Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-02-13
IN FOSTER TOWNSHIP.
REPUBLICANS ARE ASKED TO IN
DORSE THE SCHOOL BOARD.
Directors Have Placed in Nomination a
Ticket Which They Demand Shall BE
Elected, So That They Can Claim an
Endorsement of Their Methods.

Endorsement of Their Methods.
In Foster township there has been
brought forward an issue which should
have no place in politics, and if the Re-
publican party was strong enough there
to stand on its own bottom it is safe to
say it would not be tolerated in the cam
paign. The issue, according to the
men who happen to control the majority
party at present, is the Endorsement or
disapproval of the actions of the Foster
school board last summer, when Direc-
tors Barton, Boyle, Meneeley and Rich
ards introduced sectarianism into the
business of the board by refusing to re-
appoint any former teacher who was
known to be of the Catholic faith or to
even consider the application of any
who were members of that denomi-
nation. To the credit of these men it
must be said that they made no "bones''
about the matter; they told the appl-
cants plainly why they were not appoint
ed, and in the beginning of this cam
pagin they gave it out publicly that
the coming election would be accepted
as test of their right to choose teachers
upon religious basis. They promised
to nominate land have done sol two men
for directors who would follow in their
footsteps if elected. Other men tried to
obtain the Republican nomination for
directors last month, but when they
refused to assent to continuance of
lact Ia,
told they could not get on the ticket.
The township is now being canvassed
for the Republican nominees, and the
plea made for votes is that the candidates
must be elected so the directors can
claim their methods are indorsed. Why
they should want an Endorsement or
wish to continue discrimination in
selecting teachers is not known. The
new system has certainly not improved
the schools of Foster, for those who
were given the positions of the teachers
OF their predecessors. They were
brought here from all quarters of the
state to take the places of young men
and women who were born, raised and
educated in the township, who by their
work had given proof of their qualitica-
tions. In all the history OF the town
ship, when the political and religious
complexion of the school board was
different, such question as teachers
religion never was considered in the APP
pointments. There was no precedent
for the action of the board, and the
directors have given no reason why they
established this rule. Personally they
acknowledge that the certificates and
diplomas held by the turned-down
teachers are, individually or collectively,
superior to anything that the imported
people can produce, yet in the face of
this confession they have thrust upon
the pupils and taxpayers number of
teachers who have nothing in their
favor but the fact that their religion
suits the board. Inasmuch as religion
is not taught in the schools, and as none
of tho teachers were ever accused of in
terfering with the pupils belief, the
action of the directors could not have
been based upon anything but blind
bigotry, which, for the welfare of the
community in general, ought not to be
indorsed for many reasons.
Foster township now has Republican
majority of something in the hundreds.
A few years ago it was Democratic by
about the same number. Political
changes are frequent nowadays, and a
very few more years will probably find
it Democratic again. If majority of
present voters sanctions this introduc-
tion of religion into school affairs, the
next majority may consider they have
the same right. Under these circum
stances every voter, especially those
who are not bound hand and foot to
support whatever secret conclaves may
decide upon, should ask himself If he can
afford, in justice to his children and as
good citizen, to allow the school board
to become plaything in the hands Of
any band of religious fanatics whom the
political waves may sweep into office,
Would it be in the interest OF education
to change the twenty-five teachers every
year or every two or three years, accord
ing as one side or the other may have a
majority on the board? Is it not better
to follow the old custom of selecting
teachers on their merits, to give out the
schools to those who are most qualified
to teach, and when other things are
equal to give residents the preferences
Those are few questions which Foster
voters ought to consider before they
give their Endorsement to a rule which
will work against the best interests OF
the schools every year.
On the Democratic ticket the two
nominees for directors, Erasmus Snyder
and James Hough, are men whose pre-
vious work on the board is as creditable
as any that men could wish for. They