Daily globe., 1879-06-01
!. SCHOOL ROLES.
Another Protest Against the Plan of
sff Making ExcuseS. .slEa...Ii-

.
Another Protest Against the Plan Of
sftMakinE Excuses.
To the Editor Of the Globe.
read with interest the Communication Of
'sVeritas' in Sunday mornings GLOBE IN
regard to certain, arbitrary rules of the
board of educatirn of this city, and also the
answer of Prof. Wright the superintendent
of public schools, in your issue of the 9th.
The rule complained Of, is certainly arbl
trary and hardship not only to the children
attending the public schools, but also to their
parents or guardians, end think 'sYeritas"
is very mild in his remarks on the subject,
as all the change he seems to desire or ask,
is to have more discretionary power in the
hands of the principals Of the seAeral
schools But will go further and say that
the rule requiring parents and guardians to
specify the particular cause or reason the
child under their charge did not attend
school at certain times, and should the
reasons given not be that the absence was
caused by sickness, danger of sickness OF
death in the family, the teacher through, the
principal, shall give notice of suspension SC,
is arbitrary in the extreme. q The parent. OF
turn the pupil from school without forfeiture
of school privileges, unless he explains his pri-
vate affairs to the superintendent, which
most persons do not desire to do. and as for
myself, / will not. ST sss.sr5..s,5st .fris F,=ss
I examined carefully the explanation of
Prof. Wright with the expectation Of finding
some good and plausible reason for the en-
forcement Of these rules, but what do I see?
He starts out BY saying that ssthe rule refer
red to is neither new nor unduly severe in
its operations He gives the rule and says
'it stands as it has for years, except that
dismissals and tardiness are counted as
absences in its application, &C., but gives no
reason why the rule is q good one, or that
it is not arbitrary nor injurious in its work
ings, though he certainly endeavors to convey
the idea that it must be good rule and
almost Indispensable, because it or similar
rule has been adopted in Cincinnati,
Fort Wayne and Minneapolis, and
because these cities unfortunately place
upon their, records such unwholesome rules,
and in by-gone days the st. Paul board of
education had copied them-must it follow
that the present regime shall stand by and
uphold them, except to add more stringent
measures, in fact the very ones which give
the greatest dissatisfaction.
It may be very nice for Mr.. Wright to sit
one hour each half day in his Office to re-
ceive promises of good behavior and punctu-
ality by parents for their children, but it is
not SO agreeable for the parent who needs
his child at home, to be compelled to explain
all this or compelled to lose his time or sac
rifice his business in order to do it.
\ The arguments pat forth by Mr.. Wright
are no more convincing, that the rule is not
4 pernicious one, than it would be were he to
say that because some we'll reputed teacher
a from Cincinnati, Fort Wayne and Mime
apolis had made application to be-
come 2 principal in one of our schools
and that he, Mr.. Wright, had engaged him as
such principal because of the high endorse
ments as to his governmental ability and
scholastic attainments, but after due tria
and sad experiece it was founi said teacher
could not command the love of his pupils OF
even the respect and good will of subordinat,
teachers. Must the superintendent or boart
still continue him in place, because forsootI
! he was recommended by one or all of tn,
places mentioned r And were he thus re
tanned, even against the remonstrances o
J those most interested in the schools, wouli
2 it not be considered arbitrary and injurious
A case OF this kind is just as applicable q.
the retention and enforcement Of the obnox
ious rules complained Of.
Our motto should be ssonward' and oul
! watchword progress" especially in our ed
ucational interests, and we should not bs
! content 2 short Of having the bee
, brains in the management thereof
! Our superintendent is undoubtedly qualifie,
to fill the position he holds, and if we have
i not principals equally qualified to fill tn
! position they. hold, or discernment and dis
E cretion sufficient to determine ali matters re-
!. lating TO the attendance or absence of the
pupils under their charge then let them b
: discharged and others substituted
!. !. Not to be behind .sVeritas,' or even tn
: sup .rintendent, I, too, call upon all lovers o
reform and good schools to uphold, whole
some, advantageous and progressive rule.
but let them conflict with the true interest
!. of our citizens as little as possible, and no
: ;. be the cause of just complaint only. to sui
q the will of one of our employees, or to carr
4 out certain ideas begotten in other cities.
d ussi Yours, ETC., NUDH VEBH
:, st. Paul, May 10Th, 1879.