The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-12-13
PULL" IN SCHOOL.
Some Disgracefu1 FaYorit
ism Shown in Hoboken's J
Board Of Education.
COMPETITION A MOCKERY.
A High School Teacher Appointed
in Direct Reversal of the Re-
suits of an Examination.

votes count every time, and theV
counted with a vengeance last night at
the meeting of the Hoboken Board OF
Education, when Miss Julia O'TooIe was
appointed teacher in the Righ School. al
though in the competitive examination
concluded last week she stood second,
seven per cent. behind the highest, Miss
Sarah Booth. Trustee Hess, when the
vote was announced. asked the clerk to
make note that the appointment was due
to political pull and not scholarship.
Early in the evening, Trustee Reid re-
quested the clerk to read the report Of the
examiners in the competition for the
vacant position in the High School for
the Information Of the members. The
report showed that Miss Sarah Booth had
averaged rs 3-4 per cent; Miss Julia
O'Toole, II 81, and Miss E. B. Clinton.
81 3-4
A SNAP SHOT.
After recess, when the Board was about
to adjourn, Trustee Cannon remarked
that, as the competitive examination for
leScher IN The High School had been COM
pleted, and the report presented TO the
proper committee. and as such committee
was not able to agree, he would move
that the matter be recalled from said
| committee. The motion prevailed, aud
then Cannon moved that Miss Julia
O'Toole be appointed.
Trustee Hess. who was Chairman of the
Committee III charge of the matter, en-
tered the chamber at this point. Presi-
dent Russ informed him of the nature OF
| the resolution before the House, and while
Hess was removing his gloves and coat, he
asked ha
Miss O'ToOle over Miss Booth, who re.
eelved the highest percentage in the COM
| petitive examination.
Cannon replied that under the State
law it is requisite to have a precentaQe
I of at least 20 in all third grade studies.
II that examination We're held for q
Normal School certificate, Miss Booth
would not be entitled to 8 certificate.
Neither would the others. On these
grounds the Board was not bound by the
| competitive examination. Again, saying
the general average of 20 per cent. should
be sufficient, the Board still had the ap-
po1nt1ve power as in other bodies. Un-
der these circumstances the examiners
| should report list of eligibles, two in
this instance, and the Board make the
| selection.
PLAIN SOUND TALK.
| Hess agreed with Cannon that the
Board could elect anybody, if the Feu1i-
site number of votes were at hand. But.
| he asked, would any fair-minded man
\ vote for lady who had gona per
| cent. below another lady in q competitive
examination2 Miss O'Toole fell below ia
four studies. She had 81 In grammar, 60
in arithmetic, SO in philosophy and 62 in
| Constitution. Miss Booth was away
above the average in ala studies, with ths
| exception of arithmetic, In which she re.
| ceived SO per cent. LET us choose an
outsider" said Mr.. Hess; ''one better
| than either two. think it time to ap-
point somebody who is fitted, and, if these
three are not, let us go outside, to New
| York or to Brooklyn, and get some QUE
who Is. 1t is not fair to appoint Miss
! O'Toole, and hope the members are no {
| so narroW-mlnded as to vote for her over
Miss Booth. 1t is not fair"
| Trustee Reid said it it made no differ
ence TO him as to personality, but there
was honor in the thing, The purpose OF
the comDetitiue examination was to see
| who was best, and NOT to see who was ens
| Titled to a normal school certificate. ANY
| honest man would suppose the Board
would abide by the decision of the exam
ination. II will abide by it." said he.
| Miss Booth came out ahead. She is an
! old and experienced teacher and knows
| how to teach, but it is proposed to ap-
point primary teacher rather inferior
in scholarship 1t is not the right thing
to do. 1t is bringing this thing down to
| q uuuOGSB duO ~ we uO luis we are DOb
| fit 10 be here. The examination was held
in good faith. and let US abide by it. II
| Miss O'Toole had been the highest I
would vote for her."
| DISGRACEFUL VOTE.
The Clerk then called the roll and the
resolution appointing Miss O'Toole was
adopted by the following vote:-
Ayes-Trustees Cannon, Dynan, Cob
hardt, Havron, Hicks, Lehman, Martin
and Sanford.
Noes-Trustees Guth, Hess. Reid and
| Russ.
When the result was announced Mr..
| Hess asked the Clerk to make note that
Miss O'Tooie was appointed by political
pull and not for her scholarship,
| Cannon protested against the language
aud said that il no did not believe It was
due to hot-headedness, he would demand
an apology.
| Mr.. Hess replied it was not hot-headed.
ness.
| President Russ declared Cannon out OF
order and said he wished he was in Mr.,
| Hess'5 place.
Adjournment stopped further argu-
ment.