Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-11-12
The School Question.
A PLAIN STATEMENT OF FACTS BY
 A MEMBER OF THE BOARD.

port from MT O'Keefe-Mr HOvey Re-
 jected by the Committee on Teachers. To the Editor of the DEMOCRAT:
 The many questions asked relating to the course which the democratic mem- bers of the board of educa- tion pursued in reference to the princi- palship of the High school, and the in correct views expressed by some concern ing it, have led me to ask the privilege of presenting the whole affair to the public through your paper.
 For us, this matter was replete with the deepest interest. It dealt with questions of vital importance to our community, and, in our eyes it involved principles whose influence may extend beyond the narrow confines of our valley and long outlive the little span of time assigned to us here below. Hence, l need not say that, during these six months since the question first came up, we have given to it our calmest and best thought, and have endeavored to es- chew every other consideration than this, that we are citizens of this christian republic, entrusted with the duty of supervising the education of the youth in our city. Moreover, whilst we could not accept the views which the oppo- nents of MT O'Keefe entertained, we did not impugn their motives, but cheer fully conceded to them the same intelli- gence, honesty of purpose and exalted patriotism which we claimed for our selves; this and nothing more. In order to fully understand our course it will be necessary here to outline briefly the history of the case.
 Last June the board of education, after many and prolonged discussions. unanimously agreed that the time had come when the best interests of educa- tion demanded that the principalship of the High school and the general superin- tendence of all the schools should no longer be vested in one man. The duties involved were, in our judgment, more than one man could well perform. Hence it was resolved to relieve MT Cros- by of the principalship of the High school, and assign to him the sole duty of superintendent of the schools; and, in the meantime to seek for another who would fill the position of principal of the High school in manner worthy of it's present honored incumbent.
 The committee on teachers, through their chairman, the Rev MT Micou, communicated with the various bureaus of education and received applications from twenty-seven gentlemen residing in various parts of the country. Of these, nine only presented themselves LO the DOdTu duu JISSC dlOLt were GULF sidered. After careful investigation of the respective merits of the candidates the committee presented to the board the names of Messrs Walsh, Williams and O'Keefe. In the discussions which then took place all the members ad mitted that the most favorable impress sion was made by Mir O'Keefe; that he appeared to be the most eligible candi- date; but four members stated that for grave and conscientious reasons they could not vote for him. These reasons men alleged that, whereas the board of education in Lynn agreed not to re- l appoint Mir O'Keefe with whose valu- able services they were well acquainted, they, presuming this action just, could not vote for the candidate until the con- trary had been fully established. "It cannot be-" they said prudent for us ! to accept a man whom nine respected citizens of Lynn unanimously agreed to drop from the roll of teachers"
 A third gentleman said that MT here, still did not belong to the old line of Americans; that they would be justly displeased at his selection, and that he himself, although personally in favor of MT O'Keefe, would be compelled to re- spect the views of those whom he repre- sented.
 Another reason advanced by the same gentlemen against MT O'Keefe, was that the ability and high attachments schools of the country, and com manding a correspondingly high salary, were not needed here, as our school was as yet but young thing in swaddling clothes.
 A fourth gentleman felt that the Iquestion was too serious for him to de. eide. He climbed up the fence and re. mained perched there, until the voice ot the people called him down lon the other side.) The remaining members sus tained Mir O'Keefe, and gave reasons fol their course in the following arguments
 First, we cannot for a moment enter tain the thought that any talent ol standard of excellence is too good fol our High school. It appears to us to be the acme of absurdity to object to g man because he possesses in abundance the qualities which we seek. To acqui esce in theIr views were, it seems to us an unwarrantable reflection upon the present staff of teachers, and gross in consistency, especially in view of the fact that one of this staff is placed over all the schools, and another is the con
 templated candidate for the position under discussion. We must in reason and in conscience adopt a course the exact reverse of this, and strive to SC cure for our High school the very quail
 fications which you appear to reject.
 Second, this distinction between olC
 line and new line Americans is on,
 which every good citizen will, we be
 lieve, ignore. It finds no place in thu daily life of our people. Its introduc
 tion here would be fraught with mucl
 mischief, and constitute disturbing
 pernicious element amongst us. It is
 moreover, a distinction unknown to tn
 constitution of our country, antago
 nistic to its spirit and subversive of it
 principles. To say to Mir O'Keefe
 "You are eminently fitted for thi
 position, which, by the way, is a publi
 one. but, although you were born ant
 brought up in Salem, yet because yol
 cannot trace your ancestry back t.
 those who hung the witches, therefor , we decree that you connot teach ou
 children here." To say this, is an uE
 arrantable dogmatism on the part o any Ouhlic servant. if ia to dapv tO at