The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-06-13

by some' Well, perhaps the position is
coveted much more than the threats by that
indefinite some" And Just here is good
place to suggest to that young reporter that
he acquire at least a tolerable use of the COM
mon English before he attempts to pile on
the French. He took strides, no doubt,
outside of his business" In Muncie and
vicinity there are men of brains, men of
wealth and influence, men of unquestion-
able character, men of many years residence
here, men who were identified with the ed
vocational interests of the county before your
reporter was born, who believe that the &C
ton of Mr.. McRae was perfectly legitimate
and entirely within the compass of his bust
ness. What he did was done under the sane
ton of Mr. John McClintick, the president
of the school board who also
took an active part in the same
nent business men were vigorously exert
direction. Quite a number of the promi
ing themselves to the same end for which
Mr.. McRae was working; indeed, one of the
defeated candidates declared nearly ali the
leading men had used their in
huence against him. No doubt this
assertion very closely approximates the
truth. These men are not ward
politicians; they keep out of every thing OF
the kind, and they regretted very much that
this SUPPLEMENTARY matter had been work
ed up by few chronic place hunters to a
state of affairs that forced them to take part
in it. They publicly gave their reasons for
their actions in the matter. They say they
are opposed to ingratitude, and as the de-
feated candidates were chiefly indebted to
Mr.. Todd for all the positions they ever
held in this city, and for ali the prominence
they ever had in the county, the school Off
GERS took this plan to place themselves
square on the roll of honor. Then the school
men here are not in favor of putting man
out so long as he is doing good work; they
never favor change until change is necessary;
they are opposed to change merely to crafty
the towering vanity of ambitious and I'M
tried adventures. Mr.. Todd has filled the
place five years, and men of educational
ability say that he has weeded out about all
the incompetent teachers, and thereby
brought the teaching ability of the county
up to a standard that will compare favora-
bly, with that of any county in the state 1t
is quite possible, too that in this fact lies
the great bulk of the opposition to him.
Another reason these gentlemen had for re-
electing Mr.. Todd is that they have an ar
rangement with him by which they are try
ing to run the schools of the country and the
schools of the city for the mutual benefit of
each other. The city school officers refuse
all offers from book agents to exchange text
books even, unless the agents will give the
same advantage to the whole county. And
further, they wish to retain him because
they know he is competent TO examine the
graduates of the Muncie high school, And
last, though not least, they used their influ-
ence against the unsuccessful applicants
because they 1.-THE school officers) are in
favor of ethics among teachers, and will do
all in their power to discourage every enter
prise that shows such fragrant want of it
They hold that it is improper and unprofes-
sional for one teacher to try and secure the
place of another. until it is announced that
there is. or will be, a vacancy.
Mr.. McRae has been superintendent of our
schools for 10 years; in fact it was he that or
gained and put in motion the present
graded system, and the people of Muncie
will never remove him without a cause.
On Monday night last the council selected
Mr.. John Hustled as member of the school
board, position which he has held for -
years. He was elected by majority of to
l. This don't forbode any danger to Mr..
McRae.
Now | have written this to set right your
readers who may have been misled In regard
to our school matters by the ambiguous par
agraph in Tuesdays Sentinel and to let
them know that we are still thoroughly alive
to the school interests of our city and cOun-
ty. Our two superintendents are promi-
nently known among the leading educators
of this and adjoining states, and We don't
want them misrepresented by obscure midi
yiduals.