Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 98, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 March 1917 — LETTERS FROM OUR READERS [ARTICLE]

LETTERS FROM OUR READERS

Unfair Criticism Is Detrimental to Schools. Editor Democrat:- — I wish to voice my protest -to the manner in which the editor of the Rensselaer Republican is seeking to disrupt and belittle the pulilic schools of Jasper county. It seems that no opportunity escapes him to make .some derogatory re- ; mark concerning the manner in which the schools are conducted 'and the progress being made by them. What does the editor of the Rehope to accomplish? Granting that the schools are not being conducted to his satisfaction —and it really concerns 'but few whether he is satisfied or not—has not the present superintendent of schools announced that he would not be a candidate for re-election? It leads one to think there is something personal behind the petty innuendoes voiced by Mr. Jlamilton. Perhaps the fact that he was defeated for the office of superintendent of schools by Mr. Lamson has something to do with his attacks on the latter. \ . Mr. Hamilton says that home teachers are being discriminated against In favor of foreign teachers. Is there realty a case on record where a home teacher has been fonced to go away for a position because of inability to secure a school In this county? Careful inquiry establishes the fact that there

is one, at least, but it is doubtful if there are anymore. There are several teachers from this county who are teaching elsewhere but it is not because they can not get a position here, but because they can get a better position elsewhere than this county offered them. Is that the fault of the county superintendent? It is not, and surely you will agree with me that he is thus being unjustly censured. It - has been roughly estimated that about 60 per cent of the district teachers of Jasper county are from other counties. Does this differ largely from the proportion of imported teachers in the commissioned schools, over which -the county superintendent has no jurisdiction? In Rensselaer fourteen of tiie tw'enty-three teachers are from outside the county;, in the Remington school 80 per cent of the teachers are not home people, and at Wheatfield 66 per cent of. the teachers are imported. In the other schools of the county having a liigly school course but under the direction of the county superintendent the ratio is about the same. At Tefft tbYT'per cent of Imported teacher® aggregates 75; at Demotte it is 40; at Fair Oaks it is 75, and at Parr it is 66. Mr. Hamilton recently took occasion to administer a slap at the county superintendent when he gave a report of the Jordan township spelling contest. Therein he stated that the trustee, county superintendent and a “few patrons” were present. As a matter of fact nearly all of the patrons were present and it was impossible for all to get in the building. Is-this the right manner of conduct from a man who presumes to be large enough to have once been county superintendent of schools, and w'ho now stands at the head of a newspaper purporting to stand for the rights of the people and the betterment of all forms of community life? Have not the schools of Jasper county made rapid strides of progress during the incumbency of the present county superintendent? Have not high schools been established, schools consolidated for greater efficiency, and other manner of forward steps taken? Would Mr. Hamilton hold up his. record as county superintendent and compare it, detail by detail, with the record made by Mr. Lamson? In all fairness to the schools and the school patrons of Jasper county I ask hirri Vo do this. Mr. Hamilton has seen fit to distort news items upon various. occasions that they may appear to the discredit and discomfiture of the county superintendent. Is this right; is it manly; is it to the best interests of the schools of Jasper county? Does Mr. Hamilton want to be county superintendent again, after having been turned down by his own party? xx