The Penn's Grove record., 1899-05-19
An EXPLANATION.

NIX. EDliOH. III ldst Ntth D pHttW DhH-
beam appeared the following: There is
much surprise that Miss Abbie Kidd was
not reelected a teacher in the primary de.
partment of our public SCHOOL,, etc
As this is not strictly the truth, aad be-
ing as the people are surprised, | deem il
proper to make a statement which is vera
cious in every particular.
About two months ago l wrote to the
President of the Board of Education reques.
ting him to tell the Board when they met
to elect teachers that l was not an applicant
for the ensuing year, yet | was reelected.
A member of the Board soon after called
to see me stating what had been done and
urging me to accept, saying that the Board
realized that | had been imposed upon, and
were determined too amend affairs for the
coming year. Feeling from the experience
of last spring that that would not be done
without n hard struggle in which | was un
willing to engage, l said, after a long con-
versation that | would accept the position
for SIS more a month than the other assist
ant teachers received, not because l wan
ted a higher salary but because | could not
with any self respect, teach for the same
salary, the outlook being as it was.
The Board met again and decided, l am
most happy TO say, not to give the extra
pay. / say 1 am happy because should
they nave voted to give it, | must have de-
clined when l had duly considered the mat
ter; for Judging from the past of recent
wears, probably only Is or 20 would have
been promoted out OF my room when school
opened next fall, and l would have been
left with about IS old pupils to begin with
and adding the new ones which last fall
numbered II and this spring 80, my next
spring enrolment would be about $50, a
numberI would not engage to teach for 500
per month.
My enrolment is now 80, next rooms
50. My daily attendance the past few
weeks from 60 to Is, ley rooms from 30
to As. One class of 16 pupils was passed
from my room after the opening OF the new
| room and two classes of 10 and IL pupils
respectively were taken from the next
room.
Early last spring l learned that the total
enrolment of the Second Primary Depart
ment had been 40 from September to March
while mine was 50.
This is the first information that / had
received that there was such a difference in
numbers between the two rooms.
During the years previous the enrolment
of the two rooms had been well proportioned
l think A few times the first days atten-
dance in my room had been even less than
| the room above. Before me lies o clipping
from the PennsgIove RECORD OF September
! 6, 1895, stating that school opened with an
attendance in First Primary Dept. of 50,
Second Primary, 55.
My yearly enrolment was always con-
siderably greater, but / was satisfied be-
cause l believed there was endeavor to
e~qualize the work as much as possible.
In May 1913, after a long unsettled state
of affairs, | was led to believe by the Prin-
cipal, that the enrollments would more
nearly correspond in numbers for this pre-
sent year, and so | consented to a re-elec-
ton.
Last fall both rooms were very full and
when the attendance became so great that
there would of necessity have been 3 on a
seat in the Second Primary Dept. the Prin-
cipal gave orders that no more pupils be adj
mitted till other plans were laid. | then
had, and had had previously, and have
now several seats containing 3 pupils, but
in 10 years that is the only order given to
me to decline to admit more children.
Some time ago / became impressed, from
a deception practiced upon the Third Pri-
mary teacher, and from a statement made
by the Principal that there would be nc
more promotions this year, that should ]
remain next year, matters would be arrang-
ed whereby the Second Primary Dept.
would number few over so while my en-
rollment would most probably before win
ter, exceed 100. (Last fall my enrolment
for first month was 81. That of the next
room has not in 10 years been above Co..
| could not stand, either to repeat last
-. NuInn1 NV 10 tnnnh ca pnnntr tnATa
pupils for the same remuneration as Others
get to teach so many less There was
nothing left to do, but to quit. That l de.
cided to do and said nothing as to the reaI
cause till a member of the Board stated the
cause to me.
Since 1893, my pupils have been subject,
ed to examination every spring as are all the
other pupils of the school. The examina.
ton in my room has been held, with the
exception of this year about the middle o
May; that of the other lower rooms, which
are as much independent of the County ex
animation as mine, during March or April
This spring the Principal told my A elias
that he would want to examine them thu
last of May. The Decoration Day enter
tainment comes the last of May, and Will
other teachers are free to make elabOrat,
preparations my pupils and have to labo
with all our strength to get ready for al
examination.
In all the lower rooms except mine
many of the pupils having had their ex
animation early and not being promoted
till the fall term (for what reason 1 hav
never heard) leave school long before vaca
ton and the teachers can nave a compare
lively easy time, while l have to toll ava.
until nearly the close of the term, with
room full of children. In my opinion
things ought not so to be.
ANNE |. KIM