Evening star., 1898-11-09
Matter of an Apuo:ntmeBt.


Matter of an Appointment
An interesting question in the matter Of
the appointment of teachers was also pre-
sented by Mr.. Whelpley 1t arose in the
case OF one of the graduates Of. the Nor
nal School III last years class. The young
lady's name is Miss Emma McKenna, and
she graduated near the head of the class
During the summer recess she was tenn
porarlly employed in the Treasury De-
partment in connection with the issue of
the war bonds. That employment ended
shortly after the opening of the schools
AT the beginning of the school year she
was rendered the position of teacher of a
second grade school in the Mccormick
building near the navy yard She declined
the appointment, however, and it was given
to another graduate of the Normal School
In making the appointment the school
board followed its rule of filling vacancies
by the appointment of Normal School grad
yates In the order of their standing. The
class numbered forty-seven, of which num-
ber thirty-four have been provided with
schools TO date, leaving thirteen to be pro-
vided for not including the appointment
Of Miss Mckenna, who, under ordinary
circumstances, would have been among the
very first to receive an appointment. She
now makes application to the board for
appointment to the next vacancy, to which
she considers herself entitled on account of
her high standing in her class
1t developed in the discussion of the case
by the board of trustees that the grant
ing of the application would necesstate a
change in the practice of the board of ap-
pointing Normal School graduates in nu-
merical order, and delay the appointment of
the, graduate standing next on the list.
The question put before the board was
whether, under the circumstances Miss
Mckerna was entitled to the next va
cancy o. whether she would have to take
her place at the foot of the list of eligibles
md llyn he 1ast ol,1
The reasons given by Miss Mckenna for
declining the appointment originally ten
dered her in the Mccormick building were
that the building was unhealthful, and that
1t was some distance several sQuares)
from her home ard that it was inconven-
lent to the cars.
Troublesome Precedent
In the course of the discussion. In which
Messrs. Wilson. Hazen, Barnard and
Wright participated it was stated that the
granting of Miss McKenna's appIicatio,
would establish a troublesome precedent
and entail much confusion, inasmuch as if
would encourage the graduates in .be be
nef that by declining assignments to GER
tam schools they would get more desirable
assignments, contingency much to he
dreaded by the board in the hest Interests
of the school system.
Mr. Hazen favored making an exception
IN the case of Miss McKenna because Of
were against him. They contended that
the only fair system was to fill vacancies
as they occurred from the list of elisibIes
in regular order, and to show no favor or
discrimination.
The discussion was closed by the adon-
ton of a motion made by Mr.. Wilson that
IN cases where Normal graduates decline
the positions offered them their names go
to the foot of the list of eligibles
Memory of Socrates Maupin.
Mr.. Hazen presented for consideration a
letter received by him from Representative
w. L. Stark of Nebraska in regard to the
case of Socrates Maupin, a pupil of the
Eastern High School, who enlisted in the
District regiment of volunteers and met
his death in the service of his country.
Mr.. Stark said he was acquainted with
yoILg Maupin, and was impressed with his
worth and character, regarding him as one
of the most promising young men he had
ever met. He suggested that 1t would BE-
right and proper for the Eastern High
School to set apart day for memorial
services in the assembly room.
HE has conferred honor upon the
school," said Mr.. Stark, land there Is n
never be forgotten by those who knew
him."
The matter was referred to the tr,1stae
for the division in which the Eastern High
School is located, for such action as might
be deemed proper. In announcing the ref
erence, Mr.. Whslpley remarked that he had
no doubt the school would take the action
indicated by Mr.. Stark.
A communication was read from the
tain gymnastic apparatus to the gym