Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-08-09
Communicated
That Combine

During the session of our late Nor
NAL, few teachers in company will
myself were engaged in social tall
when the subject of professional dis
courtesy was preached. 1t was sug
gested that it might result in grea
good to call meeting of the leading
teachers for general discussion, since
it was known that rules pertaining tt
professional courtesy had been violated
either Intentionally or Internationally
Accordingly, L announced in chape
that all holders of first and second grade
certificates were requested to meet at &
certain time and place to discuss meas
ures designed for their benefit.
The reason why the above classes
were designated was because it was
thought best to confer first with lead.
ing teachers of the county, then if il
were thought advisable to pass resolu.
tons, ETC., to call general meeting OF
all teachers.
That the original meeting was held
is generally known. The only phase Of
professional discourtesy'' discusSaG
was the manner of making application
for schools, such as leaving application
where the past teacher had given gen.
eral satisfaction and was deslrous of
the situation still, Or bidding on salary
in order to obtain a position,
Does this look like q combine" to
increase salary
Below is a clipping from The Chap
man Courier:
usn "e ~ .VoiiS" idea scarcely leaves some
~ ~oIore other worse ones take its
place. The latest is boycott on school
boards. A teacher in a county in CEN
trail Kansas who has been getting as
high as S45 per month. and even mort
at chance times, called a meeting fol-
the purpose of forming combine to
take no less than $50 for services rem
dered this coming school year. The
few who were present, however, spared
no time or pains to show their utter
disapproval of the visionary scheme.
Make yourself worth $50 and you will
doubtless get it. The law of the sur
vival of the fittest probably applies
here. Come, let's go to work, teachers.
There's room at the top, but the toy
will never be reached by boycotts,
strikes, combinations and the like.
In personal interviews the following
well-known teachers. who were present
at the meeting have expressed to me
their willingness to show their cutter
disapproval of the visionary scheme
of the press reporter tn thus misrepre
sent facts, viz: W E Binder, ] II
Niesley, o L Bates, ] Lyons, ] F
Lands, W Early, W E Austin, D NJ
Keefer, E Grosser, G d Keefer, Cloyd
Troxel, S NJ Cook, F II Graham.
What object the author had in view
is disicult to see. Not popularity GER
tainly, perhaps notoriety.
But to us it looks malicious, for in
our interview with him there was a
positive declaration not to retract a
word either privately or publicly.
Before the public we desire to Sc,
ourselves Alright. To allow a falsehood
to prevail is cowardice.
In refutation as of $50 combine
cited, 1 will say that it was not even
limited at or thought of, but on the con-
trary the school boards of Dickinson
county were lauded for their willing.
ness to pay fair salaries to good teach.
ers.
Do, we belong to boycott gang and
need the Curriers' warning to keeE
clear of all ''strikes, combinations and
the like?" Yours fraternally,