Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-08-26
OPEQuON SCHOOLS.
Peculiar Methods Adopted by
Certain Officers.

Certain Officers.
As | have been teaching in opequon
district through period Of ten years
with devotion. loyalty, and love
for the work that has always brought
success; as have suffered with my
/ feliow-teachers and been the victim Of
schemes with designing men. who in
every instance have ruined the schools
in trying to punish me for doing my
duty but too faithfully, as / never
have used for delense) any implements
but my tongue and pen, do claim a
right to say what my principles are
and do claim also the privilege Of
commencing it for the good of the
schools. the actions OF boards of edu-
cation and trustees and people, 50 like
wise is it the privilege Of all to con
denim the actions Of board, people,
teachers, and trustees if they act dis
honorably
/ Their actions are public property.
One cannot commend too highly the
aim of a board to use, as far as the law
allows, its power and influence in
securing the best of teachers for the
schools in their districts, and if their
own resident teachers are equal in
ability they should receive the prefer
ence.
l believe the people, that is, ma
jority i'll subdistrict, should have
their wishes respected if they choose
to ask for a particular teacher either
BY petition or otherwise.
But if men will sign petitions, and
then 80 to trustees and talk against
the very teacher, what are the trustees
to do?
l repeat, believed the aim Of the
board, i'll trying 10 secure schools
for their own resident teachers, is
right that they were not successful,
except in one instarcc, is not their
fault but the mighty howl that arises
from Opequon district comes not aiore
from recent acts but from blunders OF
the past
All persons admire men who are not
afraid to make a stand that is for the
benefit for the schools, even if it does
offend few, but all despise the weak
ness Chat is sometimes exhibited by
some officers, who to spare themselves
a cursing or threatened lawsuit or
bulliragging, will actually lick On alb
jet and cur-like submission the hand
that strikes the blow, aud not in few
Instances bestow offices to pacify
There are some men who by nature
were never meant to have power on err
their fellowman, but who are loudestin
their demands and clamorous and un-
manageable when in Office. 1t is from
these that NEST trouble comes.
believe the majority Of patrons
should irl. when a teacher is wanted
and the trustees refer to patrons BY
sending her on the very Illuminating
eirand Of getting the majority in her
favor before giving her the school she
should be given that school. AT
three sohcols in Opequon district this
was done this year 4
A majority signed the petition On
every oase) and all papers were hand
ed in, after which some men went
personally to the trustees, made COM
plant that they did not want that
teacher and only signed the paper to
keep from hurting the wonan's feel
ings, and do you believe it. these two
faced beings called themselves men
Oh, for the equity salks" that Tam
O'Shanter's witches wore No filter
costume could be made for creatures
like these. The trustees Cat two Of
these schools) hi1el other teachers. |
say it was not right When men put
their names to petition, it should go
FORTS face value. In the last instance
the two trustees were governed by tie
petition and gave the teacher the
school, even after some ofthe signers
came and made protest against the
teacher We say these two trustees
did what was honorable, right. aud fair.
If the people are frank and they
know a tea ,her docs not suit them,
they should refuse to sign petition
and give their reasons for not doing
50, and if they be sensible reasons they
should have weight with trustee.
Not set of trustees but pair Of
cranks will 80 against the known
wishes Of the people, or the majority
thereof' no teacher worthy ofthe name,
(unless compelled BY poverty will
accept a school where most Of the
people are in arms against her.
I have been asked what meant by
crank trus.ess. A sanple When
a man (orimage Of one thereof desires
an office SO much that he wifi make
use Of a teacher influence and stand
ing with board of education to
squirn himself into Office and then
curse the board for being what he
calls idiots. curse the laws Of the
State, refuse to buy books for his
children. threaten to kick the teacher
who honored him, and wind up by
hiring, against the known wishes of
the people. a strange teacher, being
obliged to work with another crank in I
power, and through the helping on Of