The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1890-06-02
An EviI and Its Remodx

/ An Evil and its Remedy
We are reminded by the fact that
on to-I3OrrOw Occurs the annual
election Of school trustees in the
various districts in the county, that
while the election results in the se-
lection Of one or more individuals
10 look after the direction and con-
troll u the schools II also IN fact
almost invariably choose the teach
er for the district How this can
he i we'll known to the most cas-
ual observer. For months many
teachers have had their eyes on
certain districts, those which draw
the largest amount from The school
fund u course. and for a. many
months they have been laying
wires for the election Of men wh0
are presumably their friends Or
who may b. persuaded 10 appoint
them t.aehs.rs- To this end they
90 over this district, impOrtuniBg
voter 10 cas- their votes, not for
Intelligent, discreet and competent
men 10 -erve ia the responsible. I-O- /
sition Of school truztes, but for men
Who are pledged or may H. induced
10 employ them a. teachers. We
Do not charge that these teachers
Oiier p,seuniary Inducements, or
that any trustee or candidate i
base enough TO accept brii,., but
the records Of the courts shoe that
men have been indicted for accept /.
ing a reward. for their aid in this
direction. 30 thoroughly has this 4
rcprehensibie custom fastened it. 4
self upon our county school affairs
that the first question heard when
the election Of a school trus-
Ia. Is announced Is, Whom i he for
FOR teacher
The evils growing out Of such a
custom are many, and they are 20
palpable that il seems a waste Of
Zine TO mention them. one Of the
greatest Is that very often incom pc
tent teachers are thrust upon a dis
triet unable TO help or defend II
self, We hold tina; a paper certify
ing that man or woman Is quail
fed 10 teach a public school does
not make him or her a teacher any
more than the holding a diploma
or license makes man lawyer
OF a doctor. Yet, il the teacher has
the certificate, and the trustees
who were elected largely through
his efforts see fit to sign his con-
tract. nothing can keep him out OF
the school
And there Is vet another phase Of
the subject, and not an uncommon
one, either. There are teachers. good
ones, thoroughly qualified men and
women who, while as educators
they succeed admirably in certain :
districts are utter failures in 9th =,
RI Ofthe truth Of this there are ,
people in every district in Lawrence !
County who will b-.ar testimony.
and under the existing state OF
things, electing trustees pledged to :
certain favorites, the very man or :
woman least lifted tor district .
may be and often is selected for
it, teacher. IA
What is the remedy The peo-
pie have it il they s,se fit to use il.
Vote for no man for trustee whom I
they know or believe to be the
champion Of certain teacher
in this she right TO elect a A
trustee should b. taken from them
and the county superintendent
should have the appointment OF the
entire board He already has the
right 10 ill vacancies, and there is
no good reason why he should not
have entire control Of the school
affairs Of the County and b. held
to a street account foF their proper
administration. I