Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1886-02-27
THE SCHOOL MUDDLEIN BELLEVUE.

THE SCHOOL MUDDLE IN BELLEVUE.
The school middle in Bellevue is
an exceedingly bad piece of business
for all parties concerned. 1t is bad
for the teachers involved, because,
though their characters be as pure as
driven snow, theys can hardly es-
cape coming out with besmirched rep
utations; it is bad for the children
because the memory of it and the
foul language used will, remain with
them for years before they should
even have been permitted to dream
of such things, and will be apt to
cause them to grow up into cynical
men and women who will have no
confidence in themselves or their fell
lows; it is bad for the district, be-
cause it will be compelled to pay for
all this foolishness money that cannot
we'll be spared from its school fund;
it is bad for the community at large
because the efficiency of the school is
permanently impaired. ....
OF all the means invented by the
devil, his imps and their followers to
do harm on earth, none has been
found so effective as a genuine, thor
oughbred, old-fashioned school row
Such an occurrence divides families,
arrays even the quictest, most con-
serva.ive and best citizens against
each other, and so effectually antago-
nizes community that it can never
again be united on any proposition,
even though the very existence OF
the community should be involved.
The TINES man had the misfortune,
once upon a time, to live in CON-
munity where g trouble similar to that
existing in Bellevue occurred. The
schoolhouse was a much more hand
some and commodious structure thar
is usually seen in towns of that size
it stood in the middle of an oper
square, on the outskirts of the town
which afforded the room, safety ant
freedom from demoralizing influence
essential to play ground devoted t.
the exercises necessary to the devel
opment of youth; it was graded
school, with four teachers, agains
whom a suspicion of improperly ha'
never been as much as entertained
in word, the school'was model on
in every respect, and turning on
scholars that were the pride of tn
community. Parents for so mile
around sent their children to tn
school, chearfully paying their boar
and tuition fees although they coul
have secured both free of charge 8
home; and the community in whic
it was located prospered accordingl,
Oae day one of the lady. teacher
through sheer lack of time, refused
do some little fancy work for Ii
wife of one of the Trustees. Sh
complained of her as quite dis
bliging; day or two later it was re
ported that the teacher had snubbe
Mrs. So and,so; then that she had il
suited her; that wordy war had ell
sued,-and. so on. This molehill 500
grew until it assumed the proportion
of high mountain. The teacher
trustees and patrons of the soho
took sides for or against-it did n
seem to matter much, so they we
on one sido or the other-and pre-
emily the whole community was. up
arms. Lifelong friendships were Sc
cred. street fights became of daily o
currence, everybody's reputation W
besmirched, the schoolhouse BEGAN
talked of as a place Of rendezvol
all the children old enough to send
boarding school went there, the CHI
dren from outside districts were l
called, over half the pupils in toy
were kept out of school, four divor
suits were commenced at once a
more contemplated, etc. The hitheI
happy and prosperous commun
dwindled down SO rapidly that,
less than two years the. s,hoolrool
were so poorly attended that the sal
ries oftwo teachers amply sufficed
exhaust the scantysreceipts Of the d
ctrict fund.- and everybody who pessit
could got away from there. To t
day the town is a dull, sleepy, pr