Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1888-07-26
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
Mr.. Ames Refuses to Tender
his Resignation.

July 23d. The meeting was called to
order at s o'clock by President Miner
and the following persons responded:
Messrs Lambert, Miner, Silvers, Corey,
Peck, Kienzle, Lott, Whitaker, Ayres,
Hort, Nichols, Supt. Sharp.
The minutes of the last regular meet
ing were read and adopted.
The following bills were ordered
paid:-Jos. G. Brooks, $500, for repairs;
james Lange, $500 for tuning piano
for Bank Street school.
The President then announced the
following standing committees
Books and Fwnture-Peck Nichols,
Miner
Tisiting-Bright, Lambert, Whitaker,
Hort
Buildings aadRepairs- silvers, Corey,
Kienzle, Nichols
FsnGnce-Lott, Ayres, Silvers.
The Finance Committee and Super
intendent presented their report of
the expenses for the past year, the
census of the school and the estimate
for tie coming year The following
are the appropriations asked for the
ensuing yeor: books and stationery,
$1,000; teachers salaries, S13200
fuel, $500; ianitors' salaries, 5000; re-
pairs, $1,000; incidentals, 1900 Total,
$4,000.
On motion, it was ordered thar the
report take the usual course. and that
it be published ia the DAILY PIONEER
aud Ereaing Nocs.
The following letter from Mr.. Alfred
B. Alhes was read and filed:
RoADsTowN, n. j.. July 23d, 'ss.
GEO. W.SMCCowAN, SEC,
Dear Sir:-Your letter notifying me
that was requested to have my resig-
nation as principal of the Third Ward
Schools of Bridgeton. placed before the
School Board of that city, on or be-
fore Monday, July esd, is received and
in reply permit me to say: The School
Board having emphatically expressed
their confidence in nay fitness for the
position which have held for the past
thres3 ears by my reelection practi-
cafIy without opposition. and eeu-
scious OF having done nothing to just
ly forfeit that confidence, | respect
fully decline TO comply with the re-
quest. Very Truly,
ALFRED B. AMEs.
The President reported that he had
consulted with City Solicitor as re-
quested by the Board, and that he
had received the following communi-
cation:
BRIDGEToN, n. j., July %, 'SS.
Mr.. JOSEPH S. MINER,
! President OF the Board of Education of
the City Of Bridqeton,
Dear Sir:-In reply to your inquiries
l have to say that it has been fire.
quently decided in the courts that the
| relation of a teacher to pupil is that
of a parent to a child; that standing
an loco PARENTS, as it is expressed in the
ancient Latin phrase, he had the
rights, and was subject to the obliga-
tions growing out of that relation.
| The duty of teacher to the Board
of Education or School Trustees, or
| whatever is the employing authority,
and through them to the public, is to
discharge the duties encumbent upon
him, to the best of his skill and under
standing. and upon the strictest OBJ.
servance of the obligations growing
out of the confidential relations which
the nature of his service imposes.
| The obligations of service vary with
the nature OF the service, and the
causes for which an employer has
legal right to discharge an employee,
differ with the nature of said service.
The greater the confidential nature of
the service, the greater the obligation
to discharge it with the most exact
compliance with the legal obligations
of the service.
If the employee acts in such man
ner that his usefulness to his employer
has been destroyed or seriously i'm
paired, it is just cause for his discharge
! before the expiration OF the term for
which he was employed. Having hired
to discharge certain duties, the i'm
piled obligations OF his contract come
into full force, among which is the
obligation to fulfill his duties for the
best interests of his employer and not
renders himself incapable of future
successful service for his employer,
there is just cause for his discharge.
- AAN 10 ~ StAAt SN- AOi u AAS w W. AZ
Of service, in ignorance of his having
given just cause OF dismissal, an EN-
ployer is justified in resembling the con-
tract upon learning OF the causes that
wJuld have justified dismissal if
known during term of service when
those canses arose.
Whether in the case before your
Board, the facts are such as to justify
the discharge of Mr.. Ames, is ques-
ton that it does not belong to me to
decide. Your Board is entrusted with
the management of our schools, and
it rests with you, in the first instance
at least, to decide whether the facts of
the case give just cause OF dismissal.
If Mr.. Ames' violations OF his implied
contract with the Board, and through
them with the public, are of such ma
ture as to destroy or seriously impair
his future usefulness as a teacher in
this city, you are justified in dismissing
him. If his acts are not such as to in-
terfere with his future usefulness as
stated, you have no right.
Respectfully,