Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1890-04-05

EDITOR OF ENTERPRIsE-There were
a series Of questions in vonr last Issue
asking you for information about the
doings of public school trustees. And
you in note just below the questions
submitted them to the consideration of
the public school trustees. without say
ing whether you intended to give your
opinion or not in reference to them.
1t Is to be hoped that ynr and the truss
tees will express yolirssentiments freely
on this subject, so that if ANYTHING
more than specified contract is needed
to inform Teacher of the validity of
such cnntract,he may at least know the
truth of the matter.
Ones. 1. "Are the contracts o. Ear
ticies of agreement signed at the begin
ming of the school session by the school
boards and our public school teacher rs
valid? If not, for what are they made?"
Ans. They are valid. they are made
because there are certain business ar.
rangements connected with ev cry we'll
regulated school system that must be
delegated to some person, power or au-
thority, and that person, power or au-
thority is lodged in our District Trus-
tees. Thus we Claim validity of con-
tract, and the Board the proper author
ity,to close the schools as the contingent
cies of the case may demand.
The next question put by Teacher is
hypothetical and runs this way: eff
they are legally and morally binding.
what right has the school board of any
district to break them by ordering the
teachers to close their school two weeks
before the time specified in their con.
tracts, simply because the funds are
short, etc?
Well surely Teacher did not think
how funny his question would read when
he put in simply because the funds are
short Of all causes imaginable for
trustees closing schools-what better
cause could be found, than to say we are
public officers doing this school work
for the public, and we close the public
schools simply because the public funds
are short?
Again, we ho:d the contracts AFRO valid.
The Board has the moral and legal right
to close school or schools for any proper
cause. That simply because the funds
are short is . proper cause for closing.
The third question is rather pecn-
liar one. 1T starts out by saying, IF
the teachers desire it, would it not be
better and fairer for all concerned for
the trustees to allow them to teach the
time specified in their contracts?' Who
wants to teach when there is no pay?
The trustees don't care. Teachers may
teach all the year so far as they are con
cerned, and I dare say rent free.if they
wish to teach for the love and glory
there is in it. But when the trustees as
public officers have exhausted the funds
at their command, they have cause to
close their school. The idea suggested
in latter part of third question il that of
running this years schools on next
years money. That is dealing in in.
lures, which suits Wall street better
than the school room.
Well, as We are on this line, let ns
look at contract and see what consola.
tion there really is in some parts of it.
I have one before me that reads thus
This Article of Agreement, between
the Beard of School Trustees of Lee
School District of Accomac County, OF
the one part. and Teacher of the other
part: Witnesseth, That the said Teach
err under the supervision and direction
of the said Board, but subject, never
theless, to the visitation and lawful au
thorlty of the County Superintendent,
agrees to teach III No. a schoolhoust
for The term Of SIX nJllhsa at il comren.