Morning journal and courier., 1894-01-06

OuWouo0O Iu0 hppolutu1oubOA OA 1uos 0tu0o to fill the vacancy caused by the resigna- ton of Miss Cover. At the same meeting MT. Moran made an amendment substitut- ing the name of William Haokett in place of that of Miss Kinne. When this amend ment was made, after considerable discus- | sion the entire matter was laid on the table | until the next meeting of the board.
 This meeting was held last evening. After several matters of routine nature had been disposed of Chairman Whitney of the committee on special instruction called up the question of the appointment of successor to Miss Gower, and in ex- mittee stated that in the opinion of the committee Miss Kinne was the only sp- plicant for the position whom the commit tee could consistently recommend.
 Up to this time Principal Thomas had remained in the background. At this juncture it was announced by one of the members that MT. Thomas was present prepared to make 6 statement, and at the request of MT. Thompson he was called for ward and became from this time the prfn- cipal actor in the scene.
 At the request of MT. Thompson MT. Thomas read the following statement, which Der of ths board:
 PRINCIPAL TdOMAS STATEMENT.
 NEW HAVEN, Jan. 5, 1894.
 Gentlemen of the Board of Education:
 Having been accused publicly, in open board meeting one week ago, of general crookedness in reference to the appoint ment of @ teacher in the high school to the vacancy made by the resignation of Miss Cover, am glad to avail myself of this opportunity to set before you and the public the facts in the case.
 InaAmuch, however, as Miss GoWer's name was connected with the accusation I desire first to ssy-O That she informed
 the principal of her purpose to resign as
 soon as she had formsd 1t herself. (2) That
 she did not in any way nor to any person
 urge the appointment of any one for
 the position which she made vacant, and
 3) that she did not even volunteer any in- formation concerning the teacher who has
 been recommended to fill her place. In .
 word she has acted, in this whole matter,
 with that rare delioacy her friends had .
 right to expect. .-,...~.
 Let me now proceed to my own case:
 I. CD So far as I have knowledge on the subject, to the lady recommended to the position now vacant in
 the high school I myself am not in any
 way related, nor are any of my friends or acquaintances of kin to her. @ No one of my relatives is even acquainted with her or has ever seen her, and (3) the only friend of mine acquainted with her is Miss Clover.
 II. Near the end of the summer, before Miss Cover had returned to the city, I heard @ rumor that we might lose her from the high school at the end of the present school year, June, 1894.
 Early in September Miss Cover told me of the possibility of her resignipg her po- sition at the end of the fall term, and said | further that as soon ss she was at all oer- | tain of her plans she would immediately inform me- This, manifestly, was not
 knowledge upon which to make official re- ! port, and yet my impression Is thatI spoke of the matter to the superintendent. This, however, Is only an impression and is SO | to be understood. On the 18th of October
 was authorized by Miss Gower to say that in all probability her position would | be resigned at the Christmas vacation, ! with the assurance that the formal resig- ! nation would be presented as soon ss 1t
 had been finally decided upon.
 Up to the 18th of October nothing what ever had been done towards securing e
 successor to Miss Cover because the hope
 of her not going away until June, '94, was | the superintendent of what Miss Gower
 had said within few days after she had ! spoken to me and suggested Miss Ktnne's | name, though it was not known at that time whether Miss Kinne could be obtained. Az soon as possible testimonials and photo graphs were presented at the board rooms
 and the name discussed informally by the
 superintendent and principal. As early ss October 3ist the superintendent had pre- sented the matter to the committee. Miss Gower's resignation was in the hands of II IL | vember 23d, with personal request that 1t | be not made public until later.
 Miss Kinne's name was acted upon fav- | orably by the committee and with the per- | mission of the superintendent transmit ted that news to her, adding that such action was practically equivalent to an ap- pointment. In order to act honorably with her own board she resigned, and, as | it seems to me, very properly. Uniformed ! the superintendent of this fact at once and ! the committee was aware of it as early as December 16. I also informed the super intendent and the com mittee soon after that Miss Ktnne expected to come to New Ha- ven in time for the beginning of the term,
 unless directed to the contrary. This was the case up to one week ago. This week Hiss Gower's position has been filled by 8 l substitute, Miss Cover herself very kindly ! acting two days. Before leave this mat | ter 1t seems to me right and proper to l make an earnest protest against being pub ! licly accused in open board meeting of | either malfeassnce or misfeasance in office | without any opportunity of defending my self. also protest against being judged | for my official conduct in any way upon | ex-parte testimony. And make this pro- test not only in my own name but also in the name of every teacher whose name ' Hn$0~ | In conclusion wish to say that in all my ! official conduct have had only the good | of the high school in view, and all that have ever asked or do now ask Is that my administration of my office shall be judged solely upon its merit after the evidence has | all been heard. Respectfully submitted, 4 ISAAC THOMAS, Principal of the High School. At the conclusion of his statement, in | response to inquiries, Principal Thomas stated that he lad been informed by Su- psrintendent Curtis that the committee on special instruction had agreed to recom- mend the appointment of Miss Kinne, and he had been given permission to send word to that effect to Miss Kfnne. No ! inexperienced teacher. in his opinion,
 could fill the position held by Miss aower. "Well, now, can any graduate of the high school and Yale college secure po- sition in the high schoolg Is 1t necessary | to have them go out of town and teacha" ! inquired MT. Moran. ... "Undsr the present policy. of the board it would be advisable to have him receive a preliminary training in some out. of town school or in the recitation rooms, ;" rephsd Principal Thomas.
 After considerable further discussion the question of the recommendation of the committee on special instruction was taken | up and An aye and nay vote called for. President Avis ruled that the vote should be upon ths amendment of Nr. Moran, substituting the name of Hr. Hsckett for that of Miss Kinus. The amendment was then voted upon and defeated, Measrs. Moran, Betts, Sheri- | dan and Asher (four) voting in favor of 1t and Aessrs. Holcomb, Whitney, Morgan, Avis and Thompson (fve) voting against 1t. The original recommendation of the com- mittee fsYoring the appointment of Miss Kinne was then taken up and adopted by . vote of 6 to 4, Aessrs. Holcomb, Whit ney, Morgan, Thompson and Avis voting In the affirmative and Moran, Betts, Sheri- dan and Asher in the negative In conss- uuence of this vote Miss Kfnne is ap- nointed teacher In the classical depart ment of tho high school for the balance of
 the school year ct salary of S900 per annum.
 ROUTINE BUSINESS.
 The finance committee recommended
 that the treasurer of the district be paid
 salary of 3250 per annum for looking after
 s~