The Opelousas courier., 1897-08-28
OPELoUsAs, Aug. 80, 1897.

Mr.. EDITOR -
In the official proceedings OF the July
meeting of the School Board, rs pub
lished in the Clarion of July 10 and in
the COURIER of July II, tho follow
ing appears:
MI SandOz having recommended that the
positions in said school 1.-THE High SchOOD here
tofOre held by Mrs. Nj. Mayer and Miss +.
Ealer be ODened to competitive examination, MIR.
J. T.. Guilbeau moved as an amendment that
said teachers DO reappOinted as assistants at a
salary of $40 each, which amendment was car
ricd by all members voting aye, save MIR. San
doz, who voted nay
Learning that tho motives of my ac-
ton in the matter have been grossly
misrepresented and that the propriety
of my course, involving the perform
allce of a plain though painful and dis
agreeable public duty, had been ques-
toned, | am reluctantly impelled to
make the following statement:
was appointed last November as a
member of the Board, vice DR.. V. X.
Irion, resigned, and attended the first
meeting held thereafter, in January,
when | was chosen as supervisor for
the 1st district. AS such | sOOn became
aware that Prof. Harris, principal Of the
High School, had in his written month
Iy reports repeatedly made serious
charges against the teachers mentioned,
as to their efficiency. The President
and Superintendent informed me that
similar complaints against Mrs. Mayer
had also been made by the former princi-
pal, Prof. Shatfer. The report sen in by
Prof. Harris at the close of the school
term last May contained renewed COM
plants against both these teachers. The
President and Superintendent agreed
with me that these repeated complaints
could no longer beignored or disregard
ed, and the information was conveyed
to both these ladies that |. as supervi-
recommend their reapp0intment.
In order that the public may more
fully judge as to the propriety of-nay,
the necessity for-my action, it may be
necessary for ono to be more specific.
In his last report, Prof. Harris, in re-
viewing the work of the session. de-
clared that the results in the interme-
date department were not satisfactory,
and attributed that lamentable fact to
the inability of the teachers in that de-
partment to "hold the attention Of their
pupils" i. g., their deficiency in disci-
pline. Of Miss Ealer, one of these
teachers, he says: II have in several of
my reports brought before you the fact
that Miss Ealer is deficient in discipline.
That is still true" etc. After reiterat-
ing his complaints against Mrs. Mayer,
another Of these teachers, he closes by
saying 81 feel it my duty to say to you
that l think it impossible for Mrs.
Mayer to do work IN any department."
The trustees Of the High School, in
their last report to the Board. said of
tho discipline therein "We observed a
lack Of discipline in several
departments of the school,"
Rule 80 of the Board says:"All teach
ers are required to maintain strict order
and discipline in their schools. Any
neglect of this requirement will he con-
good cause for dismissal"
With this simple statement, l submit
the matter to the candid consideration
of my felIow-citizens, confident that my
course will meet with the unqualified
appreciation of all unprecedented and
right-thinking lei
l.. A. SANDOZ,
SUPERVISOR 1St School District.