Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-07-17

! CT FrCi. stevenson, tHaI ciAc NdS HOt III
competent, but that she was weak in
chemistry and mathematics, and a
/ "rop.ine' teacher. These charges were
| substantially denied by Prof. Steven
| son. who also told the commissioners
that they made a mistake in removing
/ her.
Mr.. Clarke said he did not exactly I'M
derstand what Is meant by the term
routine" teacher, but thought that no
teacher could be successful who was not
a routine teacher It would be folly to
allow the idiosyncracies OF teachers TO
crop out in their work. During the
time Miss Wiley taught chemistry in
Madison school, Mr.. Clarke said, the
average OF the class was higher than at
any other time. He also showed that
iSthe graduating classes took better rank
every year, in proportion as the number
| Of studies which she taught Increased.
He asserted TAT the petition presented
TO the Board was not an ordinary one,
but might DE regarded as an answer TO
| the question as to whether there Is a
| popular demand for her removal. He
did not appear before the Board as a
professional man, but was actuated in
everything he did by friendship for Miss
Wiley. He made the point that FREQUENT
changes in the teaching force tended to
destroy its effectiveness, and added that
the removal Of Miss Wiley at this time
would effectually bar her from securing
a position elsewhere. He would NOT
im2ugn the motives of the commission
ers He thought they simply made a
mistake, and asked that the Board cor
| rect Il.
When Mr.. Clarke concluded his very
exhaustive review of the case, Mr.. Hub
bard took the floor and stated that he
did not intend to go into the merits of
The case. He spoke Of the difficulty in
securing evidence of the good or poor
work Of a teacher, and said the Com
missiOners were actuated by desire to
improve the efficiency of Madison
! school. He admitted that Madison
stood first this year, but the grade of the
clasa was below that of last year. Mad
ison was frs not because an improve
ment was made, but because the other
schools fell off. In justification Of the
late notification of Miss Wiley, he said
! the efficiency of the school would have
| been Impaired if she knew six months
s0Orlan that she would not be reappoint-
ed. MI Hubbard said petitions amount
I ed to very little, not expressing the
wishes of the signers half the time. I'VE
cannot enter into our reasons for re-
| moving Miss Wiley, nor can we give al
our reasons, but We were actuated by
| The best interests of the school"
MIR. Maxwell supplemented the re-
marks OF Mr.. Hubbard by stating that
tho Commissioners of Madison have
been looking for teacher for several
years. The fight of Miss Wiley's
| friends has been for her, regardless of
the good of the school or anything else,
even going so far as to make a fight
against every other teacher in the
school, He took exception to the state
ment Of Mr.. Clarke that no reason was
given Miss Wiley for her removal, and
he denied that Prof. Stevenson had de-
cliued to substantiate his charges
against her.
Mr.. Buchanan said no set OF Commits
siorers in the city have tried so hard
as those of Madison to elevate the stand
ard of the school. He had heard ex-
pressions CT dissatisfaction with her
work from the principal and others. He
said he thought Miss Wiley good
teacher, but he felt they were putting
a better one in her place.
Mr.. Mllligan moved that the report OF
Madison Commissioners be referred
back. This Beard was in possession OF
all the information in the matter. Mr..
Stanton did not see what could be ac-
complished by the reference. Mr.. Mil
ligan explained that ne thought the
Commissioners locked too lightly upon
the petition. Mr.. Buchanan said a thou
sand names upon a petition would have
less effect upon him than personal in
terview with two or three persons. Mr..
Hubbard ventured the assertion that an
examination OF the petition would re-
veal the fact that there are more names
of persons living in other wards than on
the Island.
Or. .Ulrich thought the Commission
ers had made some mistakes. II they
were inyes,i eating the matter for three
years. and discovered errors. they
should have made corrections at once,
and not after the close of the term, when
1t is TOO late to get employment else
where. He thought there should be a
taoit understanding that no teacher who
has done satisfactory work shall be re-
moved without charges having been
! brought and sustained.
DR.. Uirlch thought the Commission
ers were simply the standing commit
tees of the Board. This point was dis
puted by Mr.. Maxwell, who read from
the school law that the powers OF the
local Commissioners were to appoint
teachers subject to the approval OF the
Board.
On the motion to refer back to the
Commissioners, the vote was-ayes,
Messrs. Birch. Dickey, Campbell Dud-
ley. jefferson, Medick. Miller, Milligan,
Nesbitt. Walford, Wedner, Mr.. Presi-
dent-12. Noes, Messrs. Boyd, Buck
man. Hubbard, Maxwell, Stantcn-5.
Miss Lucy Robinson was reappoint-
ed Supervisor OF Music, at the same SAL
airy as last year.
Supt. Anderson was empowered to
get suitable help for the Teachers In
stitute to be held during the first week
in September, at cost not to exceed
the expense of last year.
Adjourned