The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1893-06-16
Trustees aii,. Teachers.

Superintendent I'd. Porter Thomp-
son has written letter To County
Superintendent upoh very impor-
tant subject, and we give it space
here, hoping that all who are inter-
ested in school matters will read it
with interest and profit.
OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT
FRANKFORT, Ky, June s, 1903.
DEAR SIR:--The action OF the trust
ees of which you complain is utterly
without warrant Of law, and vitiates
their contracts. You represent that
they refuse to engage teacher until
that teacher will bind himself to en-
ploy such and such 4 person as as
sistant, Unusually son or daughter,)
and pay said assistant 10 per cent. of
the public money, or some other spe-
cific sum-" that they will reject a
teacher holding iirst-class certificate
who refuses to do this and take in
stead third-class teacher who will"
1t is the duty of Board of Trustees
to "enply a qualified teacher" In
view Of their obligations to subseive
the best interests of the young peo-
pie under their charge, The presump-
ton is that they mus, get the best
teacher to be obtained with the means
at their disposal, without regard to
other considerations. They shall
agree with him las to compensation"
mot as to whom he shall engage to
assist him, in case en- assistant be-
come necessary. When the attendance
regularly exceeds fifty, it is the duty
of the teacher holding the contract to
employ an assistant "who is accepta-
bic to the trustees" Ii this case the
principal teacher pays the assistant
such sum as may be agreed upon.
The law really contemplates that one
of the advanced pupils of the school
shall be engaged-one who. under the
eye Of the principal, can do good
work, and who, III addition to the adj
vantage to be derived from this ap.
premiership i'll the art of teaching,
shall have such money compensation
as the principal can afford to give. 1t
is with his discretion, however, to
engage person who is not pupil.
When the trustees know that tie
school will require two teachers for
definite time, it is their duty to enter
into regular contract with all assist
ant, at a stipulated salary, payable
out of the public fund.
Many complaints reach this office
that trustees lose sight of their sworn
duty in order to use the childrens
money for pensioning superannuated
relatives or friends or for the advan-
tage of their own sons or daughters
whom they wish to thrust upon the
schools regardless Of their qualifica-
tons or acceptability, to tie rejection
of learned, trained, and forceful
teachers. In view of this. it is not
ainiss to say to you that there is small
prospect Of our getting forward in an
educational way until the people
awake to the fact that they must
choose for their trustees the very best
men in their respective districts-men
of intelligence, men OF public spirit,
men who know that the State provides |
money to make Schools for the Chill
dren and not that their lavorites may
have places and salaries whether they
are competent to do good work or not.
Trustees who fail or refuse to use the
public fund to get the best service
possible are really guilty of misfeas-
ance in office, and ought to be re.
moved. Yours truly,
ED. PORTER THOMPSON.