Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-03-30
The school Board Star Chamber
To the Rditor of the Ledger:

The school Board Star Chamber.
To the Editor of the Ledger;
In December last principal Barnum's
mismanagement Of the Clay street col
ored school, aud his employment therein
Of a superuumerary teacher, BECAME the
subject Of public discussion and investi-
CATION by a committee. His misconduct
and unftness for the position became
manifest, but the School Board never
theless retained him in place.
There was one teacher in that school
MRS. Thompson) too honest to cover up
Mr.. Barnum's Encouragement and too
independent to play the ~sycophant, and
upon her he determined to wreak his
vengeance. Mr.. Barnum preferred
against her charges OF incompetency
and insubordination.
The trial before a committee OF the
School Board occupied four or five
nights. Many witnesses were examined,
and the testimony in her favor was over
whelmiDg. She produced a certificate
Of competency issued by this very
School Board, bearing the great red
seal = Of the Board and the signatures o.
its President, Charles Kortrecht, and
Secretary j. G. Cairns and Superintend
ent A. Pickett. Besides this she pro
duced certificates Of scholarship anC
qualifications to teach from two or three
institutions of learning and Professors
in Ohio; and the testimony Of Colone
Tyler and Mr.. Slaughter establishing hel
proficiency as a teacher. She had beer
employed in the public schools Of Mem
phis three or four years. The testimony
not only vindicated her from the charges
but demonstrated that Mr.. Barnum'i
animus in the matter was to rid himsel
Of a teacher whom he could not MAKE
subservient, and whose presence in thu
school he dreaded rs a check upon hi
mismanagement. The committee, if
am correctly informed, acquitted her o
the charges, but the School Board, by
vote Of eight to seven, refused 10 hea,
the testimony, and dismissed her from
the school.
So damning was the testimony to tn
management OF the schools and the con
duct of Mr.. Barnum, that Mr.. Picket
| the Superintendent, who is properly re
sponsible therefor, was heard to remarI
during the trial that some other methoI
must be devised Of getting rid of teach
ers; that tive more such trials as thi
would kill the city schools. And well h,
might say it, for the Development OF thu
internal workings Of the system wa
enough to kill it.
Some means Of getting rid of honest
argus eyed teachers must be foun,
which would not expose to public gaz
the incompeteney and mslfeasance Q
the ring running our public schools, az,
forthwith be it said, to the shame of
majority of the School Board, they Of
gained a Sar Chamber commission
composed of the President of the Boar
(Dr. Mitchell), the chairman of tn
Committee on Teachers and th
superintendent (Mr A. Pickett). wit
plensry power to decapitate any obnos
ious teacher by secret order withou
a trial. Mr.. Pickett, like a second Eal
of STAFFORD, but without his genius Q
courage, may now summon before thi
Star Chamber commission any refractor
teacher and send him or her to tn
block without the form of a tria
Hereafter let teachers hold their tongue
and shut their eyes to the misconduct {
their official superiors lest they wax
some morning and find their heads Gu
off. Excuse the bull A day of reol
oning came at last to Laud and StrafforC
as well as to their royal master, Charlie
Stuart. Letthe School Board ring appl
the lesson. MINOR MERIwETHER.