New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1894-06-06
Our INTELLIGENT School Board.

Our INTELLIGENT School Board.
The treatment accorded Misses Reh-
field, Beinhorn and George cannot be
looked upon otherwise than as disgrace
full and small. In the first place it was
not in keeping with promises made by
members of the board to these very same
teachers, and in the second place it
shows spitefulness and partially that
is unbecoming in gentlemen occupying
official position. Had either of these
young ladies deserved, by neglect of duty
our by lack of ability.the revenge of the
board, we would not take the trouble to
complain. or had We any reason to be-
lieve that there were better teachers in
orr schools than they've would say still
less, but we know absolutely to the con-
trary. While others have lounged around
and done nothing; while the pupils un-
der other charges have been allowed to
grow lax, unmannerly and reckless, these
ladies have labored faithfully for thei1
monthly pay. They did so because it
was part of the discipline drilled into
them through many years. And it was
part out of respect for the standing of
the schools, and the district, that they
endeavorcd to make their work tell. 9th
ers frittered away time and rested, but
these made the minutes count. And now
what is the result? What is their reward?
A slap at their integrity; an insult to
their ability as teachers. The idle take
precedence in the eyes of our INTELLIGENT
board and the biggest pay goes to the
poorest workers.
The reduction in the salaries of Misses
Rehfeld, Beinhorn and George, when
considered with the favored increase
in the salaries of Critchett, Clark and
Mrs. Tnpper is equivalent to a cowardly
and unmanly discharge. If the board
wanted to get rid of them for sweet re-
venge's sake, why didn't they openly say |
so? Why employ them at reduced sal
aries after years of service,to make their
work seem discreditable and unsatisfact- |
ory! And while we are on this point |
let US ask what the school boards knows
OF the competency of these young ladies. |
Are they even passable judges or must
they rely on the word of the superintend-
ent? If 50, is Mr.. Critchett fitted to |
judge? Did he ever examine closely in
to their school work?
Did he ever pass unfavorable criticism
upon their results? Is he competent to
do the work these ladies have done? Is. !
he as strong in discipline as they are?
In fact, was he ever noted for strength in |
this or any other line except that of TAX
ing advantage of the ignorance of school
boards? But Mr.. Critchett for doing
little or nothing all year gets a raise
from 81 $50 to 81 400 at the expense of |
the workers who are now expected to
labor for the paltry sum of $500. Let
the goodpeople of New Ulm think of that |
for moment. A stranger comes here,
gets an easy berth as uperintendent, and |
makes the board believe that he is earn
ing 81, 400 per year at doing nothing,
while our own girls must work for seven
and eight years and get only $500 for
their trouble, simply because the school
board officers do not know enough to
appreciate their excellence and are so
stubbornly mean as to make them pay
the penalty in dollars and cents for the
part their friends have played in recent
campaigns. We must say that we are
proud that we have such men in our
midst. They are Daniels come to judg-
ment and to economic for a stricken
people!
But such economy! Critchett's salary
must go up! Clark's must go up; and SO
must Mrs. Tupper's! 1t wouldn't do of
course to jump back into the old meth
cd of paying decent salaries so suddenly
unless the total expenses of having teach
ers remain the same. Accordingly Mis-
ses Rehfeld, Beinhorn and George are as
sailed, each with three motives: First to
get rid of them if possible without man.
ifesting spark of courage; second, to
help Critchett and their favorites; third,
to be able to say to the voters that they
can secure teachers for less money than
the old board used to. It may be poll
tics, but it doesn't suit we'll in a Board
Of Education.
The Review does not hold for min
ute that the increased salaries are too
much for good teachers, on the contrary