The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-09-27

tho goth day OF september, 1895. 1t was
resolved that the following card ad
dressed to the public sho aid bs pub
lished over tho signature of the presi-
dent and clerk of the board;
To THE PUBLIC: In card signed by
Mr.. j. s. Patsie, published in The RoA
NoKE TIMES OF Sepsem ber %, 1895. Mr..
Psttie referring to the fact thst the
Board OF School Trustees had suspended
his son o tho from the public schools Of
this city, seems to com plain that he did
not have an opportunity to defend such
charges as may have been made against
his son.
1t Is we'll known to the general public
in this city that on Thursday, the 10th
instant, Mr.. Psttie went to the Gilmer
Street school and engaged in personal
difficulty with Mr.. Miller, the principal
of the school. Mr.. Pastie, as the Board
of School Trustees understood. claimed
that the reason for his going to the
school and the cause that brought on the
difficulty was that Mr.. Miller had chas-
tised his son Ohio numerically and
brutaily.
The Board undertook to investigate
this matter on Saturday, the 21st inst
for the purpose of Diminishing Mr.. Miller
II 1t appeared from the investigation
that these charges were true, but If on the
contrary it should appear to the Board
that Mr.. Miller had simply made
reasonable and proper effort to main
tain the discipline OF his school, of up
holding him in the discharge of his
duty. Mr.. Pattie WAS present with his
counsel during the investig Ation. He
made his statement to the Board, as did
also his son in-law, Mr.. Greenwood.
The Board also heard Ohio Pattle's
rd ruh inh
led to his chastisement and the mode OF
the cbastisement. That statement. of
Ohio Pattie materially differed from
the statement Of the lady teacher who
first undertook to correct the boy and
whom he resisted and defied, as we'll as
the statement Of Mr.. Miller.
The embers of the School Board
present, with one exception, examined
the boys person and were surprised at
not seeing any signs of the chastisement,
as 1t was stated and not contradl lie ted
that he was thinly clad at the time il
was administered. The uncontradicted
evidence of all The teachers examined
on that point was that the boys gen.
eral conduct and behavior in school was
bad and that he was g disturb bling ele-
ment in school and had always given
his teachers trouble. These witnesses,
or some of them, were CROSS examine by
Mr.. Psttie's counsel, The boy him self
did not claim that he had not resisted
both the lady teacher and Mr.. Miller,
but said that he had told them that he
had done nothing for which he should
be whipped.
One of thu duties imposed on the
Board Of School trustees is ITO employ
teachers and to dismiss them when de-
linquent, inefficient, or in any wise
unworthy of the position" Another
duty imposed is ITO suspend or dismiss
| pupils when the prosperity and eff
| cheney of the schools make 1t necessary "
Code of Virginia, Section 1466. second
| and tLir1 subdivisions.
| The Board, from its investigation
made in the presence Of Mr.. Pattie and
his counsel, were clearly of the opinion
that they did not have the right to dis
miss Mr.. Miller as being unworthy OF
the position. Mr.. Miller hss been q
teacher in the public schools of this city
| for several years, and SO far as this
Board is informed, has been a most dill
gent, efficient and faithful teacher. He
was not employed by tho present Board
but by the Board as constituted last
session But the Board was OF the
opinion that it was It's duty in uphold
ing the principal OF the school, and for
the purpose OF maintaining the proper
|
Ohio PAttie, and accordingly did go in
definitely, and authorized the clerk to
publish the finding Of the Board.
| 1t is true that it was stated at the
time on the part of Mr.. Pattie that his
two boys had been Withdrawn from the
schools. but unless the Board took some
| action Mr.. Psttie could, OF course. have
returned Ohio to school whenever he
saw fit. The other boy, as the Board is
informed, as matter of fact, was re-
turned to school by Mr.. Psttie on Mon
day morning. but has since been again
| withdrawn.
In conclusion, the Board wishes to
assure the public that, in discharging
this unpleasant duty. each member of
the board was not unmindful of the fac I
that he was "acting under the solem lily
of his oath" and that this board has NO
ambition except to advance the pros
perity and efficiency of the public
schools of this city
| Il. II. FIsHBURNE,
| President of School Board.
| B. RUST,
Clerk of School Board.