Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-05-31

In the meantime. having been provid.
ed with meal. he again grasped the
grip, started on his journey to Manhat
tan Beach, where he expected to battle
in salt waters and enjoy the oceans
breezes. AS he wendell his way to.
ward the depot the gentle south wind
waited back fragments of popular
songs, which he warbled as merrily he
plodded his way. This life il surely
what we make it. and he who wants
trouble can find all the heart desires
He who wants to be happy and gay can
be, If he'll only view the bright side.
Mariana (Ark. Inder.
The people of Ironton have for sew
eral years been justly proud of their
public schools. No community in this
part of the State, at least, can show
better results from the expenditure of
of school money than Ironton. It is
admitted by everybody that this high
state of efficiency has been brought
about mainly by the efforts of Profess
sor Vance, assisted by the able corps
of teachers under his charge. Under
these circumstances those who ad
cate change in the management of
our schools should be backed with
very strong and convincing reasons for
their course. To say that he has been
appointed postmaster is not sufficient.
If it can be shown that his duties as
postmaster have interfered with his
duties as teacher, and since his ap-
pointment he has become less effective
as an instructor, there will be reason
to look farther for a principal. But,
SO far as we can learn, there is no
claim of this kind; on the other hand,
those who oppose him bear witness to
his ability as an educator. 1t seems
to us that the six hundred dollars a
year that the Professor draws as prin-
cipal of ourschoOls is not a princely
salary. Almost any skilled workman
is able to make as much, if not more,
by the use of his hands. The ability
and judgment the Professor has shown
in the management of our schools is
certainly of as high order as the abil-
ity displayed by the mechanic, so that
no one can say that he has been over
paid. Now that he seeks to increase
his salary by taking another line of
business, it seems to us to be hard
ship not to permit him to do so, if he
does the work we'll that the school
board pays him to do. A school teach
err has as much right as another to lay
up something for 1.-The rainy day." If
there is no improperly in one public
servant becoming real estate agent
or a merchant, there is certainly no
improperly in another becoming
school teacher. The school board
should listen to no insinuation or in
unendo. The deadly whisper is like
the poison of the assassin, hard to de-
fend against. If there be those who
have charges to prefer against Profess
sor Vance, let them go before the
board and make them where he can
have an opportunity to defend himself.
But let there be no shooting from the
bushes. AS to the gentlemen of the
board, it seems to US they have but one
thing to do in the line of duty: provide
for the utmost efficiency of the school
consistent with the means at hand. II
they are undecided, it Is not only their
privilege but their duty to base their
decision upon such evidence as they
can secure. We may be pardoned for
suggesting that it might be well to
seek for that evidence not only from
persons, but from the experience of the
school for the last twenty-five years.
1t will not be disputed that its man
agement and efficiency under Prof. V.
will compare favorably with any, and
they form a pleasing contract to the
and confusion that
prevailed considerable portion of the
time. VIII the board be justified in
daring the uncertainty OF new and
untried principal in order to retire
Prof. Vance because he is postmaster?