The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-24
An Open Letter to
the Board of
Education
Concerning an Alleged
School Scandal.
vote returned out of possible $50 was
72Z-Ayes, 524; Noes, 1873.

vote returned out of d possible $50 was
7ZZ-Ayes, 524; Noes, 1873.
1t was thoroughly understood by the
teachers who voted in the affirmative
that the acceptance of our proposition i'm
piled no use of the schools for ertising
purposes; no canvassing among the
pupils or their parents; no diversion of
the teachers time from their duties no
undignifed or unprofessional conduct.
The stand taken by these teachers is
that it is immaterial what mercantile
house makes donations of a percentage
OF its sales to such cause as the leach
ers' Annuity Fund, provided the firms
reputation is such as to preclude the suS-
picion of unfairness or tTickery and the
collateral object sought to be obtained is
not an Objectionable one. If we see fit to
contribute with each package from to 7
per cent of its wholesale value they see
no objection to taking any honorable
steps toward securing the tickets repre-
senting these contributions. No agree
ment has been asked or made whereby
we are granted any privileges-exclusive
or otherwise.
During the first three months of the
operation of this plan we paid into the
hands of Treasurer Widber the sum of
S4II3o. After that it was temporarily
suspended, pending its final acceptance
or rejection by the teachers as a body.
We now beg to call your attention to
the fact, which even superficial nvesti-
CATION will prove, that the alleged abuses
and debasement of the school department
resulting from this project are the crea-
nf icfJ oil IF
an exposure of a shameless compact
whereby teachers made and were to make
canvassers and drummers of themselves
and pupils would be grotesquely ridicu-
lous if it were not so unjust. The charge
means that in broad daylight, without
protest from the people or the Board of
Education or the newspapers Gall of whom
were or ought to have been fully informed
in the premises) great majority of the
teachers of San Francisco have for months
debaSed their profession, abused their
positions and prostituted the public schools
for commercial purposes. 1t is not only a
great injustice to the Board of Education
and an unwarranted assault on the teach
ers but an insult to the intelligence of the
community.
The Chronicle has been repeatedly ASKED
but has bsrststsntlp refused to publish the
FIJI text the circular letter sent to all the
TEACHERS By a committee of the Teachers
Annnftp Society. This LITTER was The BASIS
upon rckfeh the Vots lras taken and phteh
pon!d shoy The real position of the teachers
IN tbs matter. 1t also refused to publish
the personal statement of the chairman of
this committee, against whom it printed
an abusive inSnuation
This wide-awake journal does not seem
to know that in October another daily
undertook an exposure" of this matter,
which it promptly dropped on being
shown that it was based on erroneous in
formation.
The Chronicle now calls upon you to
give Endorsement and support to its con-
scienceless sensation by passing rules or
resolutions which, under the circum-
stances, will imply confirmation of its
charges; that will fasten upon your
Board, upon the teachers of San Fran
cisco, upon the press and upon the public
the odium of having tolerated disrepu-
table abuse of the public schools, which
was continued until the virtuous Chron-
icle called halt.
AS far as we are concerned we ask for
neither defense nor apology. Our con-
science and our hands are clean. Our
reputation In the business community is
too we'll established to suffer by little
foolish newspaper talk. But we protest
against being made the unwilling cause
of discreditable reflection upon a great
and dignified body of men and women to
whom the people have intrusted the
highest function of the State. and who
we believe enjoy the fullest public conf
dence and esteem.
We have the honor to remain.
Yours respectfully,
TILLMANN & BENDEL.
Snn ErnncfScn Eth % I2n2