The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-02-05
A WESTERN PEDAGoGUE
Writes a wrathful Letter to a Legisll
tive Committee--Ome Queer
Statements.

Mr.. Louis Knoll, of Castroville, a
school teacher by profession, has adj
DIRE Ssed two rather sensational docu-
meats to the committee on education
in the house of representatives, though
both documents refer to the same
subject.
He begins by saying that he wishes
to give the honorable body the bene-
fit OF his twenty years experience as
teacher; that Texas is the only state
ne ever heard OF without county
Snhool superintendents that it is the
.State where the school law is not
Eced; and that the school funds
IRE "ransacked by sectarlan corpora
tions.' Re-says that In Castroville
where there is a-1arge catholic con-
vent, the Sisters of Charity, under
the direction OF their mother superior.
mouopoliZe the free Schools. Many OF
them, he asserts, are unqualified TO
teach Ito his POSITIVE knowledge and
receive certificates without being exc
amined.
The follow ing is quoted: They draw
salaries while teaching stCictly secta-
ran schools, noUonly through the in-
fiuence of their own Catholic friends,
but by others who thereby seek and
receive political favors Catholic Yotes)
and are caring more about their own
interest than about what becomes of
the school money. Ever since the
adoption of the new constitution, the
convent in this place not only rakes in
the lions share of the free school fund
OF the county, but its patrons and man
ayers, instead of being content with
their i'll gotten gains, wage war against
any attempt at keeping up a semblane
of public school,
Mr.. Knoll thea goes on to ''subStan-
tate" his charges Gy referring to his
own experiences as a teacher and his
trouble with certain Father Richard,
once priest residing in Castroville.
One would think from the fore
going that the writer was not IN love
with the Catholics, but in a former
communication to the board of sduca-
ton ne seems equally bitter against
the Pedestrians. Init occurs the fol-
lowing: sour best schools are being
haraSSed. buillied and FlctimiZed by
antiQuated foreign religious fanati-
cism both on the part Of Catholics and
Protestants. The Protestants he
AYERS "have a mania for wanting
some scrub preacher of their sects OF
whom Texas gets more than its
share OF the refuse from Germany.
After alleging that the schools are
under petty-coat rule, Mr.. Knoll con-
cludes by S ying that between priest
craft and other alleged crafts, many
free schoolssare either ruled or ruined
Some might think from the forego-
ing that MIR. Knoll is a crank. Accord
ing to his own statement he has been
teaching school twenty years. Yet IN
all that time, he has never learned
to spell. as his manuscript aoounds in
misspelled words.
But his letters tothe educational
committee are likely to create breeze
especially should any 6l
his Castroville constituents ever see
them in print. In chat case Mr.. Knoll
will be between a double fire so to
speak. Both Catholics and Protestants
win have no mercy on him and are
likely to make the country exceedingly
Warm for the reckless writer. 1t Is
quite possible that Mr.. Knoll may per-
form in the role of an Involuntary
emigrant in the near future. :