Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-03-23
From OXFORD SUPERVISOR.

FROM OXFORD SuPEkNlSOh.
The Supervisor OF Schools Of Oxford
has fallen victim to the slayer Of the Ne'c
Religion. In an editorial Oh the recent
removal Of Mr.. A. L. Briggs from Norway,
1t says:
ssDuring the winter OF 1889, he (Mr.
Briggs taught school in Oxford Village,
and at the close of the term his school
was visited by DR.. A. l.. Hersey, the School
Supervisor, who says in his report, just
printed: Il cannot report it (Mr. Briggs
schooD rs q success. Mr.. BIS manner OF
teaching is most unsatisfactory, and want
OF thoroughness is everywhere manifested.
His government was by no means good,
and the result was painfully apparent In
the condition OF the school building with
its broken window panes and the married
and SCARED walls for which nobody was
responsible Now this is pretty sharp
criticism To level at teacher OF Mr..
Briggs experience and invariable success
in all other localities, and judging from
what the Doctor said at the time he visited
Mr.. b IS school, and the reports that have
come from Oxford during the past year,
we think the Oxford Supervisor must have
very materially changed his mind during
the last six months. At the time OF his
visit he pronounced the school very salts
factory, and said he was very much sur |
prised TO find the school In such good con-
dition, etc. Our Oxford correspondent,
who had excellent facilities for knowing, |
wrote as follows in the Netc Religion OF.
April 10th, 1879: The Grammar School, |
under the instruction of Mr.. Briggs, show
ed good work, many OF the classes, nota-
bly, those in history, geography and gram |
mar, having made marked success Dur
ing the past winter Mr.. Briggs has taught
the school at Frost's Corner, the largest
and most difficult TO manage In this town |
outside the village; and we give In this
connection, as OF interest, the report OF
the experimenting School committee
The winter term, taught by Mr.. A. Il. |
Briggs, was in every respect success. |
Mr.. Briggs is a practical instructor OF much |
experience, and thoroughly understands his |
duties in the school room. This school
ranks in scholarship among the best out
side the village. The examination was
very thorough and highly satisfactory
The excellent Supervisor of Schools OF |
Oxford may have most excellent reason |
for the great change shown In his opinion |
and the sweeping condemnation given In
his report, but that reason does not appear |
10 the public"
Now the Oxford Supervisor OF Schools |
has to say that the Neto Religion man has
criticised his work on ex parte testimony |
and hearsay evidence, coming, as he says, |
from oxford. Does he suppose that his
oxford correspondent, who has excellent
facilities for knowing" is so ungentlemanly
as to ''pitch into" Mr.. Briggs or his school.
for any failure he might make, through the
columns OF the Ne,c Religion or any other
respectable paper, or are we 10 presume |
that the Ne,c Religion Is so belligerent rs
TO publish any such personalities, even II
he did; What more natural than that the |
should say the best possible |
things OF Mr.. b. and his school, and that
they should find ready place in the Ne,c
Religion3 The Oxford Supervisor is some
what differently situated, rs he is bound by |
his oath 10 tell the truth In his report to |
the town, however unpleasant it may be- |
Now as the Doctor is 10 superintend the
schools In oxford another year, he would
extend most cordial invitation TO the |
writer OF the editorial in question, TO join |
him in his visits to any or all the schools |
under his charge, and he will guarantee TO !
him the most cordial treatment and suit |
able Difference TO his opinions in all matters |
coming under observation; but as pre-
liminary, he must insist that he leave all
matters OF religious, political or personal |
bias outside the school room, and that he |
desist from any boyish freshness that might |
tempt him in an unguarded moment 10 shy |
a mud ball at the Supervisors head, or
that OF any other member of the school. |
He tthe Supervisory would still further
insist as a condition TO the acceptance OF
this invitation, that If the able editor shall |
discover anything discreditable on the part
OF the teacher or scholars, he shall not |
refer TO il in his paper, but leave that pain
full duty 10 the Supervisor, who Is com=
PEELED 10 put it in his report. IT. on the
other hand, he shall discover anything |
especially worthy of commentator, he
may insert a modest little item which shall
bear unmistakable marks of spontaniety |
but We most solemnly protest against half
a column of laudation for any parties, as
IL might seem TO many OF your readers as
of patronizing nature. A. l.. Ii.