Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1890-06-18
sSlIOsA YEEny IGuRHAL-MlNER.
our Public Schools.

EDITOR JoURNAL-MISER: The pub
lie is by this time aware that there ha,
been more or less friction in the work
ings of the schools during the year, and
it seems right that the facts should be
stated SO that people may know whaI
has been the cause Of this unnecessary
trouble.
Before the end OF the second schoo,
menth, in last October, one Of the de
psrtments became so crowded that the
teacher who then had control of thai
grade complained OF lack of room, and
too much work. To relieve matters in
that quarter, division was made, an.
other teacher employed, and g room
rented in he City Hsll. These changes
we're made by the board, Of course, and
no enc can doubt that the Prescott
scholars need as many teachers as are
now employ ID, If the grade lie to be
kept above shat of the country scheol.
A few months since, ore Of the
teachers resigned and another Was EN-
played to take the plsce vacated, for
the remainder OF the term" After
one months's work, which was entirely
satisfactory, The board resigned TIE last
employed teacher without any notice
whatever. The teacher, not approving
that 1nknosR and unjust method Of
: procedure, kept the place which she
had been engaged TO ill.
With the ordered removal of the
teacher mentioned, came al order from
the board, ordering the principal TO
unite his school with the one next be-
low and "tesch the classes of both" A
statement to the board showed conclu-
siyely thst il would be impossible for
that amount of work to be done by one
teacher, and the board was asked TO
suggest what studies should be omitted.
The principal evidently intended to
try to execute the order. In its uss-
ally facetious manner, the board re
Piled that after one menth, dating from
that tire or theresbouts, the principal
himself would be busted, and his school
wss ordered 10 be closed. Such thing
never having been heard OF before, the
principal appeared at his post of duty
on Monday morning, as usual, and
found that the beard had locked the
school ost. He demanded that the
door be opened, but it was not.
So he appealed the case to the county
school superintendent, aud the deci-
SIGN WAS in his fsver. Since then the
schools have been moving with the
ssEsl smoothness.
During the year, the board, as such,
has not visited the schools. We de-
sired 10 have an understanding as 20
what were the duties of both. ire
quest from the principal TO the board
for such joint meeting was not sufli-
cient: request signed by all the
teachers finally induced the board 20
appoint a time for the conference
meeting It was set for the noon hour,
IL TO 1. The hour slipped By before
the business was fairly begun, and the
teachers were obliged to submit their
questions in writing, without any
chance 10 explain or suggest.
After quite while, the answers were
handed 10 US, and at the end, signed by
q unanimous board. appeared this sug
gestiye cecnundruE Some of these
questions are impairment, many stu
pid"
Finally. as the time for annual ex-
aminstions approached, We were anx-
ions that fair and impartial test
might be given. 1t was supposed that
the teachers and principal could at
tend 10 that matter, allowing any pa
tron OF the schools to be present who
might 50 wish. One teacher was
little surprised to find the clerk of the
board On hands, with set of ques-
tiohs prepared by himself, or composed
of the quest .ons used las; year. This
did not seem exactly right. We We're
agreed that the clerk should be present,
should mark the work, and suggest
anything appropriate. We could not
see why he should prepare an examina-
ton for any grade without doing SO for
all. The principal, therefore, ordered
all such prepared questions 70 be re-
modelled or rejected, or submitted 20
him for approval. And the matter so
stands at present.
Ii had been cur intention to held
public reception day. when parents
and the general public might visit the
schools and examine the work, meth
DDS, etc. Such day was appointed. but
with the trouble hanging over the
schools in the case of the principal We.
the board, il seemed anwise TO an
nounce such time, for fear we might
nst be in position 10 receive. 1t is our
tUttnslOn VI hoka tNpsic Shtcitaiu-
ment on Friday evening. We asked
the board il they would meet the ex-
penses of such occasion. They did so
last year. They said they would not,
and gave US to understand that they
did not even favor such entertainment.
In conclusion, then, we have not had
the cooperation of the board during
the year, az the facts above seem to in
dictate, We have no cooperation now, as
the public knews. We do not pass any
criticisms nor make any complaints.
The facts haye been faithfully stated,
and the public may draw the conclu-
sions which the facts warrant.
b. A. LASBRIeHT.
Prescott, June 10th, 1890.