Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-09-25
To the Editor Of the TINES.

rafCon me for asking space In your valuable
columns to notice Mr.. Groendykas abusive TRADE
against me in the Globe of the second instant, be-
cause, foresooth, dared, patron of this school,
to criticse him teacher, at least he says wrote
the article entitled school, which appeared in
the TIMES Of the 21st ult. which provoked his at
| tack. will not pretend TO deny that wrote said
article. 1t appears to Mr.. uGroendyke to have
enlanated entirely from spite that he thinks
entertain against him, and that am the only one
II this community who would write such an arti-
Gle. Twill say TO Mr.. Groendyke, 'front.' malta fdes
and in substantiation l submit the following:
We the undersigned, citizens of Dodge City,
and patrons of the Dodge City school, and parents
Of scholars in the advanced department Of the
same, Go hereby fully endorse what said in an
article entitled sour School, which appeared in
the Dodge City TINES of August 2lst, 1881, over
the signature "a Patron of the School
P. G. REYNOLDS,
T. c. ZIAMERMANN,
O. MARSH,
j. II. CONRAD,
A. DIENsT.
Already complaint is being made by the advanc-
ed class that he is holding it back. Some Of the
scholars, SO they tell me- wished to take up Rhet-
oric. Mr.. Groendyke told them that Prof. Milton
had told him they were not prepared to do so.
They asked Prof. Milton and he said he had told
Groendy Ike nothing of the kind.
The names of the parents of scholars in the ad-
vanced class, as nearly as can recoilect, are as
above with the addition of A. j. Anthony, Col.
Straughn, /. S. Evcrman, r. P. Adams and Mr..
Langley. Mr. Anthony was not asked to sign the
| i,,In l,; . tba ko,r ;-,I
Mr.. Groendyke. He was also OH the Board year
ago when Groendyke applied for the school, and
absolutely refused to consider the application on
the ground of his incompetency, and declared that
he had taken his son IIidy out of school because
Groendyke was incompetent to teach him. Why
he agreed this fall with Frost to- hire him, he per-
haps knows. Col. Straughn is among the moan
tains in Colorado: If he were here, am confident
he would sign the Endorsement, Us he took the
trouble year ago to labor with the Board TO have
Grocndykes application rejected. Mr.. Adams
says that since the Board has hired MIR. Groendyke
he will not now, make kick, but that he thinks
it might have done much better. Mr. Everman
said he did not care to sign the Endorsement, but
he was free to say, he knew GroenGykc is incapable
of teaching the school Mr.. Langley said he
guessed he did not care to sign the Endorsement.
have thus consulted the opinion of every one Of
the parents of the advanced class Of our school
under Grocndyke's former supervision, out of ten
parents, five Willingly signed the Endorsement Of
my article One is ont of the city and could not
be seen. Two, while they did not sign, were free
to say Groeniyke is incapable One was not ask
ed to sign az he is member of the Board who hii-
ed him (Groendyke). One only, who was seen,
thought that his scholar had made some advance
ment under Groendykc although he thought if he
had had good teacher he might have done better.
think the above will satisfy (even) Mr.. Groen-
dyke as to what the parents of the ad"anced class
OF our school under his former supervision think
Of him as teacher. He charges me with having
given him first grade certificate in 1872 In point
of fact deny it, Mr.. Whitaker, who was then
County Superintendent, came to me the morning
of examination Gay after the first bell had rung,
and asked me to make the examination as he had
other business that he must attend to that
day. and Mr.. Caldwell, the ether member Of the
Board was in the postofiicc and could not leave.
first refused, as had had nothing to do with form
ing the questions. Mr.. Whitaker insisted and said
he would assume all responsibility. With that
understanding / made the examination. The Nor
''NN'
had just closed. and found Mr.. Whitaker had
taken all his main questions from the course OF
study JEST pursued iir Groerdyl.c had been an
attendant and OF course it was comparatively easy
for him to answer the questions. Mr. Whitaker
told me afterwards in l. conversation concerning
the matter, that he thought he had made mistake
in making the questions as he did, as lie was salts
fed Groendyke was not competent to hold a first
grade certificate. Another reason, the law as it is
compelled us, in order that we might have exami-
nations in this county and hence schools, to give
at least two first grade certificates at that
time. The law says, ''The CoCs.ty Superintendent,
with two competent persons holding first grade
certificates shall constitute the Board Of exam
iners' And it contemplatcs that the two persons
shall be residents of the county At that time
there was only one, Mr.. Caldwell, who held first
grade certificate, and he gave notice that he was
going to leave the county soon. For this reason
we were very liberal in our grading, and hence
Groendylc got first grade certificate.
This is not a personal fight between Mr.. Grocn
dyke and myself SO far as am concerned, although
he makes it so upon his part. Hence / decline to
notice his personal abuse of me, any further than
to make general denial of every assertion he
makes against me, and brand every one Of them az
infamous falschoods deserving no further notice
Ny article in question is one Of public consider
alton, and was intended as such. invite anyone
to read it and decide for himself.
Must We as patrons of this school, sit here and
see our school fund squandred and our school
ruined by incompetent teachers and not be allowed
to say word?
Last year, under Prof. Milton, the enrolment
was $50. This year under Groendyke it is $50
Where are the other SO scholars! If he will give 6
true report of his daily attendance the last month
or two of his last year it will show attendance
OF from to 6 scholars and more. To close
will say if Mr.. Groendyke has anything agains;
me personally, we can settle that between our
selves without going into print, any time he feels
like calling upon me. Respectfully,
A. DIENsT
Mrs. Lemert has received a fine and
large stock of fall millinery goods OF
latest styles and patterns.
Soronn doors and windows at the rcd