Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1869-01-16

| HE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AGAIN.-We have
received the following communication
from the editor of the Westbote, to which
we cheerfully give place. twill be seen
that although he is a member of the
School Board, and has full ana free access to
the books, papers and regulations of the
Board-all of which, of course, we have
not-it has taken "dilligent investigation
on his part to attempt to disprove our
statements The facts as we gave them,
were notorious, and have been the town
talk. We have never claimed that the
teachers were responsible for any of the
wrongs complained Of. We go higher,
and lay them to the Board of Education
and the Superintendent.
1t will be seen that the writer, while
virtually admitting all we said-except as
TO Mr.. Kirkwoood-lets himself down as
easily as possible.
The discussion of this question has al
ready been productive of good. We know
of children now being permitted to warm
themselves at the registers to whom last
week it was forbidden. We have not writ
ten line in any captious or tault-finding
spirit but only to have alleged abuses in
quired into and corrected. That this has
been done within the past week, we know,
and are pleased to put it on record.
COLUMBUS, Jan. 15, 1869.
Editor Ohio Statesman I'm answer to the
s'fancies" of your Local, permit me to state
the following facts which appear after
diligent investigation:
ED. WEsTBoTE.
1st. For many years past, at least twelve,
teachers have been required to be at their
school rooms at least fifteen
minutes before the regular time for OPEN
ing the schools in the forenoon and after
noon, and in case of cold or stormy wealth
er, to open at that time for the admission
of the pupils. Oh the 14th day of Janua-
ry, 1868, this rule was so changed as to re-
quire teachers to have their rooms open
half an hour before the time for beginning
school from Nov. 1st to April 1st, and fif-
teen minutes before such time during the
rest of the year. The teachers have been
and are faithfully complying with this
rule.
ID. Pupils in all the schools are and have
been permitted to warm themselves at the
stoves and registers. In but one school
were pupils refused this privilege, and that
but for short time. The course taken by
the teacher in this case was not known to
tie superintendent; had it been, it would
have been changed at once.
8. In some cases pupils who come quite
distance and bring their dinner, remain
N their respective school rooms with the
ley in their possession, and may lock the
loor on the inside. In some buildings,
when teachers remain during the noon re-
.ess, the outside doors are locked, the keys
In the doors or with the teach
RS or janitor within the building. No pu-
,ils are locked up in the school rooms or
Ienied proper and necessary ingress or
,gress.
4th. Mr.. Mitchell did not resign at the
lose of the last school year on account of
insufficient salary, but to accept an ap-
,ointment from the Executive Committee
# the State Teachers Association. as was
ully stated in his resignation. Mr.. Kirk
wood did not decline the appointment of
of the Columbus schools
m the ground of small salary.
By the way, we submit the following
onundrum to the Westbote: Why did
dr. Kirkwood refuse to accept?