Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-11-23
COMMUNICATED.
(For the HERALD.)

(For the HERALD
Mr.. EDITOR Il desire through the
columns of your paper to lay before The
citizens of cur county. or more particular
lily of Stonewall School District, some
thing in regard to matters, pertaining to
the management, &c.
have been connected with the pnblie
schools of the district as trusteef for fifteen
years, nine years before the ReadJus
Party gained the ascendency, aud then in
1883 was re-appointed and served two
terms, making fifteen years in all.
During all these years l always dis
charged the duties of the position faith
fully and conscientiously.
took deep interest in the upbuilding
and maintenance of our public schools
together with my associate trustees IN
Office, who always stood by me nobly. We
made every effort to give satisfaction to
the patrons in the selection OF teachers,
&c. We have kept our school buildings
In good repair, improving them in some
instances, and keeping them in good,
comfortable condition. We are just finish
ing a new school building in the Cedar
Creek valley. near Prospect Tsnnery,
which, when completed, will reflect credit
upon the District and will be appreciated
by those deserving patrons and people
generally. We have added to our school
apparatus six complete sets of Nlckenson's
school charts, which we think are a great
aid to the teacher and quite a benefit to
the pupils, particularly the primary part
of our more crowded schools. We prac-
tlced the utmost economy, and husbanded
our means. looking to the improvement of
our school furniture, in providing better
and more comfortable desks, and better
black boards, &C.
When we received the books in 1883
the contingent fund showed balance OF
s145, subject to accounts, which reduced
it considerably below one hundred dollars.
At our last annual meeting in August Of
this year, our contingent fund showed a
balance Of s6l9, (six hundred aud nine
teen dollars.) During the past six years
we furnished all our schools with the
necessary fuel at an average cost OF $l43
per session, furnised deserving INDECENT
children with books, and gave to one
colored family the necessary books hber-
ally, as we had no school facilities ior
them in our district.
The care and attention devOlved mostly
upon the clerk of the Board at remuner-
alton of two dollars for each school in
operation per session, the associate trus-
tees receiving no pay for services until
within the last year or two they have re-
ceived the sum of i've dollars per year.
Now to this part of nv communication
I ask your special attention. On the
evening of Nov. 1st, demand was made
on me for the books of the District by
gentleman appointed as my successor,
and to say that it was a surprise to me
is putting it too lightly. l was grleVed
TO think that I was so unceremoniously
dropped and crushed in the house OF my
political friends, without any notice, and
particularly as it is and has been the
custom to retain efficient members of the
Board, except when a change of political
parties took place. AS to my efficiency iB
Office my associate trustees can testify
If l was dropped from the list of trustees
for delinqucn cies, inconsistencies, or for
receiving gifts from book concerns and
chart manufactures, then our Superin'
ten1ent should step down and out, if he
would be consistent
| have always bad the independence to
maintain my opinion In matters pertain
ing to oar com non school interests, and
always watched with jealous care the en-
croachments of Ring Rulers and assumed
one man power which exists in our coun-
ty school management.
I am informed by member of the
Electoral Board that there was no meet
ing of that Board. and no notice of such q
meeting given as the law plainly re-
quired shall be done at least thirty days
previous to such meeting. New, fellow
citizens, 1 requested Mr.. Supt. to give
me an explanation, also to give me the
charges preferred against ne and bS
whom made, and also to give me chance
to be heard before the Electoral Board
but up to this writing he has not con-
descended even to answer me, as though
was the serf or slave of an autocrat.
l submit the above for the considera-
ton of kind, generous, thinking public.
Ex-TRUsTEE.
Nov II 1894