Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-06-11
TIE SCHOOL EXAMINATION IA COM
MON SENSE VIEW.

farce surpasses that of anything that has ap-
pesred upon the "bosrds for q century,
and furnishes abundant scope for the cariea-
turist. AT the same time the malignant ele-
ment of fanaticism is SO prominent that the
comic element is for the time being obscured.
In a few days, however, the ludicrous side
of this farce viii become uppermost. and then
healthy people will laugh and grow fat at the
expense of the partisan biSots. In the mean
time the writer proposes to call attention to
some of the abSurdities of the so-called PRO
ceedings."
1. Pupils of the High School have been
allowed to present . testimonials on behalf
of one of the contestants in this &c celebrated
case" This testimonial on behalf of one of
the parties, is, under the circumstances, an
indictment Of the defendant. Are the pupils
to be judges of the qualifications of teachers
IF so, what is the use of n Board OF Educa-
ton? II the Board is not prepared to abdi-
cate, why do the members permit this inter-
ference of pupils? II the Board authorizes
such appreciation. does it not also in effect
justify q revolt against the authority of
teachers? The next step in the line of evolu-
ton will be to submit the qualifications of
parents to the judgment of their children In
permitting this action Of the pupils of the
High School, the Board submitted to volun.
tary humiliation, and invited humorous criti-
cisn frcin all fun loving mortals.
2. The Board permits the pupils of all the
schools to be present during the examination
of witnesses" They listen to the bad
grammar of teachers, who crit;cise the bad
grammar of other teachers, and they are en-
couraged to take part in this g Denny brook :"
scrimmage. Those who are sensitive to the
ludicrous will learn to look upon the said
teachers as mere practical jokes to be laughed
at. Others will see that there is a feud
among the teachers and will tske Sides The
Board ought to be able to see that they are
sowing whirlwinds. They are demoralizing
the children and converting the school-rooms
into mere cockpits. Hereafter the children
of Sacramento will feel that they have a
right to discipline teachers. The Board will
DO well to remember that weakness is often
more dangerous than wickedness.
3. Applause and Kisses have been INDUCED
in freely during the progress of the exam
nation" and this fact authorizes the irrever-
ent to call the whole thing q farce. These
misses and the applause not only followed the
giving of =" testimony" but the decisions of
the Board. Are we therefore to infer that
the members of the Board of Education are
4. The animus of some of the teachers who
have testified is plainly inimical TO one of the
parties nov on trial, and they act as If they
had been drilled. This fact raises several
questions that ought to be considered by the
Board. Has some one organized formal
attack on somebody? Is it part of the
duty of teachers in the public schools to SUI
rersede the Board of Education in the de.
termination of the qualifications of teachers?
Is it right to encourage school teachers in this
spirit of an5agonism! Non-partisan minds
hold to the view that teachers should pro-
mote harmony among themselves, inasmuch
as the efficiency of the schools depends upon
unity of feeling among the teachers. They
cannot justly engage in squabbe of this
kind. In the end the Board may find II nee
the necessities of the situation may also ir-
clude the duty Of removing all teachers who
have assisted in promoting the strife.
3. It is evident to an observer that there
exists an outside organization, whose object is
not the discovery of facts, but the accomplish
Inent Of a specific purpose. Ladies who have
no children in the Grammar School, and who
confess that they know nothing of the facts
involved, have been extremely busy and very
warm in this contest. They seem to be
making an effort to create an Adams or
Mcdonald BOOM" Thus far the whole
contest has been boom" and if credit is
to be given to runners, will be conducted to a
final issue on the "bocm principle. Our
people need no stimulus in this direction, and
the managers of our educational institutions
should not apply this principle TO the prac-
teal business Of school management. Non
partisan people feel a sense of modification
as they witness the indecerous, undigniGed
operations of some of the leading spirits in
this conflict. They cannot feel that justice
will be conserved by such uaseeming discords
and aimosities. Neither is the active pres
ence OF the anxious and feyerish teachers of
private schools, who live ON the failure
of the public schools, at all eGifying to
one who is DESTROYS of fair investigation. 1t
locks as i the birds Of prey woie too willing
to hasten the demise OF the creature upon
Which they expect to feed.
6. the methods adopted in this investiga-
ton are wholly un-Americas. Two able
educators. both men whom we have delighted
to honor, are on trial. Charges are made
against both, which, ii sustained, will ruin
them. \ sense Of justice, supposed 30 be 3
characteristic Of our people, requires that
these charges be carefully sifted. No honest,
j lst-uinded person is willing to see these two
mea condemned and ruined by a mere fGrore
"a manufactured ''boom." And the people
OF Sacramento are not willing to see injus-
tice done to anybody. But the methods
now pursued cannot secure justice to any one
concerned. Trial by newspaper is bad enough,
but this is infinitely worse. Up to this time
10 witness has been pat upon his or her oath.
No appeal has been made to the solemnities
of the occasion. There is no penalty for false
etatements. Witnesses have been encouraged
to take sides by Misses and applause. There
81 e N
being made TO secure the evidence of the un-
preiudiced. Shall we consent to ruin two
men By such methods! Thus far
the affair has been simply guerrilla attack
on two men by mere partisans. If the Board
of Education cannot command tie situation,
and secure justice by we'll tried methods, it
should adjourn sine die.
z. There can be no rational outcome to this
investiga ton. The impartial public cannot
respect the investigation rs now conducted.
In the mind of just man no fact can be es.
tahli, he'd by such procedure.
The Board cannot upon evidence 50 OBJ
tanned Justly condemn either Mr.. Adams or
Mr.. Mcdonald. In view of al the facts, the
Board cannot reject one without rejecting
the other. Ii they dismiss one and not the
other, they will acs only upon "general
average" and not upon facts. AMI in that
schools and among the people. If they dis
miss both they will do it only as a begsarlY
compromise The method of procedure, ami
parii an heat, vitiate the whole
examination. Oar educational system will
utterly fail if it teaches the chill
dren that men may be upjustly sacri-
feed Justice between man and man is
the ultimate object of our whole system of
government, and thi; fact must be borne in
mind The hue-and-cry method Of procedure
has been practiced long enough in Sacra-
mentp, and the time has arrived when our
people must assert their dignity and stand by
truth and right. The Principals of our
schools, subordinate teachers, the Board of
Education, the civilization of Sacramento,
and our school system all are row on trial.
la view of these facts. the writer OF this note
calls upon all justminded men to use their
influence to stop or modify the so-called trial.
If it cannot be conducted with more dignity,
aud in accordance with the principles Of our
system Of government, it should cease at
once. NoN-PARTIsAN.
FOURTH OF July AT SUFFER- CREsK.-Sut-
ter Creek people have way of putting forth
matters of public nature in manner which
is generally attractive and successful, and is
now leading off in new liue by proclaiming