The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-12-31
COMMUNICATIONS.


4 Reply.
EpIToR PREss: In your issue OF last
week we find "A Card" over the nom dc
plume of Majority" feel that -aid
tack upon my professional character and
reputation, and demands a reply from
me. I do il over nay own signature,
and do not hide behind an assumed
name a. the author of the "Card" has
done; and demand that hereafter If he
has anything more 10 say in the matter,
to say il over his real name unless he
is ashamed of it. know nothing as TO
the Tribune correspondent, but suppose
him amply able to take care of himself.
Majority" mot a majority of the
Board) states the fact, viz: that / never
was assistant teacher in the High School.
This is true, for an attempt to force me TO
act in that capacity by the Superinten-
dent and a majority of the Board, led
me to resign my position. was imposed
upon once, and vowed il shonld neuer be
done again. Some two years ago when
| Taught the 2nd intermediate school,
Mr.. Kelso, the Superintendent. request
ed me to allow some of his pupils TO re-
cite in nv class in Geography, to which
I readily consented. In a few days he
requested me to hear a class in Gram
mar advanced Grammar, according to
regulations, was not taught in that grade)
and desire TO accommodate led me to
change my programme and shorten the
recitations of my own pupils. Then
came the request, "Will you hear them
read2' and so on, until / heard them In
every srudy but one. My number OF
pupils was generally about double his
yet he was getting fonr dollars per day,
and I was doing my own work and part
of his, and receiving only one dollar
and twenty-five cents per day.
But to the point now at issue: At
the beginning of this year the Superin-
tendent began to hint about his classes.
| declined to hear any of them, though
I gave him to understand if he thought
he had too many pupils, would take
an extra grade in my room, which he
would not consent to do, as his average
attendance was less than mine. ] refus-
ed to do the work and he get the credit.
According to his own statement: first it,
was a class of about twelve pupils to be
heard in Geography-secondly. it was
class of Eve or six in Arithmetic-then
there was some talk of an Algebra class.
7 repeatedly offered to take the grade
but was refusedl ] must do the work, he
receive the most pay and all the credit.
This was, deem, unfair and unjust
no doubt the majority of the Board
thought would bow down and humble
myself to their dictations and behests.
As toithe statement, II ,Uas requested 20 re-
sign," brand that as a malicious false
hood, and if persisted in by its author
or authors, I shall demand the preof of
the assertion; and the declaration that
the Board decided unanimously that
the request was reasonable and for the
best interests of the schools, is alike an
nnblushing misstatement, and the au
thor knew it to be such when he made
it, if he knew what he was saying. Two
members of the Board were in favor of
investigating this matter before acting,
the majority were opposed; they had
.a--,rr.ts Lna,,IeJoa Vat shaw
feel hurt when accused of injustice.
said from the first that / would rather
resign than have pupils come in my
room from Mr.. Kelso's to recite, and
Thus create confusion and discord, and
did promptly resign unconditi,r,siiy. |
when the majority of the Board at
tempted to farce on me such an injustice
through their leader. Though poor
girl, think we can live without being
trampled upon by the gorgeous rich
though ''he be to the manor born and |
newly imported"
In conclusion, l would say the pub.
lie ought to know something of their
school matters, to which, want of space
forbids me calling their attention. / |
have no modification whatever in this |
matter, on my part. ] have done what
| conceive TO be demanded by honor and
professional obligation; my only regret
is to part with so many very interesting
and intelligent pupils that were under
my care in the Grammar school.
EMMA HEssE.