Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-01-04

haste OF the committee 10 get iess than 30
per cent OF correct answers, they have
marked a numter. Incorrect, which will
stand the test Of criticism.
l wish it understood that enter INV
protest against the article Of "many Teach
! ers," in SO far as they charge upon the
Board disposition to show favors to my
! self bey ond what the circumstances Of the
case viii! warrant in ius,ice-anl further.
against that part of their reply in which
reference is made to the "proviso' adopted
by the Board at the time they re- establish
ed their rules and regulations They claim
that any committee winch two thirds" If
the Board may select would show partlaiity
and not do them and the aggrieved party
justice. | claim to be the first Teacher
elected by the Board. and desire that at any
time. present or future, when the Board
shall see the necessity Of acting independ-
emily of the Superinte endent that Justic may
be done, that they retain the power so to
act
The Teachers who have resigned and the
Superintendent, are y unit in their oppo-
sition to myself, and yet they have none O
them the manlihess to say so and meet the
consequences When one Of my friends Of
fered them my resignation if it would salts
fy their demands. they would rot accept it
and return to their positions, but every act
they put forth. and word they utter on this
subject, is derogatory to my requirements
and in opposition to my holding the posi-
tlon to which was elected by majority
of the Board. and hold at the wish of the
patrons.
In the certificate which hold from the
Superintendent, he mentions an examina
tien in reading. l wish it understood,
however. that he gives no credit whatever
for excellence in this branch, which is re
garded BY most parents as very important
in primay education
| am unwilling that these teachers and
the Superintendent shall prate OF my incom-
potency, basing their opinions upon my
examination on these cards They know
well that it is no test Of scholarship and
two Of the principles who have resigned,
have said that they would never submit to
another. Those departments in which we
may claim to excel or to be useful, are pass
ed entirely by. Experience in discipline
and success in teaching have no reward
and all that gives character to the man, dis
tinguishing him from the book 'Ming," or
those shadows in society who are the refec
tion of somebody else, are accounted a.
nothing when contrasted with the child
who has committed his exercise.
The above cards were prepared expressly
for my second examination. have not insti-
tuted comparisons between them and those
upon which the other teachers were exam-
ined, though majority of the Board have
eaid, (and this influenced them in their ac
tion in regard to myself that it required
more study to obtain so per cent on these
than 80 per cent on the others Some here |
thought singular that l should have been |
allowed q second examination. Two of the |
teachers, favortes of the Superintendent
occupying principals positions. who "sig
nally" failed on their first trial, had been
allowed this privilege before and so of
course was entitled to it, They however
were allowed much longer time to refresh |
their memories in the primary text books
than myself, and barely succeeded at last,
but Oh this occasion one of them resigns
| am willing to do anything that will
bring harmony again to the School CT the
City-but l hope the board will consider
long before they encourage the sacrifice of
the noble profession Of teaching to the rro-
motion of the ambitious ends CT individuals. |
or before they permit a man, who cannot
rise above himself in the discharge Of his
duties. to reign with absolute power in the
City Schools. A. A. GRIFFITH.