The weekly tribune., 1894-10-26
.H|RT CR|T|C|SES STEPHENSON
He Says the County Superintendent
Made the Promise the Rejected
Teachers Recite.
The Gentleman Submits His Opinions
Of Mr. StephensOn's Action to
the School Board.

j. H. Hirt has submitted to the school
trustees Of this district a communication
regarding the 6issension between County
Superintendent Stephenson the school
board and several lady teachers in
the city schools. After reciting the facts,
as heretofore published by The TRIBUNE,
and the correspondence and communica-
tions since published, he says:
I'm justice to these ladies will say
that Sam Stephenson did make them such
a promise. | was present and heard
their conversation. That is, he took the
papers with the problems they had fin
ished, and told them they could finish
the remaining (some four or fve) prob
lens at home and hand them to him in
his office; and that he would trust them
that much. As for the grading, I saw
Mr.. Sam Stephenson grading some of
the teachers papers on the day of the
examination. r
mr. Stephenson refuses to give spe-
cial examinations to teachers who, in his
opinion, have failed, thus throwing them
out Of employment for three months or
more. l would like to know il the SAL
ary, 81 200 per year, is not sufficient for
him or any school superintendent to de-
vote his entire time and services to the
teachers and schools Of the county. In
states standing foremost in educational
advantages, regular examinations are
held once each month. If held 30 here
in Montana there would be no need Of
special examinations.
"The present way Of examining teach
ers does not test teachers ability to
teach nor his nor her scholarship. It
leaves a teacher at the mercy OF the
whimsical opinione or ruthless venge.
ance OF q superintendent. Nearly one
half OF the questions given at teachers
examinations call for the teachers opin-
ions. These must necessarily differ
(even in grammar, hence his expression,
at the latest regular examinationo y es-
pecially with one who has never had any
experience as a teacher. Then why |
should teacher submit to have his an |
swers marked Wrong simply because |
he happens to differ in opinion with Mr.. |
ut is matter OF common occurrence |
for teachers, even graduates of some Of |
our best colleges, to fail or receive low |
markings in some branches. Is that q |
reason they should be deprived Of the
privilege Of passing another examination
for period of three months?
ut is a superintendent duty to visit |
a teachers school-room, to ascertain hie,
or her, abilities to teach; and no super
intendent has right to refuse to issue a
certificate to teacher who possesses the
ability and competency to teach and has
a good moral character.
"Mr Stephenson tries to justify his
conduct by deeming it his duty to pay
the superintendent Of public instruction
due respect as his superior, and strictly
adhering to his instructions and advice.
Instead Of serving the teachers, schools
and people OF our county, be acknowl-
edges himself servant of the state
Superintendent, and exclaims. with self
sufiicing ardor, Il look upon these rules
as perfectly just and well-founded' If
our state superintendent did send out
such instructions, as Mr.. Stephenson
claims he did, then he is not worthy the
high position he holds, nor the praise
Mr., Stephenson lands upon him.