Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-08-17

Editor Rttldnd Herald The late ex-
ira ordinary action of the 9Th School Dis
trict in Clarendon, towards its teacher
Miss Lille Fl. Phillips, renders it incum-
bent on me think, to say few words to
the public in regard TO the matter. At
repeated visits and examinations, was
we'll pleased with the school in every re-
spect, fully convinced of the high quail
fcstions of Miss Phillips as a teacher, aud
of her earnest and devoted attention to the
best interests of the school. And 1 W as
much surprised on leaving the school
| house on my visit on the 9th of July, to
see at the door call for school meeting
not only. to shut the school house, against
Sunday school, but to censure Miss
Phillips also. At the school meeting DIR.
Holden introduced resolutions censuring
Miss Phillips for oxpelling certain
scholars for, as the resolutions alleged,
not going through a gymnastic exercise,
ed by their parents. Being permitted to
speak in the meeting though not men,
Der of the district, believing the charges
unjust, and wishing to ascertain the real
facts of the case, l asked and demanded
as a right, which the laws of the land ac-
cord to the humblost individual. that Miss
Phillips be invited to come into the meet
ing aud answer for herself before her &C.
cusers, which was opposed by Mr.. Hol.
den with his usual tact and ability for
nearly an hour, when the district voted to
hear her. But three men out of ten who
voted to turn a school out of the school
house, and tear down the christian mot
tees from it's walls, were found to vote
after the manner of the Spanish Inquisi-
ton to stihe the voice of the accused and
condemn her uuheard. Miss Phillips
with several lady friends then came into
the meeting and confronting her accusers
defended herself with great clearness,
force and eloquence. Rising superior
to, and defying her accusing judges, re.
minding one of the celebrated defence of
Robert Emmet, and convincing every I'M
prejudiced mind of the injustice of the
charges brought against her. l then rose
not to defend her, she had defended her.
self, but to appeal to the district to do her
justice, but proofs of innocence and appeals
for justice were alike in vain. For JUS
tice flies from that hall where the accusers
sit 90 judges and the accused is foredoom-
ed. And the resolutions were passed by
a vote of six out of the ten. I am fully
convinced by the strongest testimony that
she was censured, not for anything alleged |
in the resolutions (for the scholars were
not expelled for not going through the
gymuastic exercise, but for insolent in
subordination epgendered and encouraged |
by influences outside of the school housed
nor for any neglect of duty as teacher. |
But fell victim to that religious "war,"
which one of her judges said was "caused |
by that cussed Sunday school," Her great
offence was that she defed the demands |
of bigoted intolerance. And dared like |
Washington on the eve of battle, and |
Franklin in the first Congress, and Lincoln |
when the dark clouds of rebellion hung
round his head, to pray to the Supreme
Being for blessing and guidance in the
daily task before her. In this attempt to
disgrace teacher whom before they had
delighted to honor, teacher who has la
bored long and earnestly for the advance
ment of their school, raising it from an
inferior grade until it stood in advance
of any school in this town and compared
favorably with any in the adjoining
towns, has the district disgraced her or
themselves? An intelligent public will
decide.
The tickle and inconstant Athenians
passed An unjust sentence upon their
wisest and best teacher, did the
him or themselves. Whose name
will shine upon the page of history
with undimed lustre through all the
ages of time, the name of Socrates
or those Of his accusing judges.