The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-07-18
NORMAL SCHOOL REGENTS.
Congressional Committee

ith, to offer some implied criticisms on
the action Of the Board of Regents in
its summary dismissal Of professors
from the Normal schools under It's
charge. We are now inclined TO believe
that the Board is deserving of the
seyere5t censure for its action in this
and in other matters. The Board IS in
clined to arrogate to itself the most des-
potic powers and sets itself up as body
whose opinions on all subjects are an
uItimatum for al teachers employed by
it. 1t recognizes no obligation to the
people in whose interests il is supposed
e act and is more industrious IN secur-
ing subserYient acquiescence to its
,rhims than in elcvating the professional
standard OF the Normal schools. 1t is in
capable Of approaching the purposes 4or
which it was organized and acts as if the
Normal schools were instituted for the
sole purpose Of ministering to the vanity
Of the individual members of which il is
composed.
Favoritism is a vice which affects the
Board. The interests of the Platteyille
Normal school imperatively demanded
the dismissal Of certain members of the
faculty But members that needed Iop-
ping of were creatures Of the Board Of
Regents and its vanity could not be
brought to wound itself even in the in
terests of the public. That school is al
lowed TO anguish SO that the Board may
have 6eryile worship in which it takes
as much delight as the ancient gods did
in smoking sacrifices.
Last year there was placed at
the head of the White later Nor
mai school gentleman of undoubtod
culture and excellent repute. His rep
utation as teacher and a scholar was
not limited by the boundaries Of a state.
His works on theory and practice were
better known in our own state, of Which
lie was not a citizen, than was the NEST
prominent member of the board which
discharged him. But he had one virtue,
that of being independent. This prov
cd fatal to his retention and before the
termination Of his frat ysaar h;o .Gsr1aig-
sal was resolved upon. Had Prof. Phelps
been inexperienced, had not his whole
life been devoted to active service in the
school room, Ind not his mind been con
stantly occupied with matters relating to
the philosophy of education, and had not
his reputation rs teacher been earned
by service which any action OF our Board
can neither enhance or diminish, there
might be some color of justice for his
dismissal. But in the Light of present
facts we must attribute 1t to the petty
spite OF small minds. For daring to have
opinions of his Own, and for the crime of
being friend to President Phelps, Prof.
George kleeberger, was also dismissed
Prof klcebcrger after graduating from
the PlatteyiIle Normal School was one of
the most successful teachers III the state.
After teaching for two years lie took
scientific course at Yale College and dis
tinguish22 himself in that celebrated in
stitution Of learning. All who have the
pleasure of knowing Prof Kleeberger,
know his rare fitness for the vocation of
teacher. But the lordly regents declining
him unfit for position which in the
minds of most others, he honored.
On what grounds. it may be asked.
1t could not be incompetency because
Prof KIeeberger's requirements are
something which the regents with all
their assumption Of ustute Judgment
never dared to question II could not
be his inaptitudo in imparting instruc-
ton, rs every prominent teacher in the
state must bear testimony to Prof. klee-
hergers eminent fitness as an instructor.
Prof. kleeberger did not bend the knee
in homage to the regents In speaking
OF him Pres. Phelps says: The ablest
IL the faculty was djsm Used sammariIv
for manly and independent expression
of his views to the board, rs to the alleg- |
od difficulties and their real authors. y |
Prof. kIeebergor was dismissed because |
~ chuuri one OF tie regents 9rih Hac-
ing told "a 'ettrU'h. Can the people of
the state afford to have a faithful and eff /
ticient teacher discharged, because his |
manliness prompts him to tell regent an /
unpaiatable truth? Is II primary duty
for teachers, employed by the state, at
the expense of the state and for the /
benefit of the schools OF the state to allv /
themselves with the Board of Regents IN !.
every pity scheme IN which that incom- |
petent body may be engaged! 1t seems
that the Board Of Regents are more sohei- |
tous to engage the services Of men |
whose fidelity to the interests of its in
dividuai members is more assured than
their fitness for the work which the state |
requires them 10 perform.
What is strange about the removals j., /
that no one knows the cause. The Board /
moves in a mysterious way its wonders
to perform. Pres. Phelps says: Twas
removed without charge, complaint or
Va 'tAS hALd as 10 metnoG, pan
OF management, incompetency, unworth-
mess or other objection having been pre-
ferted, made or suggested.
He says further: "Thev called me
here "a stranger. under the most solemn
pledges. Being stranger am believed
{ have few friends and hence they pro
pose to tramp!e alike upon Justice and