Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-06-12
A REVIEW OF NoN-pART1sAN.

EDS. RKcoRD-UNIoN l. Non-Partisan
states that the pupils of the High School
presented testimonials in behalf of one of Il Q
contestants in this celebrated case" First
The testimonial was not presented by the pu-
pills, but by the alumni of our High School,
many of whom are men and women earning
their own living il different pursuits. Sec
ond-This testimonial was not offered in be-
half of one of the contestants in this 8 cele-
brated CASE but in behalf of MIR. Adams.
Next Non Partisan asks are the pupils to
be Judges of the qualifications of teachers -
Scholars of grammar and high schools should
be able to criticise the language of their
teachers, and are certainly the best judges OF
whether the explanations are such as they
can understand.
2, Members of the Board have neither
permitted the interference OF pupils nor adj
nitted their statements. The incorrect
ness of one teacher cannot justify that OF
another any more than the faacied mistake
of one Of the ablest mathematieiaus justified
Mr. Mcdonald in believing that his pupils
deserved credits for their incorrect work.
The Board does not deserve the charge OF
"sowing whirlwinds,n but are with the pub
lie reaping the fruits of ten years of ignorant
and inefficient teaching OF their children. IL
is too true to need comment that no person
can stand still he must either progress CT
retrograde. The question may be asked !:
Why has it taken ten years TO bring this to
the light? First-It has been because sub
ordinate teachers have with great patience
and almost superhuman effort endeavored to
couateract the inetficiency of their Principal.
Second-Pupils have been met on their
entrance to the High School with such thor
oughness as to counteract in measure the
suervating influences to which they had been
subjected. Weakness is indeed more danger
Gus than wickedness. Wickedpess may be
overcome, but weakness is hopeless.
8 Non.Partisan complains of the public
for INDUCING in applause aud kisses. How
else could that large body of people express
their approval or disapproval? They well
knew that the defendants lawyers would
give them no other opportunity.
4 We claim that it is part Of the duty Of
teachers, in the interest OF justice-not only
to the public. but to themselves and their
profession-to answer all honest questions.
1t is the duty of teachers to help to develop
the truth or falsity of these charges, and
they have more confidence in the integrity
of the Board of Education than to believe
that telling what they know to be the truth
will have any influence on the appointment OF
teachers.
5. IAN Observer" must look through
distorted media If he or she cannot see that
the object of this outside organization is to
discover facts and " the accomplishment of a
specific purpose nothing less than to find
out whether or not Mr. Mcdonald is com
petent person to supervise and teach O
school of five hundred pupils. AS the
| High School and MIR. Adams are not on trial,
it is only Mcdonald boom that has
been created. No citizen of this town has a
| right to be non-partisan enough not to be
anxious for full investigation Of all the
charges made against MIR. Mcdonald. If
the failure in the public schools has been suf-
| 6cent to give living to the teachers of pri-
vate schools, then certainly it is time to IN
| quire into the cause of such failure.
| 6. The public are no more satisfied with
| the method of the investigation than Noil-
Partisan :" it, the public, see no necessity for
any argument in the matter; all it wants is
! the facts in the case, both for and against
| Mr.. Mcdonald to be laid before the Board of
Education. It is willing to submit the case
to the judgment of the Board, without the
insults and innuendoes of criminal lawyer.
"Non- Partisan" says There is no official
only be SO because the Secretary of the Board
can not or viii not make it. The "unpreju-
diced public" have been invited to give cyl
dence if they do not, whose is the fault? We
would inquire who the two estimable men
are who are to be injured by this invesdga-
ton We are sure that one referred to is
MIR. Mcdonald, but are unable to decide
which Of his two attorneys is the other es-
2. We have again to say that Mr.. Adams
has not, as yet, been on trial therefore the
Board may rejso Mr.. Mcdonald without re-
| jectiug Mr.. Adams. Ii the whole School
Department, Board Of Education, Principals
and subordinate teachers are now on trial,
we agree with Non-Partisan that this inyes-
| tigation should be more justly conducted.
| That Ia Vyers be not allowed to badger and
6isconcert citizens who voluntarily, and only
from sense of duty and in obedience to a
higher law than fear of personal conse
queuces, state what they know to be facts.
UNPREJUDIcED.