St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-06-23
A RICH BROWN ROAST
First Ward Citizens Hot in
the Collar at the School
Board.
The Superintendent and Sew
eral Inspectors Roasted
to a Turn
Because Of the Changes Made
in the Teaching
Staff.
Rev. B. Freeman Hints That
Religion Caused the
Trouble.

| There was a tlDge or politics, mingled
with personal disappointment and in
dignation that few leaders of the
| First ward are not permitted to run the
| public schools after their own style,
manifested i'll the meeting held
| last evening at A. o. III. hall.
corner of Burr and Case streets.
| There were bakers dozen of FRS
ward citizens at the meeting. l.. A.
Baumgardner was prevailed upon to
act as chairman. and j. l.. Watt was
chosen as secretary. Mr.. Baumgardner
stated that the meeting was called to
protest against changes in the schools
of the First ward. He believed changes
had been made in the teachers that
were detrimental to the district.
Aid. Copeland stated that he spoke the
sentiments of the First ward when he
stated that they were dissatisfied with
SuDt. GilbertS action in removing Miss
Lucy Bolton, as principal of the Grant
school, and assigning her to lower
grade. He regarded the change as a
calamity to the people of the dis
trict and entered his emphatic protest.
When asked to report later in the
evening as to the reason assigned blythe
superintendent, for the removal of Miss
Bolton, he said he had assigned no
definate reason, except the general
statement, neglectful of her duties, and
did not properly instruct her teachers
under her. He hesitated some and
added that the superintendent had
said she
Did Not Do Her Duty.
George f. WOlsey said he was az in
dignant as any one, but that it might
not be we'll to talk too much about the
matter. He regarded it as unfortunate
that teacher who had been so long in
the school should be removed, without
reason. He advised asking the superin-
tendent for an explanation. If the rea-
sons are good the people should &C
Quiesce, and If not, then the board of
education should take back seat. In
his opinion the board had acted ina high
handed way.
Kew. James P. Freeman, pastor of the
Arlington Hills Presbyterian church,
announced that he has been taxpayer
of the ward for five years. He had
frequently visited the city schools
and taken interest in them. He
found dissatisfaction among the pat
rOnS of the Grant school because of
the removal of Miss Bolton, and he also
found dissatisfaction in the Lincoln
school. He was one of the men who
circulated petition for reinstating
Miss Bolton. The taxpayers ought to
have a voice as to who should be Sc
lected to teach their children. Miss
Bolton has been in the Grant school
long time, and it was not right to re-
move her and put in as principal
man whom he understood had not
been teacher in the public schools, but
connected with Baldwin seminary. He.
admitted there was reason for begin
ming reforms in appointing teachers,
but thought the reform ought to begin
in some other school before applying it
to the Grant school. He would not then
criticise the general system, but he con-
demEed what he termed
''PIaying Hide and Seek,
as he saw it in one of the schools. He
thought the sessions were so short that
the pupils ought to be required to study
lessons all the time in school. The
game was played, as he called 1t, in a
school that the superintendent called
one of the model schools of the city.
Robert McMenemy said that Miss
Bolton was good teacher and she
seemed to have been removed to carry
out an idea of the superintendent.
F. M. Stewart said that others had
voiced his sentiments.
Nelson s. Beardsley evidently had a
personal interest in the matter. He
was turned out of a school much the
same way some time ago. He was We
hement in his structures, and wound up
with motion that a committee be APP
pointed to call upon the mayor, asking
him to demand the resignation of four
Inspectors and Supt. Gilbert.
Asked after the meeting which in
spectors he referred to, he said:
''Stamm. Scheffer, Pile and Bridgeman
and old Gilbert, the superintendent"
"In his speeches-fOr he delivered
several-he stated that many things
had happened in the past three years
that made him believe that Supt. Gill
bert had ruled the various boards
with high hand. The board had
treated petitions in most insolent
manner, and he saw no way to accom-
plish theiripurpose, as the board was
under the control of Supt. Gilbert. He
favored presenting the matter in such
light that would compel action. He
favored resolutions, making them as
strong as possible, demanding the reSig-
nation of members of the board. He
dSS6IIcu bIldI TIC SCuOOlS WeTo cOu-
trOlled by the superintendent and
Few Shyster Politicians.
Lawrence Fahey expressed the view
that there was politics in the matter
and that the inspectors had no regard
for the citizens. He favored electing'
inspectors and making them feel that
they depend upon the people. He pro-
tested against the executive sessions of
the board and advocated open meetings
for the transaction of public business OF
the removal Of teachers.
Thomas Spaulding was called upon,
as were the others, and entered pro-
test at the removal of Miss Bolton.
j. L. Watt said the superintendent
had been insolent, and there was no use
in going to see him again. He made
motion to appoint committee of five to
draft resolutions asking the mayor to
demand the resignation of three
members of the board and the
superintendent. This motion was
adopted after an amendment by Mr..
Beardsley to the effect that they be
made strong, and be reported at an adj
jOurned meeting next Thursday night.