National Republican., 1876-08-09


habits of teachers, go important a matter, a:
the use of intoxicating drinks, cannot be ig
nored by those upon whom their fellow citizens
have imposed the sworn trust of choosing pub
lie instructors for their children.
The plea that the use is SO moderate a:
not TO disqualify him for his school-work doet
not touch the question of the pernicious infu
ence Of such an example upon boys. 1t is no,
how much he drinks, but that it is his practice
to visit pubic bars, and that his boys know it
Neither will the set off of acting under medi
cal prescription avail, because a man drinking
whisky under the advice of a physician need
not, and he certainly would not, unless man
of social habits, so called, drink openly at the
public bars. When the doctor finds his pa
ii mt pursuing such course he generally
orders halt.
a It is very humiliating that it appears in evi
dence that Mr.. T. has taken the social glass at
public bars, not only with members of the
board and eX-trustees, who now advocate his
re-appointment, but with those who oppose it
This only makes 1t the more imperative for
this board TO place itself by its action in this
case squarely on the side of public morals and
TO determine, at least so far as this precedent
can fix it, that the training of our youth shall
not be committed to those whose example may
in any wise tempt to ruin.
This case has excited painful interest not
only from the facts developed, but from the
long and successful career of Mr.. Thompson as
Q teacher. The expectations raised by his
former sue. csS as a teacher have not been
realized in his new position of supervising
principal, and the committee would willingly
have thrown over his personal faults the
mantle of charity had not this public exhibit
been compelled by the indiscreet acts of some
of his friends. JOHN RANDOLPH,
GEO: w. DYER.
concur in the conclusion of my associates,
Mcssrs. Randolph and Dyer.
CHAs. E. HovEY.
Trustee Lloyd submitted
MINORITY REPORT,
as follows: The undersigned, minority of the
committee on teachers, respectfully report
that after a very careful examination of the
evidence in the case of John E. Thompson, we
are unable to concur in the conclusions of the
majority report, for the following reasons:
That the allegations that Mr.. Thompson has
not taken proper care of the school properly,
as supervising principal of said district has not
been sustained BY any evidence; but, on the
contrary, proof has teen elected that the school
property is in as good condition now as when
he took charge of it as supervising principal
two years ago, reasonable wear excepted.
A personal examination of Jefferson School
building by the committee developed the fact
that the desks in the Male Grammar school,
condition than other desks in the same build
ing that had leen used only four years.
As TO the water-closcts on the male side of
the building, situated two hundred feet in tie
rear, it clearly appears from the evidence that
the principal is not in fault for their condition
inasmuch as the janitor is about much of the
time during the school hours attending to his
Grivate business elsewhere.
The success and efficiency of Mr.. Thompson
as teacher are sustained by sbundaut testi-
nony, and are admitted by the committee and
Mr.. Thompson's efficiency as
4 teacher was not questioned by the commit
Tee. Mr.. Thompson's qualifications as surer-
Vising principal and teacher having been
proven, at the very last moment an effort was
made TO attack his private character as a man.
4 formidable list of restaurants and principal
hotels was presented, and an inquiry was made
whether Mr.. Thompson had been in all of the
Mr.. Thompson, in order to save time and
avoid any appearance of concealment, frankly
admitted that he may have, in the course of
life time residence in this city, visited any or
perhaps all ofthem, chiefly for lunch, and he
denied visiting them as a habit for
he purpose of using intoxicating drinks, al
.hough declaration was made that witnesses
we're present to prove that he had been in all
IF these places. Not ore of them was ever
asked to specify one, and the aggregate of the
proof by all the witnesses together eas that
le might have been in restaurants OF hotels I
lOzcn times within the last two or three years
To this may be added the testimony Of Mr..
Ballantyne to the effect that he had seen Mr..
thompson III past years, AID much less fire.
luently during last yeor, going into restau-
ants about noon. Mr. Ballantyue does not
estiIy 10 his d-iuEiug. The evidence shows
hat Mr.. THOMPSON received invitations from
rustees 10 visit restaurants and drink with
htm, but no word Of reproof was ever given
" trustee that the example was bad
or his pupils. There was 10: a sciutiila of
vidcncc adduccd that Mr.. Thompson had ever
rank with or in the presence of his pupils, or
vel teeGi 10 the least under tie influence of
quor.'
There is 70 rule of the board interdictinS a
rustee or a teacher from entering hotel or a
estaurant, and it is difficult to conceive any
eason why the example of 4 trustee IS less
important than that of a teacher. In the case
f Mr.. Thompson tie evidence shows that, Sd
ar from having been reproved for his course, he
las been encouraged in it by the trustees. vi. !
thompson having lived forty five years in this
where the views in regard to this
natter are not so rigid as in some more North
IN cities, it is not surprising that he fell in
nth the customs of the people, among whom
lie has lived so long. 1t would not be unrea-
enable to expect that those who entertain diff
erent views should at least caution and re-
rove before undertaking to inflict the extreme
enalty for non-concurrence with them.
In all points of morals ard practice in which
here is any common agreement of opinion Mr..
thompson is not only above renroach, but is a !
.s ezaIYie Tor The youth Of this city.
The charge that Mr.. Thompson has called
oys in school Glars" testified to by two or
hree ex-pupiIs, wlo evidently appeared to be
by personal hostility, is fatty con-
radicted by the testimony of thirty pupils
Who have been a:tt nding his school during the
asst three or four years contemporaneous with
he BOYS who testified adversely. The state
nent of three pupils is hereto annexed and
made part of this report. For twenty seven
ears Mr.. Thompson has been teacher in the
rom the trustees the strongest expressions of
heir approval.
Wherever the schools are known his name
S mentioned with honor. Hundreds of our
est citizens are living testimonials to his eff
iency. No stain rests upon his character,
ven discoverable by the microscopic inspec-
ions of this investigation. The charges
alleged against him have been dis
,roved or abandoned. The confidence so long
eposed in him has not been shaken. All of
he ex-trustees of the district with two ex-
;eptions) which he has so long served, with
many of his old pupils, representing hundreds
testiti d in the strongest terms to
liz efficiency as a teacher and supervising
principal and the almost unanimous desire of
he people of that district for his retention.
To remove him would be not only to dis
egard the wishes of those most interested,
yut it would be blow at the confidence ofthe
,ublic in the management of our public
chools.
The minority of the committee, therefore,
that Mr.. John E. Thompson be
confirmed as teacher and supervising principal
If the Fourth district.
B. F. LLOYD,
T. w. MoFFATT.
CHARGES AGAINST THE BOARD.
Trustee Dyer, from the special committee