St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-04-07
A SCHOOL BOARD ROW
The Committee Disregards
the Plain Instructions of
the Board,
And Fails to Hold the Re-
CURED Examinations Of
Principals. II
Further Extension Of Manual
Training Urged by
Gilbert.
Transfer of Teachers, Resig-
nations and Appoint
mentS.

The meeting OF the board OF school
inspectors yesterday was scarcely the
/ most harmonious that could be con-
ceived. 1t was held IN the office of In
spector Auerbach at a few minutes past
4 o'clock in the afternoon. Both Presi-
dent Schetfer ard Vice President
Bridgenan were absent. Dr.. Kean pre-
sided. and everything passed on smooth
as a tranquil sea until all the routine
matters had been passed upon; and
then Dr. Smith expressed his unquali-
fed surprise that the imperative in
structions of tile board at the last ses-
sion had been apparently diSregarded.
He asked Tor the reading of the ffsolu-
ton that directed an examination or the
principals of the different schools
under the civil service code of the
new school law. This developed the
fact that the committee OIL schools had
been positively instructed to hold an
examination of the principals who
wished 10 become candidates for the
homer and distinction OF permanent
appointment under the statutory pro-
vision. This examination has never
taken place. Dir. Smith was Informed
that the committee on schools had de-
cided that the course proposed By the
board itself was not wise or iutliciouS,
and had consequently made an entire
change of programme. They had de-
eided to postpone the examination OF
the principals, and hold them stimuli
taneouSly with the examination OF the
teachers that was to have followed Sc
quentiatiy under the act providing for
tlle same. This course dumbfounded
DIR. Smith. lie was perfectly
amazed that committee that
had been appointed by a full board and
burdened with specific duties should ar
rogate to itself power to undo the work
OF the entire board He maintained
that it is not in the province of COM
mittee appointed by the board to pass
upon the wisdom of any act of the
board proper The committee. he held,
is holden to perform the duties Imposed
upon it by the board. Dr.. Smith felt
free to state that he thought that the
board was inclined to make too severe
Interpretation of the tenetS OF the law.
The board had made the construction,
he held, that teachers who failed to pass
the examination prescribed may be dis
missed from service. or rather they may
be subject to tile necessity of an annual
election as teachers. The doctor
thought this narrow and erroneous
construction of both the spirit and let
ter of the law, and to Illustrate tue
point he had raised, he read the section
treating the point i'll controversy.
Then he declared with special eIupiia-
sis that any teacher who shall have
taught in tile schools for one year and
given satisfactory service is not to be
Il, of onntsNaY
election at the hands Of the board in
order to ppfpetiiate her term as teacher.
All This was brought about by the fol-.
lowing, that was introduced by In
speetor Pyle. 1T might be we'll to ex-
plain, however, that it is the report of
the committee on schools, that mad
been instructed to arrange for the ,eX4
animation of The principals as midi
Gated: 5 ~ -
ne recommend that Rule 1876 of the rules
and regnlationst0f this board be amended to
read as follOws:t5I Es
"All teachers appointed under the above
rules shall be under probation for one SEM
ester, at the end of ashich, unless there is, i'll
the opinion of the principal of the school
and the superintendent of schools, reason
able prospect OF success. they shall be dis
missed If however there is such reasona-
BILE prospect. they may be continued Ill the
schools for another semester, at the end OF
which they may either receive preliminary
certificate of satisfactory probationary sery-
ice or be dropped from the-rol!. Teachers
having received a preliminary certificate
may be continued for another year,
at the end of which they may be-
come candidates for permanent
in the st. Paul public schools. Such candI-
dates shall be required to pass an examina-
ton satisfactory to the superintendent Of
schools and the board of school inspectors
upon the history and theory of pedagogy,
and to present unqualified certificates of rec
concentration from. the principal of the
school in which they last taught, and from
the Superintendent of schools. Teachers
who have met these requirements shall re-
ceiye the St Paul teachers certificate, en-
titling them to places among the permanent
employees OF the board Provided. that moth
ing in the above rules shall be construed to
limit the power OF the board to dismiss at
any time any teacher or other employe be-
cause of moral delinquencies or of failure to
properly perform the duties OF their respect
Sfati0rlS -