St. Paul daily globe., 1893-05-30
HIGH SCHOOL LH0STILES
Join Issues at a Red-Hot
Meeting Of the School
Inspectors.
Superintendent Gilbert'S In
situations Denied in Toto
by Carmen.
Witnesses, With One EXcep-
tion, Entirely Exonerate
the Principal.
The Board Adjourns Over Un-
til Thursday Without
Action.

The volcanic eruption that has so
| long been anticipated in public school
4 circles has occurred. 1t has been slum-
l bering beneath the feet of the principal
of the high school. Now and then au-
| dible rumblings have been observed by
those who cared. from interest or other
wise, to listen. 1t is not only an inter.
esting story to the citizens of the
Capitol City who have children attend
ing the high school, but it is tinctured
with the racy. 1t is long story
too long, in fact, for complete narra-
tion in newspaper recital. The cul-
mination occurred at the special meet
ing of the board of school inspectors
held yesterday afternoon. For the es-
pecial convenience. probably, of the
parties implicated in the imbroglio that
developed to frnition, the meeting was
held at the high school instead of at the
city hall, as has been the custom for
some months past.
Prof. Carmen, the principal of the
high school, has been placed on the
rack, at the instance of Supt. Gilbert,
who protests that he is solely aetuated
In his drastic course by his unequivocal
interest in the progress, prosperity and
welfare of the institution that is mixed
up in one of the most unpleasant epi-
sodes of scholastic incidents in this
city. In other words, Mr.. Gilbert has
preferred caustic charges against the
superintendent of the high school.
These charges were the matter under
consideration at yesterdays session.
They are given in detail below. and
will be read with astoni5hment by those
who have not been
Behind the Scenes.
Carrying the trouble back to its in
cipiency. it must be explained that two
years ago Prof. Carmen was rendered u
lucrative and honorable position bv all
Eastern educational institution. This
was in reality, the presidency of the
Penn college. The salary was tempt
ing, and it mounted up over the COM
pensation that the principal was re-
ceiving for his talents and su-
pervson of the interests of
the youth of st. Paul. The
school board had this matter laid before
them, and it was question of no little
agitation for something like month or
two. The board did not feel like losing
a superintendent that could command
the presidency of an Eastern college, if
such an event could be avoided. The
thing was finally bridged over by in
creasIng Prof. Garments salary.
Since that time he has been paid q
goodly remuneration for his services,
and he alleges that this incident dates
the beginning OF a feeling expressed
that he had bulldozed, to borrow vul-
garism. the board into profferng the
increase in salary. All this he indig-
nantly takes exception to. and he holds
that the superintendent of schools has
been unduly influenced in antagonism
of his. interests by some mysterious
power ever since the time of the increase
mentioned.
Gossips have been industriously at
work some weeks, and they have said
some severe things about both princi-
pals to the controversy. The upshot
was specific set of charges against
Prof. Carmen. These were preferred
by the superintendent, as explained
above. The charges were referred to
the committee on high school and man
ual training to aDalyZe. The commit
tee, it transpired, did not feel equal to
the emergency. or it did not care TO as
sume the responsibilities. 1t matters
little which was the real reason, but the
fact is the committee at yesterdays
meeting referred the whole thing back
to the full board without any recon-
mendation whatever. Here are
The Charges.
"There is at the present time an un-
fortunate condition of things in the
high school, manlfesting itself In an
almost utter lack of discipline among
both teachers and pupils. There is a
lack of that harmony which is so essen
tial to good school. Weakness is ap-
parent everywhere. My judgment Is
principal. IL the board thinks other
wise will do my best to aid the present
principal to accomplish the needed re-
forms. These are a reclassiiicatiOn Of
teachers and equalization of their
duties, and more rigid classification and
graduation OF pupils, closer supervision
of their scholarship and conduct, and
restoration of proper authority OF teac h
ers over pupils"
lhlS was signed Dy SupL. NtIDeTt, ana
he was present to defend the position he
had assumed. After a little desultOry
talk it was decided by the board to ex-
ciude all save members of the same and
in secret to consider the charges. This
executive session lasted half hour and
it is perfectly safe to assume that the
thermometer registered a mighty hot
temperature meanwhile. Finally the
doors were opened and the reporters
were permitted TO timidly enter.
Then followed the breeZiest sort of a
debate. Prof. Carmen was asked by
President Smith to make any statements
tina: hs felt de5irous of presenting to
the board for consideration. In en-
phatic and caustic language he charac-
terized the charges as unqualitiedly
false ard without foundation.
II demand more specific charges" he
exclaimed. with uneoncealed feeling.
They are rot definite" he pursued,
looking askance at the superintendent
and bling bis Up as II
Vexed beyond Reconciliation.
sIn the first place ii is said that there
Is a lack or discipline in the high school.
1t is suid that this extends TO both
teachers and pupils. | want TO most
deny the same" and he
proceeded OF length TO retute the allega-
tons in toto. In the course OF his ad-
dress in his own behalf TO the board lie
declared that the committee from the
faculty of the high school had inyestl-
gated tina institution, and that this COM