Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-03-15
SUPERINTENDENT PICKETT.
A Mistake or an Intentional Wrong
Committed by the Superintendent
OF Public Schools.

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A Mistake or an Intentional wrong
Committed by the Superintendent
OF Public SCHOOLS.
The following communication from a
we'll known citizen appeals to the good
sense and feelings of the members OF
the Educational Board who concurred
in the recommendation of Superintend
ent Pickett in removing a teacher with.
out proper cause. Assuming that the
facts are true, and we believe them to
be, we unhesitatingly assert that the
members Of the Educational Board can
do no less than perform an act Of ius-
tice by reinstating the removed teacher
without placing themselves in a very un-
enviable light before the public. Mr.,
Pickett, in whom we honestly admit we
have but little confidence and believe
that he is utterly incompetent for the
position held by him, may have uninten-
tionally fallen into error and may have
committed the act Of injustice without a
full knowledge Of the facts in the case,
but the Board Of Education, elected BY
the people, must not commit the same
mistake, as in the majority Of them
not ALL the public have confidence.
With this short, yet plain and matter. Of.
fact, Introduction we submit the follow.
ing appeal;
To the Honorable School Board:
Believing that you are not fully in.
formed Of the facts connected with the
recent suspension Of Miss Sue Murphy,
| beg leave to call your attention to t6e
same:
1t appears that Miss Murphy was
called to 90 to her mother, who was ex.
tremely and dangerously i'll. She re.
sponded to that call promptly, as every
afectionate and dutiful daughter should
do. On account of protracted and very
severe sickness, she fingered to minister
to the necessities and comfort of an af.
aicted mother far beyond the time at
first anticipated. But upon learning Of
the urgent need of her presence in her
school, she telegraphed to the Superin:
tendent that she would be here on a Ger.
tain day, and leaving her mother, though
better, still unable to rise from her bed,
she took the train for Memphis, but the
sudden storm in Alabama and the stop.
page Of the train delayed her about
twelve hours.
When she arrived she went directly,
before school hours, to the Superintend-
ent's Office TO report for duty, and not
finding the Superintendent there, she
proceeded to the school-room, where she
was greeted by her former pupils with
shouts Of rejoicing and uncomfortable
delight at her return; but she o
learned that another teacher had been
appointed in her place about an hour be.
fore her arrival, and that her services
were no longer required The Superin-
tendent informed me that the school had
suffered much from her absence. and il
was a matter Of necessity to appoint an.
other teacher.
| heartily agree with him that the
school suffered from her absence, and
furthermore that it is still suffering from
the same cause, and that is the very i'm.
portant reason why ! think she should
be restored to her former charge at once.
| Ins.ead Of faithful affection for an az
hicted mother being a reproach and
cause for rejection, it should challenge
the admiration and insure the lasting
friendship Of every noble heart; and
am greatly mistaken if there is not suHi
eient magnanimity in your honorable
Board to correct the mistake which |
think the Superintendent has made in
this matter.
| believe | express the sentiments Of
nine-tenths of both parents and pupils
when J say that it is earnestly desired
that Miss Murphy be restored to her
former charge in the Peabody school.
Very respectfully,
l.. s. KNowLToY.