Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-10-22
Communicated
IL BARRACKS,
October Is, 1856. !
DEAR HERALD {:

DEAR HERALD
As the season for the opening OF the
country schools approaches the memory OF
those sweet Bourbon promises and profess
sion of never-dying love for the free school
steals over US like the perfume Of decayed
pumpkins. We are waiting so patiently
for the free books. for the better pay OF
teachers. for the increase of school term
so nicely drawn on the campaign easel
and painted 70 life-like by the Bourbens
few years ago. But we have 50 far longed,
waited and watched in vain. -Four yea
AGO professional teachers received S35
month This winter few, if any,
teach IN the count ry schools receive } ore
than s23. We remember those nice "sott
sawder" documents sent ont, credting DR..
FEE Rice with such wonderful records OF
lifting the free schools to n higher level
and vet we find him, this fall, acting in
the capacity OF school trustee, lowering
wages, and in every possible way indirect
ly dealing blow after blow with telling
effect on the public schools. We remem-
Der how they promised to furnish free
books to all children, and yet not book
can be furnished this year even to INDECENT
children. But the most glaring and open
opposition to the schools, as well as the
strongest showing of political spite and
preiudice, was shown by the three trustees
of Lee district, wiz; DIR. Rice, q. u. I'D
Ter and Harrison PENCE in the selection
of teachers for the winter Lee District
has more money to run her schools than
any other in the county. If we mistake
not she has had surplus every year, ye'
Lee District, by the action Of her three
Bourbon school officials, cut the teachers
wages s. this year, and then gave ont hel
schools to the lowest bidder. II frs
grade aud a third applied for school thu
third received the position, while the hrs
grade was told that he was not wanted
J A well known and successful teacher o
the District would be refused school ana
Q teachers Of very little or no experience a
all from remote sections Of the count
= would be chosen in his place. We do no
= wish to be understood as rejecting on th
y qualifications Of any Of the teachers cho'
en-. but we do say that it looks just littl
=. queer to employ low grade, inexperience
teachers from the lower Districts OF IN
/, county and turn of their own teacher
who 20 TO the selfsame neighborhooo
from which these low grade teacher
come and find schools still open. Why d
. not these teachers find employment
y home Probably they can give plaus
:, BILE excuse for leaving home 80 far on
" small a salary We must confess We ca
y think of none. Lee District teachers hn
% no difficulty in getting schools in tho OF
o or districts, several have already done
but dlsllke to be 80 far from home. Al
other strange thing in connection vii
the selection Is this. nearly ell Of tho
. selected are Democrats. One geptiems
70 who pretenls 70 know told Us that a
& we're Bourbons except three, and one
= the three has no vote. Hereafter 'st ~
y District embody in her notice to teache
. of o day 10 contract, the following; "N
experienced teachers or Republican
wanted 4 few moro sueb wOnderf
D helps by the BonrbOns a. was Witness
: in the selection Of teachers 10 Lee Dstri
A and the free schools will be laid aside.
Respectfully,
MEMO No. 3.