Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-07-24
The SchaoI Qneslfnu-

IN common with the press or this city,
daily and weekly, we entered an earnest pro
test against the scheme undertaken In the
school board 10 effect an unierhand change
in school teachers, without giving the teach
ers thus summsrily displaced any opportu-
piiy to be heard In the matter. As the plot
tiers In this scheme failed to rush the project
through 10 the way they proposed, and the
board decided that the teachers should have
hearing before the commit &c on teachers,
We have not felt called upon TO refer to the
matter lately, believing that the committee
would give the case just consideration. But
within day or two some anonymous COM
municatiOns Astounding in false statements
have appeared In the papers, evidently in
tended 10 influence the action OF the COM
mittee and the beard, that perhaps deserve q
word OF notice by way OF exposure OF their
mischievous and malicious character. Tnus
In yesterdays Cupital there is a communica-
lion introduced By some proper editorial
remarks upon the slight degree OF credit due
10 anony NOUS cOmmunications) In which
The following statement is made:
alt often happens that to avoid ceusure or
importantly the trustees are tempted to sc-
quiesce In appointments which they know to
De fDtudicious. To such an extent has this
acqu1escence been carried that some teach
tIs have grown TO think that they own the
places they have heretofore held, and insist
upon rejoicing themselves. TDey talk
elioly about unworthy trustees IL they dare
bodT ine sae ab. Pc r one Of them
The trustee VINO has dared to nominate an
other candidate Will not be In office ten days.
He says he will expend $500 to effectuate his
purposes Nor does this seem TO be an idle
threat. Already has he obtained admIttance
10 the columns OF several newspapers, and
FORMS"
Now is there one solitary word OF truth Ia
this string OF allegations? What say you
Messrs. Editors of the Republican, Chronicle,
Capital, Herald, Gazette, Seatinel, and other
papers here, daily and weekly, that have
censured the proposed mode of changing
teachers, have you been subsidized with
this $500 at The rate OF fifty dollars or less
apiece? But as IL Is charged that a portion
Of this corruption und Of $500 put up In this
lavish way by one OF our opulent teachers to
"effectuate" his purpose, is devoted to "mass-
ing outside pressur OF course the divide
amongst the editors must be good deal less
than $50 per man. II AL the maly hundreds
OF our best citizens who have been heard
lately denouncing the plot 10 remove Old and
capable teachers without hearing, or a word
of warning, have been bought up out of this
$500, we don't see how the editors can get
even IS apiece-that Is If they di vide fair
upon the rule urged upon her partner by
Mrs. Camp OF blessed memory.
But the allegations OF this anonymous
slanderer are too absurd TO waste further
space upon, and are only worth attention as
showing the style OF warfare OF these parties
who one year ago undertook to change
teachers by secret ballot, and who are try
ing 10 "efiectuate" their purposes now by
falsehood and duplicity. These anonymous
falsehoods are OF the same parentage evil
Gently as the one lately circulated that the
editor Of one OF the city papers is q relative
of one of the teachers, and therefore has an
interested motive In resisting his removal.
These plotters may as well understand that
the press of the city are speaking In this
matter Tor the interest Of the public, and of
the schools without regard either to trustees
or teachers; and that about the last mode TO
silence the papers Is by init midation or
charging interested motives upon them.
The secret-ballot plot ole year ago would
have succeed but for Its prompt exposure by
the press. The school board to its credit,
when its eyes were opened by that exposure,
refused TO sanction the scheme, but its orfgt- |
majors have been working industriously |
through the year, and now boast that they
have laid their wires so as TO insure success |
this time. We have no knowledge OF the |
ground for their boast but can hardly sup
pose that the majority OF the board and of |
The committee on teachers, who are honor |
able men, have given any authority for the |
suppositiOn that they have prejudged the !
case before the teachers have been heard.