Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-07-09
THE QUARTZ SCHOOL MuDDLe.
County Superintendent Mcdonald Replies to
J. A. Martin.

EDITOR HERALD: From your
Sundays issue, learn that while
the rest of US were patriotlcally
celebrating the "glorious Fourth"
Mr.. J. A. Martin was painfully ex.
posing q noted malfeaeance In Office
by myself as Superintendent of
Schools of the county. feel pro-
foundly grateful to the gentleman
for making his complaint through
the columns of your paper, thus of
fering me an opportunity of vim
dicating myself. 1 feel confident
that where 1 am known need not
speak word of explanation; but,
since many strangers to me will
read his complaint, L desire that
they shall also read my answer.
Really, Mr.. Editor, it is refreshing
to have these charges to answer.
During my sixteen months In Of
flee, L have been so fortunate in my
business relations as to secure the
entire approval of those with whom
I have done business. 1 have sue.
ceeded in this far beyond my expec.
tations. I have travelled from
Elizabeth Lake, sixty-five miles
north Of Los Angeles, to San Juan,
fifty-six miles south; 1 have visited
every school in the county, and
have heard nothing but approval.
My connection with the business
men in the city and In the country
has been of the most pleasant char
acter. Now, for the sake OF vari-
ETY., my friend of the Duarte has
inserted a complaint against me.
| When it is remembered that the
election will take place in the near
future, and that his complaint was
published in the same paper in
which / am announced as candi.
date for reelection, u slight suspic-
ion will be entertained by most
readers that something besides
stern duty had hand in the mat
ter. 1t is barely possible that u
desire to influence voters was con-
nected with it. At the risk of be-
ing tedious, I shall briefly relate
the history of Mr.. Martiu's griev-
auce.
In the first place, he neglected to
state that the lady teacher was no
other than his own wife; hence he
Is by no means an impartial wit.
ness. During an official visit to
the Duarte School, met Mr.. Mar.
tin, who impOrtuned me to let his
wife teach the school. Considering
the school first grade, and knowing
that her certificate was second,
firmly but kindly refused TO do so,
telling him that it was out of my
power to permit such a thing. He
persisted, and represented to me
that the people in general would be
pleased to have his wife teach the
school. With this assurance on
his part, consented to examine
more carefully into the condition
of the school to definitely ascertain
its grade, provided the people de-
sired her to teach for them. Ac-
cording to my custom in such cases,
( determined on going to see the
trustees and the people in re-
gard to the matter as soon
MS other business would permit.
This l have found to be the most
effrctual plan for settling troubles
In school districts. Meantime, 1
addressed request to the trustees
not to employ Mrs. Martin until I
should see them. The sequel has
proved that | understood Mr. Mar
tin-that in order to take the ad-
vantage, and, IL poscible, force his
wife into the school, it was his in
tention to induce the trustees to
enter into written agreement
with her. AT the earliest opportu.
nifty l went to see the parties. l
found scarcely any one in favor of
Mrs. Martin. On the contrary, l
found many opposed to her. The
general sentiment of all was in
favor of building up their school
instead OF lowering its grade. My
duty way plain. 1 simply told
them to employ a teacher with
first grade certificate, and then
cane away. AS to his religion, l
do not care an iota, and the trus-
tees know it and SO does Mr.. Mar.
tin. AS Mrs. Martins certificate is
a renewed one, if 1 had wished to
oppose her personally, I most cer-
tainly would have refused to renew
it. That would have effectually
kept her out of schools of every
e ade. Since she has not taught for
several years past, and the exami-
nations just now are pretty hard,
it is not at all likely that she could
get another. recommended Mr.. Nc
Dowell because he holds an educa-
tional diploma which is first grade
and valid anywhere in the State,
and because he is good teacher.
At the same time / recommended
another applicant for the school,
Mr.. John Hayes, in the highest
terms. because L knew him to be
one of the ablest teachers In the
county, and the holder of q life d.
ploma. am sure that he is not q
member of any Protestant church,
and if he Is not Catholic / beg his
pardon for thus publicly stating
that have always taken him for
one. II 1 wished to favor Protes-
tants and oppose Catholics, it is
strange that I should appoint q
Catholic to serve on the Board of
Examination and others not men,
bers of any church, when might
appoint members of Protestant
churches exclusively If wished to
do so. The fact is, selected my
Board without any reference to
their religious views, but with ref
erence to their educational ability.
No one condemns politics and re-
ligion in schools more heartily
than I. If Mr.. Martin would do
me Justice, he would report me as
den0uncing religion in the schools
as warmly as his friend. l have too
many friends among the Catholics
| for h n Z dn1ua tO euonapd