Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-01-16
Reply to Doctor Jones.
EDS. HERALD:

EDS HERALD:
An article in the HERALD last week
over the signature of our old friend, Dr.
Jones, at careless glance, might be con-
strued to mean something ill-natured to-
ward the County School Examiners. Al
second reading, however. will satisfy any
one that the Doctor only means merri- |
ment. To pass it by without acknowl-
edgement, in the same good-humored
way, would hardly be polite. A little
space, Mr.. Editor, in which TO thank the
benevolent gentlemen tor the gentle cour-
tesies he has so amiably bestowed.
There is such an air of Innocence about |
the Doctors communication that one
might easily suppose it emanated from
one of those blessed beings, such as the
Kingdom of heaven is said to be of. The |
Doctor, first, in his pleasant way, makes
mention of two communications in the
HERALD, written by two members of the
Board of Examiners. Why does not the
Doctor refer to those gentle in their indi-
Vidual capacity? Their essays had no
more to do with the Board of Examiners
than the Doctors piece had to do with the
medical fraternity. They are ready to an
swer any inquiries. as to the scientific
matters they discuss, or as to any other
matter they put forth.
The Doctor next tells about having
been at trouble for ten years-just to
think, ten years of trouble-to institute
comparisons between our country schools
and the graded schools of Cincinnati. and
the comparison has shown results favor
able to our county teachers. What pity
our friend should have to spend ten years
of toll and trouble in discovering so pail
pable fact. The Cincinnati schools have
occupied an enviable eminence inapublic
estimation for a long time, and it is now
highly gratifying to US to know that our
country schools are over-topping them.
Hail to the teachers of Fayette county;
they have got Justice at last; and thanks
to DR.. Jones, who has spent ten years in
trouble to procure it for them. 90. Il,
The Doctor says he inclines to the ,Opin-
ion that the Examiners need Improve
ment. He need not spend ten years in
getting perpendicular in that opinion.
When the Examiners fail to improve they
should step down and out. T7.'e 5 'f
The next paragraph contains something
about technicalities, principles, and so on,
but tits hard for a man, with bad cold,
to see what he is driving at. No doubt,
however, that there is good joke in it
somewhere. Then he says he does not
wish to utter word of disparagement
concerning the teachers, as a class, and
says they are more capable and efficient
than formerly; yet, in thenext sentence,
he does utter what would be regarded
as an atrocious disparagement, if it We're
not known that the Doctor is joking. 1t
is fair to presume that he is forced into it
by the wicked Morlin, or something else.
See what he says: 'eEhey (the teachers)
are just what county examiners make
them, OF require of them, and no more.''
This sentiment is a gross insult to the
teachers of the county, though a compli-
ment to the examiners, for it gives the Hat
terscredit for the high standing our teach
ers have attained. The examiners do not
always place a true estimate on the quail
ifications of teachers, and it is impossible
for it to be otherwise; but the teachers
generally are men and women who have
identities of their own, and would not
permit the examiners to limit or direct
their studies. Such impertinence would
be met by a rehearsal of the eleventh
commandment. The teachers of Fayette
county, as class, are laboring diIigent-
" to improve themselves and their schools
and deserve better treatment than to.
have it put in the papers that they have
no souls nor intellect of their own. The
Doctor says he wishes the enormous
school tax" spent on 'fbetter and more
competent teachers Is not our humor-'
Gus friend hard to please? He has al
ready, after ten years of trouble in insti-
tuEing comparisons, plased our schools
ahead of the Cincinnati schools, and now
he wishes our faithful teachers, whose in
defatigable labors have given our schools
| this exalted pre-eminence, summarily
dismissed and replaced by ''better and
more competent persons. Did our friend
ever Ieadwhat the Good Book says? sLet
well enough alone
The benevolent Doctor again says, in
his mellifluent way: "Their (the Exam
ners) negligence and ineficiency. as
of Examiners, have been terri
BILE drawback on the educational progress
of our agricultural population
/ o, the wicked examiners! They have
been such terrible drawback that our
schools only compare favorabIy with
those of Cincinnati. Shoot the Exami-
ners. But, instead, the doctor has done
them a kindness to complain as he has
for they have been terribly poked under
the ribs, the last year or so, for setting the
examinatlon questions and percentages
too high. The Doctor says: ''I know s
number of teachers who are ambitious t.
excel in their profession They do no
furnish the article (what article p simply
because they find no market for it, So
they will not excel because the Exami
ners do not COMPEL them to do so. Doe
this in teachers seem ambitious f'Am
bition should be made Of sterner. stuff
charge thee, fling away such ambition. !
s "A man with ambition, to speak of, witt
good ability at the bottom oft, will max
a market in spite of all the drawback ex
aminersthis side of Jordon. Nonsens
is very refreshing thing, sometimes
when you get good article, but thI
story is rather thin for respectable nor
J.. sense. .t.r
The Doctor has not confined his r,
searches to the marrow limits of Lift
Bristle, he has extended his exploration
to school in an adjoining county. f
y there discovered and has published toll
, world, 'and the rest of mankind, tn
the scholars did not understand fiel
\ notes-all owing to the neglect of exam
ners. These astounding revelations ha
ing been published week without co