Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-06-12


Charges are True-A Committee of Citi-
zens from Each Ward Appointed to Visit
the Schools.
A special meeting of the board Of education
was held last evening, when the following gen
tlenen answered to their names: DR.. Hagan,
J. Thomson, r. O. Sweeny, O. 0. Cullen. c.
D. Kerr, Geo. Benz, H. G. Haas, Albert schef-
fer. A. G.. Manson and the president, DR.. Muir
ply.
Mr. Kerr said that the president was requested
to call the board together to make inquiry into
the charges made against the schools in some
of the newspapers. II the charges are true
there is something radically wrong and he
(Kerr) thought the board should make thor
ouch investigation. he had as an inspector
made himself thoroughly acquainted with
tho working Of the schools, and he had
no hesitation in saying that the
charges are unqalifedly false. The char es of
immortality, of incompetency. and general re-
trogrt ssion are infamous SANDERS. He referred
particularly to articles IN the I''oaeer I'1ess,
which that gentleman read, regrettlng that the
charges were not openly made-it was unman-
" and cowardly to make defamatory charges
in this ,yay The articles were Our School
Superintendent--shall there be change" and
m editorial in the same paper. MIR. Kerr said
if those things are true the board would not
be doing its duty if it did not make a thorough
Investigation. He went to the editor and
thought he was honest in what he wrote. MIR.
Kerr told the editor that he thought those
making the statements should come forward
and give the evidence upon which they based
their charges. He SAID also that these
people had stated that the superintendent had
taken a bride of $l5 for appointment to po-
sitiou in the public school. He (Kerr) said to
the editor that he knew and he would pledge
his honor that not member Of the board would
vote for MIR. burlington remaining in office if
the charge was true. He was also told that in
the examination of Mr. Sayles' conduct before
tho board a Mr.. BOyce was sent for and his
influence was used to keep him in the schools
Mr.. s. Smith, book agent. called on him
(Kerr) and said that he had been told that Mr..
Tousley of Minneapolis and certain teacher
in the city had said Mr.. burlington did not
understand the subjects in the curriculum OF
charges into form and he would bring
them before the board, but he had
not heard from him since. But in Monday
paper another article published in the
form of lette, addressed to the board, which
the gentleman read. 1t was signed by three
asterisks.
MIR. Kerr said he did not take the unpleasant
task ON himself with desire on his part, but
rather with reluctance, but he thought these
inunendos should be stopped, and he did not
think the board should be forced to act upon
evidence of cowardly, IS neaking, backbiters who
were ashamed and afraid to come forward ano
make the charges openly. MIR. Kerr then ana
lyzed the charges and said he took the oppor.
tunity to visit the public schools to see if il
was true that the gentleman who wrote that
article had visited, as he stated he had for g
month past, and he found that that
s GENTLEMAN hn had never and visited tSst tn
the school in which his children are taught,and
then he expressed himself satisfied entirely
with what he saw. Mr.. Kerr held hat man
who will publish defamatory matter without
knowing of its truth is equally guilty with him
who knowingly states that which is false. II
the gentleman had been to the schools often
as he had gone to the newspapers he could
never make those statements. Referring to the
charged that the schools have been deteriotating
MIR. Kerr read in refutarinn the report of a com.
mittee Of the chamber of commerce made in
Jnly, 1877, which spoke most enthusiastically OF
the condition of the schools. The committee
Banning, E. s. Thomas, Fl. M. Smyth.
The speaker thought these gentlemen's re.
port should be at least uf equal force, as allie
cations made by a man who had not been in
the schools single day and is stranger.
Mr.. President thought if no investigation
was to be made the board had better resign.
He thought it best to demand the name of the
writer and summon the man before the board
to substantiate the charges.
MIR. Benz said the publications were an in
suit to the whole board. The language was
highly mproper as from gentleman to gen.
tlemen. The statements he had no doubt were
as Use as they were insulting.
meeting called at his own
earnest request, so that he might
ask the board to make full and thorough in
vestigatinn and if the slightest faint remained
he hoped the board would sever their connec-
ton at once without waiting for the time of a
ers and the board to have full investigation.
The president said if one If those charges
were true he would vote to discharge Mr.. Bur-
rington at once.
Mr. Thomson said in justice to the superin-
tendent he could refute one of the charges.
He was one of the investigating mmittee into
Mr.. Sayles' conduct, and he knew the allega-
tion that Mr.. Boyces influence was used in IA
vor of Mr.. Sayles to be wholly untrue.
Mr.. Scheffer moved for a committee Of five
to investigate.
Mr.. Kerr thought an investigation should be
made before the full board or some would say
that some book agent would us his influence
Mr.. Benz moved and Mr.. Scheffer s conded
the following resolution:
ResOlue1. That this board examine into the
charges preferred in the Pioneer Press by one
more correspondents. and that the secretary
be requested to ascertain the authors, it posi-
bic, and invite them to appear before the board
at convenient time to them to substantiate
their charges.
The motion was unanimously carried.
DR.. sweeny had one objection to the
Investigation, "a it would be max
in: too much Of an insignificant
creature, utterly below contempt. The board
had known him for years, and know what he u.s.
It was explained to Mr.. Sweeny that the al
legations were made by quite a different per-
son.
Mr.. Scheffer next moved that the chamber of
commerce be asked to appoint a committee of
their honorable body to visit the public
schools.
After it's being explained that the chamber of
commerce will not meet till Monday and the
schools close next week, Mr.. Scheffer withdrew
his motion in favor of the following by DR..
Hagan:
ReSolved, That the board appoint visiting
committee consisting of five citizens from each
ward and request them to visit the schools of
their respective DISTRICTS to make thorough
examinations as to discipline. method of teach
ing, and the progress made by the pupils in
their studies and report to the board at the end
of the school year, the result of their examina-
alton. together with such suggestions for the
in provement Of the schools as they may see fit
to offer.
The following We're then appointed:
First ward--C. W. Carpenter, Mrs. P. Paine.
Mrs. A. Hall, Mr.. Il. P. Upha1. James J. Hill.
Second ward-F. F. Flynn, J. B. Char az, Jas. ,
Brennan, W. +. Mason, VIM. Dawson.
Third ward-C. A. F. Morris, G. H. Bigelow.
G. E. Otis. Hubert Miller, Thos. Grace
Fourth wartl-A. Ramsey, Mrs. q. M. Knox,
D. w. Ingersoll, Mrs. c. w. Griggs, Thos Coch-
ran. Jr.
Fifth ward-H. II. Smyth, ]. G. Terry. r. s.