Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-07-17

| class?
! Answer-Yes. My resignation opened the
mendation made seemed the easiest aud best
solution of them all
| Question-Did you find that l had any diff
cn;lIy, material In expressing, or rather enun-
class understand me?
Answer-The question surprises me have
talked with you not little, and never noticed
anything of that kind to the best of my recol-
| lection. should not think you adapted to
| teaching English, but cannot recall any one
ever remarking that your pupils did not under
stand you, or that they noticed any dif6o ulty
you had in enunciation. To be sure you show
that you are a foreigner by your accent.
Question-Did you ever know of my being
ridiculed by my scholars? Did you ever con.
\ had tOAupervlSe, as unruly or lawless?
Answer-No. never knew of any of your
scholars ridiculing YOU 1t would not have
supervise any pupils except the small number
in the class you were teaching 1t is too ong
ago to speak positively, but the class could not
| cipine caused us not the slightest trouble 1t
| seems to me that once or twice l had TO repri-
mapd some girls in your class. But there could
have been nothing serious, or should not have
recommended that you should have the Latin
| as well as the French classes
| Very truly yours, w. w. ANDERSON.
] beg leave to call your attention to the ex.
plicit language of Professor Anderson. The
I W
! the SLIGHTEST trouble, and he italicizes the
words. Also, that in his time had to SUPER
wise no outside pupils. Professor Anderson is
! recognized as model disciplinarian, and one
who would know any falling under him. / re-
greet deeply that because he does not wish to
appear to be interfering, Professor Anderson
| feels restrained from expressing his views to
you concerning my capacity as teacher.
Because of climatic conditions, and the inyi-
| tation to engage in business, for which / sooa
found was not fitted by habit and experience,
Il SACRAMENTO I raS cd " t,,~v,
| as teacher, in private, when discovered that
| business was not to my hand. The field for
private teaching is here, however, very limited
then solicited and obtained employment I'M
der you.
| Here health has been restored to my family,
| and here have hoped TO remain, as an Ameri-
can citizen.
| You will therefore understand why l solicit
| at your hands thorough test as tc capacity be-
| fore you set upon me the Seal of condemnation.
| For these reasons submit to the recital of
my qualifications. / am sure you will pardon
! me therefore, if yield to the advice of friends
| and cite to you my experience and recon-
mendations as teacher. am an instructor in
| Latin, French, Spanish and German and have
| taught other branches and languages. Except
While in Copenhagen l have always used the
| English language as the medium of instruction.
| began TO teach as third teacher in the West
Indies, IN Santa Cruz, in the high school there,
| in the year 1859. Next as second teacher /
| taught In that way thirteen years. i was ad-
yanced to the position of Principal of the school
| in 1872. In 1877 was called to th4Principal-
I ship of the Government College of st. Thomas,
and served six years-to the close of the school.
| Financial distress compelling its abandonment
/ by the Government, was then made Superin-
tendent OF all schools in st. Thomas, and served
| one year, when l returned to Copenhagen and
taught languages. In 1885 l came to the United
| States
perfected myself in French in Paris under
| official commentator.
l was elected for three years to the Lower
House of the Colonial Council of Santa Cruz. and
during held q q rShi in nf ha
Committee on Education In 1867 visited the
United States under official commentator 10
examine into its educational system. l made a
report on the same that had approval. had
the honor to be sent out as official Commits
sioner to the French West Indies to report upon
the system OF sugar-growing and manufacture.
| submit originals and translations of these
certificates of merit and capacity.
| Two by Governors Garde and Arendrup, Gov
ernors of Danish West Indies, both indorsing
my capacity as an instructor in warm language
| One by Royal School Director Bache, of St.
Thomas, highly eulogistic.
| From the Board OF Education of the city of
Copenhagen, commencing me in high terms as
successful teacher, and granting me the high
honor OF opening and maintaining any kind of
a school chose in the city, where capacity is
required TO be OF superior order to secure such
| favor.
