers. After he was defeated for superintendent he helped State Superintendent Cotton grade the papers of those taking the examination. Explicit instructions were given at that time to grade the manuscripts with a view to doing thorough justice to the applicant and not to defeat them upon technical grounds.

A party who attended the commencement exercises in Barkley township this year told of the speech made by Mr. Lamson. After Rev. Titus nad made a fine speech and Trustee Davisson had also made a very good talk, Mr. Lamson told a story about a bull and used the term a half dozer times or more and also used the term “blamed fool” a time or two. The talk was far below what the auditors had a right to expect of the superintendent of the schools of s county and a man who had been a teacher for some years himself and who should have some appreciation of the dignity of his position. Another told of &h address he made at one commencement, where he told the graduates that they were from the country and consequently were green,

but not to be discouraged for “green things grow.” The reports of the trustees for the past year show that a number had paidrlfr. Lamson for agricultural books. Just what this deal was we have not had an opportunity to investigate fully, but we believe there is a law that forbids the superintendent from selling anything to trustees. The board of education will meet Monday* and it is not probable that Mr. Lamson will resign, but it is a great misfortune if he is retained, for the schools of Jasper county are not doing what they should under his management ,and teachers are not being given a chance to continue, new teachers are not given a chance to get started and teachers from other counties are being brought in to get the money that should be spent with aspiring boys* and girls in Jasper oounty. If this agitation has only the result of heading off the employment of the agency teachers, the kind for whom schools can not be found in their home counties and who have to pay agents 5 per cent of their wages to find them jobs, it will be a great benefit to the schools. It is not probable that Mr. Lamson has the ability to raise to a full appreciation of the dignity and importance of his position, for having had eight years’ experience and having permitted the schools to depreciate in their work

all that time, a spontaneous reform is not expected. It would be a splendid thing if he were to step aside and al- x low some one with initiative like Superintendent Ross Dean of the city schools, or former Superintendent I. N Warren, or former County Superintendent L. H. Hamilton or Leslie Sayers, head of the _ Wheatfield schools, have the job. We venture that there would under any of the four named be found a way of giving a chance to the deserving boys and girls of Jasper county who have had four years in high school and a teaching course in normal. Let us hear jfrom others who have bumped against the Lamson style of elimination. And let us hear from any who have anything to say in his favor. So far we have not had a I singel person offer a word in his defense.