The herald., 1895-06-23


not mean to say that six members of the
baord have been intentionally parties to
this outrage. The board is com posed of
three men who have stood nobly by the
administration, against every form of un-
Just a tack; of three other men who are
hon est and true to their convictions of
right. but unfortunately they have MT
recognized the insidious influence which
has presented conditions they Thought
were primary; one man, whose utter lack
OF INDEPENDENT action is pitiable; and
two arch enemies. E. l.. Grubb and j. $.
Pltman, the one vindictive, the other
adroit and powerful with the entire pat
ronage of the schools at his disposal
These two men have utterly disgraced
and prostituted the dignity of their office
| by deliberate attempts to mislead their
colleagues, and to accomplish first of all
| the designs of the society of which they
are members. l still have respect for
! three men who voted with the unseen op-
| position, for l believe them to be inno-
| cent of knowlegde of the true situation.
Third-It has been said the superiute1-
| dents plan has deprived thousands of
| school attendance. Is it possible the peo-
! pie do not know the schools have been
| full to overf1owingP The necessary pro-
| hibition against additional admissions
| was forced by lack OF building accom- O.
dations, and had nothing whatever to do
with the plan OF work. (See Manual T.
| page 25. and Manual g. page 81. Beyond
that, it was authorized in advance by the
board Of education, as necessary meas
ure until new buildings could be erected.
Fourth-1t is claimed that tho superin-
tendent's plan has added enormously to
| the expense Of the schools. This is COM
pletely and absolutely refuted by the
| statement furnished by the board of edu-
| cation, through their clerk, to the daily
! papers,, on June 16, in which it is shown
that during the past six months (the only
| period by the way. during which the in
| dividual system has been in operation).
there has been saved $50, 735. 80 in the
| operating expenses of the schools, over
| the same period of one year ago. and yet
with an increase Of thirty-fiV teachers.
am afraid, in their endeavor to monopo-
| lie to them selves the entire credit for
systematic changes, the gentlemen forgot
| that the superlntcndents management
was also in operation at the same time.
| Again, 1T Is claimed there Will be loss
in the revenues for another year. because
of alleged falling off in the average daily
| attendance upon which the county funds
are distributed. l have already shown
that the schools have been unable TO pro-
| quate buildings. During the past year we
have gained four new rooms at the new
Macy street school and five at the state
normal, in all hine new rooms, giving ad-
| dltional accommodations for $50 pupils
and yet the school statistics absolutely
/ n
daily attendance for the year.
| But it is also asserted there has been
| loss in admissions to over thousand
children because one class was changed
from the eighth grade room, and no
| class admitted to take its place. The fact
! is, there were only twelve eighth grade
rooms in the city, where the enrolment
| was less than forty and the entire aggre-
gate OF deficit at its maximum was only
155. Asaduring the. last completed fiscal
year the revenues from the county Were
| only $3.50 per capita, it will be seen how
| preposterous is the statement made that
| the superintendent plan has cost $685.
| 900. The number of pupils in the eighth
room was temporarily lessened, in order
! that there might be some opportunity to
| overcome the losses from overcrowded
! conditions, halliday sessions, ETC., before
/ entrance to the high school. 1t was also
| intended there should be opportunity
for special promotions from below, which
| was blocked by the action of the board.
Meager as this loss was. it was compen-
sated for ten times by other increases.
Bad as have been the conditions for crowd
| ing in more children this year, the ex-
| pectancy based on the census and at
tendance. will give an increased revenue
for next year of over $40, 600.
(5) 1t has been said the superintendent
has been uncom promising and arbitrary,
regardless of effect on the children's in
terests. The people who have been led to
believe This. and to false mpressons con-
cerning the application OF intentions.
| would be utterly astonished if they knew
of certain circular of directions to
teachers, which the committee declined
to read, and which was suppressed in its
| issue.
| Under the conditions stated. there has
been no desire tn at the superintendent's
true aims should be understood; nor has
there been any tolerance of any plan that
did not originate from the masters OF the
situation. 1t may be said have lacked
diplomacy IN handling this issue. but
that does not necessarily follow when the
conditions are known. l have too much
dignity to compromise myself when the
| real enemy was not face to face. After
delivering fifteen or twenty lectures on
one theme in this community, and di-
Iecting, more or less Intimately, the work
in hundred other cities, what can pro-
gressive superintendent do when told
by mem bers of the board that they never
heard of his doctrine and have never read
his Instructions to teachers
(6) 1t has been said the people have
been dissatisfied with results. Whose re-
suits have been presented? The fact is,
there has been absolutely no dissatis-
faction excepting when it has been man
ufactured for a purpose. There are whole
wards in this city where not ten CONF
plants can be found.
To show that this contest has had moth
ing Whatever 10 40 With the educational
policy OF the superintendent except
where the latter had been purposely led
to miscarry, it is just as we'll to point
the successive steps that have been taken
to get rid of the man who has stood in
the way of partisan and un-Am erican ac.
compiishment.
'FiIst-Within three days after my stand
in.opposition to the encroachm EMS of
the A. p. A. the daily papers contained
the statement that members OF the A. 2.
A. were seeking my removal.
Second--This was i'm mediately followed
by notice Of an injunction against pay
ment of my salary demand.
Third-Two members OF the board
(both A. p. AZ were aggressively press
ing the city attorney for an unfavorable
opinion which could be used against me.
Fourth-An attempt to frighten me
from the field, by statement of three
members that my salary demand would
not be approved.
Fifth-A deliberate attempt to strangle
teachers, which Mas largely unsuccessful
and to poison the minds of good people.
Sixth-An abortve trial of, individual
ism" to which defense was never per-
mitted. excepting the verdict woulu force
resignation.
Seventn-When all the preceding steps
had utterly failed to lead the superinten-
dent into disloyal position, when no
grounds could be raised against him as
a man, q citizen or an edrcator-then the
board forces the city attorney to an opin