The Washington bee., 1898-11-12

AN UNPOPULAR AND CONTRARY d.
RECTRESS.-WHATT THE RESULT OF
CHANGE WOULD BE-UNANIMoUs
COMPLAINT.
Perhaps the hardest worked teach
ers in the public schools, are those in
the sewing department. With con-
trary and unpopular sewing directress,
the teachers are having a hard time
1t is not supposed that Superintend,
Cook is aware of the contrary and
arbitrary actions Of this sewing direc-
tress. The program of this depart.
ment is the most zig gag" instrument
that one would desire to read, and
whenever a teacher go-S to the
one who has charge of this depart
ment she is either insulted or she is
told that such and such a change can
not be made, although it is for the
best interest of the schools. There
are several young ladies in this de-
partment who stand high in this COM
munity and who are entitled to con-
sideratlon. AS a sample Of the arbi-
trary action of this 0irectress The BEE
will give a few. A teacher who re-
sides on Neredian Hill is sent either
to South Washington or in the neigh
borhood of the Government Printing
| Office, A teacher who lives in South
| Washington where she had previously
taught and made record, she is sent
near the jail and the teacher who lives
in that vacinity or in the northeast, is
sent entirely out of the reach of
cars. The report is that the directress
of sewing has assumed the authority
| to make an assistant out of one of the
teachers, without the authority of the
superintendent or the industrial COM
mittee. This teacher is called
to the Sumner building two or three
times a week ostensibIy Of assisting
the directress. If she IS sent out to
teach she is given two schools not
100 feet from the directress office.
The BEE wants to know what right
has this discrimination to be made
when all the sewing teachers are sup
posed to fare alike. If a teacher
should ask this modern reformer of
the sewing department if they can ex-
change so that it will be more conven-
lent tc them and especially in wet and
rainy weather, she replies in a most
insulting manner, by telling them that
Mr. Cook will not permit it. The BEE
|
a party to ANYTHING that would in
convenience his teachers.
The committee on industrial educa-
ton is requested TO investigate this
alleged assistant in the sewing depart
ment and other irregularities in this
gig zag" program.
OTHER DEPARTMENTS
are governed differently. Misses
George of the physical culture depart.
ment and Cook of the cooking de.
partment are ladies of refinement who
| sympatEize with their ladies teachers
Their disposition IS not OF show that
they are the "boSseS" but to advance
the best interest of their schools.
Miss George is reported as calling
to her room all of he- teachers, am
methods are discussed and plans sug
gested as to the most convenient way
to make the work agreeable to he
teachers.
Miss Cook does the same thing,
: certain route is inconvenIent to the
teacher these ladies get together anc
discuss the Ifs" and "ands."
They don't set up and lecture thei
teachers as though they were a lot O
school children
A dlrectress should have the respec
I and confidence of her teachers.
The question is, why should Mis-
Griffin, who is the logical first assist
ant and an experienced and compe
tent lady be subordinated for one les
experienced?