Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-09-27
THE ZOAR SCHOOL.

appeared a communication signed ~Ihe
voice of the people of Zoar," which for
viDdictiveness have never seen ex-
celled. 10 not appear as the cham
pion OF any one, but will state the facts
as they exist.
If, in his Introductory, instead Of say
ing Eat the request of three fourths OF
the citizens Of Zoar, &c, to enter their
protest against the proceedings Of the
Board OF Education of Shepherd Dis
trict," he had said Gin my own behalf |
protest against the action OF the Board
of Education of Shepherd District, be-
cause they entirely ignored me by not
giving me the appointment OF teacher
at Z9ar," be would have stated the
truth; for assure you, Mr.. Editor, this
individual does not enjoy the respect
even of The people he pretends to repre-
sent.
He states that few years ago law
existed by which sub districts could Sc
lect their own teacher by trustee OF
their own selection, had been repealed,
&c. There never was any such law.
The trustee has always been appointed
by the Board of Education, who had
the authority, as be states, to appoint
the teacher, without regard, howeycr,to
the wishes OF the patrons, which has, to
my own knowledge, been done IL direct
opposition to the wishes of the people.
But to come down TO the case in
hand. AT the first meeting of the Board
of Education for Shepherd District, in
September, 1877, in pursuance of the
requirement Of the law, they appointed,
as the law says, ''three discreet persons,
Jacob II. Moler, Geo. E. Currie, and
Jacob NJ. Kephart, trustees for sub-dis-
trict Is (Zoar), upon whom devolved
the duty of the appointment Of teacher.
The above parties were selected for their
well known standing in the district in
which they live, and not with any refer
ence as to whom they would select 10
teach the school--a matter the Board
had nothing to do with.
There were but two applicants, "The
voice of the people of Zoar," who taught
the school the preceding year, and the
present teacher, who has taught the
/ school 10 the satisfaction of the patrons
ever since. ''The voice Of the people
I of Zoar," because of his non-success, OF
course became indignant, and he has
been Willing away his leisure time for
the past two years in writing anony-
nous letters and circulating unfounded
and malicious reports derogatory to the
present teacher. Why does he select
Mr.. Kephart-the person he refers to
as a target to hurl his venom? Where
were the other two trustees? sis tiny
servant a dog that he should do this
great thing?" Surely he could not out
vote the other trustees, and a majority
governs. -,
The voice of the people OF Zoar" had
nearly taught the Zoar school out of ex-
stence, and by overlooking the immoral
practices of the boys all the female chill
dren were compelled 10 be withdrawn
from the school,, aud when his attention
was called 10 the vices of his male pu-
pills, by the trustee who appointed him
and one of the patrons of the school, he
stoutly denied the existence of such
evils, as no such thing could occur with
out his observation, but finally whipped
three little boys for such practices. But
when the truth came out these three
boys were innocent, but sixteen larger
ones were daily guilty of the offence, in
consequence OF which parents withdrew
their female children. These facts, as
well as others about the practices OF
"The voice of the people Of Zoar" HIM
self (Which / may be called upon here
after to state) of course came within the
knowledge of the trustees having the
appointing power, who were implored
by patrons to prevent such calamity
as the appointment of this 'n'bectie as
their teacher again.
Iu the benevolence of disappointed
ambition we again find this worthy in
dividual employed in writing anony-
nous letters for the purpose OF damag-
ing the character of the present teach
er. lie knowing that she has no friend
or near relative to resent the insult,
vents his spleen upon defenseless wo-
man, without stint or restraint, and has
been secretly and maliciously circulating
the most atrocious falsehoods TO prepare
the minds of the people for an onslaught
upon her at the recent election, where
by he expected to be again waited into
position.
Now, Mr.. Editor, we find him in
your paper at the same avocation, the
whole communication being simply
batch of falsehoods from beginning to
end, his aim being to drive the lady
from her position for personal ends.
Again, he says petition was gotten
up signed by thirty-two persons send
ing TO this school-which thirty-two
embraced all the patrons &c, and rep
resented pupilage of sixty-fve chill
dren." The truth is, forty-fve is the
highest pupilage attained at this school
who represent thirteen families, which
is the total patronage of the school.
How was this petition gotten up! "Ihe
voice of the people OF Zoar' deputlzed
himself an enumerator of the children
of sub district IS, irrespective OF age,
and got the parents to put their names
on sheet of paper, without heading,
I the number of their children, DC, one
half of whom have never sent a child 10
school, their children being sucking
babes-some names being put down
who have no children at all. 1t was put
in this shape in order to accomplish his
designing purpose. After thus getting
their signatures, "under ialse.pretenses,
aud without their knowledge, he added
a heading asking his appointment as