Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-02-11
From Supt. Harrison.

Great Bend, Kas,, Feb 9. 1897
EDITOR DEMOCRAT:
! My attention has been called to an
editorial in the last issue of the Elm
wood Leader concerning the Ellinwood
school difficulty, and to set of resolu.
tons on the same subject which have
been published in the Kansas City Star.
and which [ understand will be pub
lished in the county papers this week.
| 1t is very unfortunate that matter
OF this kind should be so widely pub
| lished, but as Mr.. Lockhart and his
supporters seemed determined to create
| the Impression in the public mind that
| the action of the county superin-
| tendent was unjust and corrupt, and
| not based upon evidence, and that it
has caused the board and the school
much difficulty, and has damaged the
reputation of Mr.. Lockhart, and as
such statements unanswered are mis-
leading, and tend to impair the inf1u-
ence of the county superintendent.
deem it proper Oh behalf of myself, the
dignity Of the Office which I now hold.
and the best interests of the schools of
Barton county. to answer these charges.
Sec 1855 of the school laws of 1895 states that the
county superintendent MAY indorse unexpired 1st
grade certificates issued in other counties.
1t will be seen that the word may
leaves the matter of endorsing a certI-
fcate wholly in the hands of the sup
erintendent, and there is no appeal
from his decision.
Sec 159 states that the board of examiners SHALL
publicly examine all persons proposing teach in
the public schools of the county as to their compe
tency to teach the branches described by law and
the board of examiners shall issue certificates as
hereinafter provided to all such applicants as shall
he
board to their good moral character and ability
to teach and govern the school successfully.
The reason Mr.. Lockhart's certificate
was not endorsed WAS because there is
evidence on file in the county superin.
tendents office, showing that he (Mr.
Lockhart) does not possess good NOR
al character.
every county superintendent who shall corruptly
or oppressively perform any duty required of him.
fetal bond for all damage occasioned thereby, to
be recovered in the of the for the bene-
fit Of the proper party, district county.
At the annual meeting of district No.
2, Ellinwood, held last June, the dis
trict meeting authorized the board to
hire male principal for the ensuing
term of school.
Sec, SO of the school laws states among other
things that the district board shall carry into eff
feet all lawful orders of the district
Sec. SO states that the district board shall con-
tract for and in the name of the district. quail
fed teacher is held by the court to mean teacher
holding legal certificate.
When Mr. LOckhart entered the Ell
linWOod schools at the beginning of the
present term he was not the holder of
a legal certificate and the board had
even notified of the fact. It will be
been by all that the board wilIfully
ISOLATED the law, when they put Mr..
Lockhart into the school.
When Mr.. Mckinney refused to en-
dorse Mr.. Lockhart'S certificate there
was no appeal from his decision, but
by referring to sec. 159 quoted above,
it will be seen that Mr.. Lockhart had
the privilege Of taking an examination
on the last Saturday in October 1896.
The law is plain that the board shall
examine all persons proposing to teach
in tn e public schools.
When [ refused to endorse his Reno
county certificate in January, Mr..
Lockhart had the privilege of taking
the examination on the last Saturday
in January.
Here was a fair opportunity to de-
termine whether MI. Lockhart had
been soppressively" and unjustly dealt
with or not.
He had the privilege of bringing suit
against the county superintendent and
the board of examiners. and in case
they refused him certificate he could
have forced them into court and made
them prove before a jury of II men
why certificate should not be issued
to him.