The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-15
CRANSTON.
Last Nights Lively Meeting
of School Committee.
Committeeman Freeman Goes for
the Superintendent Of Schools.
A Typical Case That illustrates Au-
tocratic Mismanagement.


together last even .ng at . 20 o'clock The
session was the longest and the liveliest
known TO have been held in Cranston.
This great interest of the evening center
ed upon the case OF teacher who had
been appointed to teach in the Edgewood
school and who has been removed by the
without authority, 1t is
claimed.
When the superintendent stated that
this teacher had not passed her examina-
tion, Mr.. Freeman arose, and despite the
efforts OF one Of his fellow members TO
prevent him from speaking, he spoke as
follows:
II rise to make a motion relative to
Miss Ramage's status as a teacher, and /
desire TO preface my motion with reasons
for making il. What shall say will be
relevant to the question, and will include
an account of the circumstances attend
ing Miss Manages appointment and her
examination. / have reduced my remarks
TO writing in order that there may arise
no Misunderstanding or dispute as TO
what / shall have said. regard this pre-
caution necessary because i have been
repeatedly and perslstently misquoted
by ope of the city papers in its reports OF
the proceedings of this committee.
"I presume that II will not be disputed
that at a regular meeting OF this commit
tee the so-cslled local committee at Edge
wood was authorized to engage teacher
for the second room OF the Edgewood
school; that the local committee at the
subsequent meeting reported having en-
gagged Miss Ramage, and her appointment
was ratified by this commmitteei that,
later, it was reported that Miss Ramage
WAS VERY SERIOUSLY ILL,
and would be unable to take charge o.
her school at the commencement of the
term; and that the committee ordered
that a substitute should be engaged to
teach the school until Miss Ramage
should be able to tako charge.
.The clerk of the committee notified
Miss Ramage OF her appointment, saying
nothing TO her OF any requirement as TO
passing an examination. Later, Mr..
Alniy wrote to her notifying her OF q
teachers examination TO be held at
Auburn before the beginning OF the
school term.
"she replied that she was very i'll and
could not be present at the examination.
He wrote again saying nothing about an
examination, but advising her not to
come until she was entirely well, as she
would be su ubiected to great nervous
strain This apparent threat together
with q remark that he is said 10 have
made to the effect that he proposed to in
stitute a sitting process in reference
to the teachers OF this town, led me TO
believe that he would attempt TO work
out a spite which he apparently holds to-
ward me, by trying to make II impossible
for Miss Ramage 10 pass his examination.
She had no thought Of trying TO evade
the examination but supposed, as did,
and as my colleague, Mr.. Budlong, did,
that she would be allowed to take charge
of her school as soon as her health would
permit her to 90 SO, and take the eXami-
nation at such time as would be con-
venient TO her and to the superintendent.
"She came to assume charge OF her
school as soon as she could obtain her
physicians consent and approval.
"Her physician told her that she was
well enough to teach, but that she must
not worry; that worrying would be
very likely TO bring about recurrence OF
her illness.
"She arrived in Edgewood on THURSDAY y,
the Sd instant, late in the afternoon. The
next day she visited her school, and in
formed the substitute that she would be
ready to begin TO teach on the following
Monday morning. The substitute assent
ed to this willingly; and on Monday
morning, the 9TH instant, Miss Ramage
accordingly took charge of the school.
The superintendent then appeared upon
the scene, and stated to Miss Ramage that
she would not be permitted to teach un-
til she had taken an examination L was
present, and asked him IL he would not
be willing 10 allow her 10 teach for the
present without a certificate, ana take the
examination at such time as would be
convenient to both him and her. he
fatty refnsed, and used very disCourteou'
language. Miss Ramage, however, acting
upon my aovice, remained in charge o.
the school that day.
"During the day Mr.. Budlong had an IN
terview with Mr.. Almy and MIR. Dutem
pie, and i understand that
COMPROMISE WAS EXPECTED
by which Miss Ramage was to take th'
examination that evening and the follow
| ing day and resume her teaching on Wed
nesday morning. She accordingly tool
| the examination as required, in cole
room in the presence OF Mr.. Almy who's
manner toward her, she says, was brusqu'
and, in some respects, unmannerly. Ate
| Miss Ramage had finished writing, Mr.
| Almy told her that Miss Bardeen woul'
take charge Of the school on the follow
ing day, and remain in charge until Mis-
| Rsmsge should hear from him. Whel
asked how early she would hear iron
him, he replied tomorrow. lie wa
requested TO direct his communication 4
her in my care, and TO mail II to IN,
| Providence address lie agreed TO do o
| He neglected TO keep his prosnise. how
ever. and his notice failed TO reach he
until Thursday, although inquiry for
| letter addressed to her had been made q
the Pawtuxet posto flee "Wednesday after
noon at 5 O'Clock. On Thursday morning
having learned through Mr. Budlong ths
he had decided not 10 permit her {
teach, she called at Mr.. Almy's house {
ask for her examination papers. lie re
fused TO let her have the papers, and vo
untecred the remark that she had not ha
good advisers I'm this matter, "a very signi
icant remark under the circumstances.
"Now note all these facts;
al. Miss Ramage Is q high school grsc
uate. She is also a graduate OF a stat
normal school OF high standing, in th
State OF Pennsylvania. Before being pei
mitted TO graduate from that institutio
she was sseuired -
PASS A yHoRoUGH EXAMINATION
by the faculty. OF the school, and anoth'
searching ex animation by a state boar
Of examiners, consisting OF the depu'
state superintt Ndent. the superintendei
| NJ M sohaols All Aarfis buro. and A COul