From the Presidency of Santa Cruz, COM
mending me highly as a teacher.
certificate for successful examination in
| French, Spanish, German and English, signed
| by the President of the Royal Board of Ex-
aminers of Copenhagen.
In the Danish West Indies. the language of
| the people is English, and, as have said that
was the medium used in teaching
| A certificate from G. Budde Lund, who studied
with me in the Geological Museum I'd the
| POLYTECHNIC Institution. and who testifies to
my linguistic knowledge.
Similar certificates in great number could
procure If needed.
submit to YOU gentlemen, notwithstanding
| the charges of Mr.. Pond that am competent
| to teach your pupils in the high school in Latin
and IN French or otherwise. and l re-
spectfu'ly ask to be retained, and ex-
press my belief that on my account
! you will never have a pupil rejected who has
| even ordinary capacity to acquire nor that you
viii ever have cause TO complain that l am in
capable of commanding the respect and obedi-
ence of my pupils
| For your convenience have caused this com.
| munication to be copied i'll typewriter manu-
script Regrett1ng, gentlemen, these annual
elections which IT is the criticism of the world
| is the chief defect in your system of educa-
ton, and suggesting that whether am retained
| or rejected you give your serious thought to
| the question of abandoning them, and substi-
tuting retention during good behavior and ca
paclty. as means to lift your schools out of an
annual tribulation.
remain respectfully and sincerely yours,
CHRISTIAN DAHL.
Sacramento July 10, 1890.
| Principal Pond replied that personally
| he had no ill-feeling against Mr.. Dahl. He
| knew him to be a scholar and gentleman.
But as cisciplinarian, however, he still
| insisted that Mr.. Dahl was an utter failure.
| He recited instances of disorder in Profess
| sor Dabl's classes, and said he Pond was
| compelled to go to DahPs room and chide
pupils for their disorderly conduct. 1t has
| often been necessary for him to rebuke
pupils for studying Latin, and reading
other books while the Scriptures were be-
| ing read.
| eff 10 D,l Dc
! citation of English, Mr., Pond said he would
| leave II to the Directors to judge for them
selves. He himself could scarcely under
stand him, and other persons had spoken
| of it.
| As to Professor Dahl having been ridi-
| culed by his pupils, Mr.. Pond said it was
true, but that graduates from Mr.. Dahrs
classes would not talk to others on the SUBJ
ject as they had talked to him.
With reference to teaching the classics,
Mr.. Pond explained that he had taken the
middle class from Mr.. Dahl because of the
| latter's hours being too full of duty. He
read note from one of the professors in
| the State University, to the effect that I'M
less there was an improvement in the
Latin the graduates could not enter the
| University. That was received last year.
| He had taken the senior class in Latin
| from MIR. Dahl because one of the young
ladies came to him (Pondl with tears in
her eyes and said they could not learn
from Mr.. Dahl. Pupils had purposely
been disorderly in Mr.. Dahl's classes in
order that they might get transferred to his
| (Pond's) class. He had even given extra
hours TO helping out the Latin pupils in
their studies.
| Mr.. Dahl replied briefly to Mr.. Ponds
arraignment, explaining the statement
contained in the letter from a University
professor, as read by Mr.. Pond. as not be-
| ing applicable to any shortcomiDg of his
| He had gone to the University and found
| the complaint was of the method in vogue
in the school and not of his introduction.
| He made a change the University instructor
| approved.
Mr.. Pond said the only graduates from
the school for whose requirements in
Latin Mr.. Dahl was responsible were those
of last year, and mentioned the names of
some who, he said, were conditioned in
that study.
| Mr.. Dahl replied that there was one pupil
who hated the study and could not be in
| duced to excel in it.
Director Erlewine said the matter had
been, apparently. pretty fully presented
| and 10 thnuot. tho N, O m, horo of Tho Doc a