The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-11-07
is Entitled to Teach in the
CranStOn Schools.
Commissioner St0ckwell and
the Chief Justice Say So.
The Action of Superintendent of
Schools Almy is Not Approved.


Schools Hon. Thomas b. Stockwell, has
today rendered his decision in the much
talked OF case of Superintendent Almy OF
the Cranston schools and Miss Jea anette
II. Ramage, a candidate for the position
for teacher. The decision is in favor of
Miss Ramsge and Chief Justice Matte
son OF the Supreme Court concurs with
the commissioner.
The decision Is as follows:
In the matter of the appeal of l. A.
Freeman and Robert T.. Budlong from
the Proceedings of the School Com mittes
OF the Town OF Cranston, with reference
to the exclusion Of Miss Jeanette IL. Ra-
mage from te ching in the schools OF said
town;
The hearing in said case was held sc-
cording to notice, duly given to all par
ties interested, at the Office of the Com
missioner of Public Schools on Monday,
October 2S, at 10 O'Clock a. m.
From the records of the school commit
tee. the written communications OF the
clerk OF the committee and the superin-
tendent of schools, and some oral testin
ny il appears that vacancy occurring
in one of the schools in the Edgewood
district the matter of selecting teacher
for the place was, according 10 the usual
custom, left with the members of the
committee from that district, and
that at meeting OF the school
held July s, this sub-commit
cancy one Miss Jeanette II. Ramags, a
graduate OF high school and from two
Sourses in one of the State Normal
schools Of Pennsylvanis, and, within the
knowledge OF one member OF the sub
committee, q successful teacher. OF several
years experience.
At this same meeting the committee
elected or appointed Miss Ramage 10
teach in Grades 4 and in District No. 4,
at a salary OF eleven dollars per week,
for one term, and on the ninth day of
said July the clerk OF the committee
sent TO Miss Ramage the following letter:
Oaklawn, r. L., July 8, 1885,
Miss JENNIE IL. RAMAGE:
At a meeting Of the School Committee
OF the Town of Cranston held on the Sth
of July, 1895, you were appointed 10 teach
in the 4th and 5th Grades in District No.
d. in the Town of Cranston, for one term,
at a salary Of sl1 per wek.
An early reply TO this communication
Is desired. Very truly yours,
w. A. BRIGGS. Clerk.
To the above letter Miss Rsmage re-
turned the following reply:
Shenandoah. Pa, July is, 1895.
REV. w. A. BRIGGS, Clerk OF School Com
mittee, Cranston, II. i.
Dear Sir: Your notice OF my elect ion
rs teacher is CT hand. j hereby accept the
position with thanks.
Yours respectfully,
JEANETTE III. RAMAGE.
No further communications exchanged
between the school committee. or any
one representing them, end Miss Ramage
until the latter part OF August, when
Miss Ramage received the following no
ttce from Mr.. Almy, the superintendent
OF schools:
Auburn, II. l., Aug. "a, 1895.
The examinations for Craustoh teachers
will be given in the Crsnston High
School building September 3, 1895, at Q
Q. IN. You are expected to be present.
Respectfully,
VALENTisE ALMy.
As Miss Ramage WAS quite i'll at this
time she replied through a friend that
sn account of her illness she would be
Unable to be present.
The regular fall term of the schools
opened on Monday, September 9, and
diss Rsmage was unable to be present,
and in accordance with the power con-
erred. on him by the COMMITTEES the su-
,erintendent placed substitute in
charge of the room to which Miss RAM
Nge had been appointed.
On Sept. 6, Mr.. Almy sent Miss Ramage
the following letter:
AUBURN, r. l., Sept. 16, 1895
Miss JEANETTE H. RAMAoE:
! regret that you were unable TO begin
your work at the beginning Of the term.
out think your room is In good hands,
and that you will find some progress
made.
1t would seem adviss Ole for you not to
think of taking up your work until you
have fully recovered your usual health,
because of the heavy nervous strain
you will have to bear. Let US know a
few days before you intend TO stert for
Cranston. The name OF your substitute
is Miss Grace III. Bsrdee, 6S Dartmouth
avenue, Providence.
Yours respectfully,
VALENTINE ALMY.
On October the superintendent re-
ceived letter from Miss Ramage stating
that she should leave New York on that
day for providence.
On Monday, Oct Z, Miss Ramage went
to the school house in district 4, TO as
sumo the duties of the position to which
she was assigned by the terms OF the
letter OF the clerk of the committee. She
was met there by the superinten dent
who forbade her teaching until she had
been examined. After some discussion.
5uring which Miss Rsmage claimed that
II was not necessary for her to take the
examination before beginning her work,
but that she would be willing to take II
later on, while the superintendent in
sisted that IL was the law OF the commit
tee and that he should insist upon her
compliance Herewith, the superintendent
went away, having previously told the
yubstitute teacher 10 report ut the school
each half day until relieved by him.
Attet the buIerlutenueuts utDhTture,
upon the advice OF one member of the
school committee. Miss Ramsge took
charge Of the sch ool and carried II on
through the day.
That evening, in accordance with an
arrangement entered into by one of the
members Of the committee, the superin-
tendent and Miss Rsmage, Miss Ramage
began her examination, taking the rest
the next day. Tuesday. On that day,
OF course, Miss Ramage made no attetmp
to take the school.
At the close of the examinations he
asked the superintendent IL she was to
take charge OF her school the next day
and he replied that she was not to teach
until she had heard from him. On the
following Thursday she received-the fol-
lowing note from the superintendent:
AUBURN, X. J., Oct. 3, 1895.
Miss JENNIE RAMAGE, Edgewood, r. J..
The final average OF your percentage falls
below the percentage required by me In
- s..ts I.s4a tA.Va II nat