Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-07-06

EsAkIAEg glEsNs5!lssa
of our schools, that our Superintend-
ent has not dealt fairly and Justly
with certain citizens, teachers. and
applicants for the position of teacher,
and as a result, want of confidence
in his integrity, and sentiment i'm
pugning his good faith, prevails.
We find, however, that in practi-
cally all of the instances brought to
our attention, which prima facie might
appear to lend color to the conditions
above mentioned, Il full investigation
of the facts and surrounding circum-
stances, ,convinces us that such feeling
and sentiment is unwarranted and
rests upon no substantial foundation ;
but that such condition has resulted
largely if not entirely, from the fol-
lowing causes, to-wit:
First. Animprudent habit of COM
municativeness on the part of the
Superintendent in matters in whole
or in part without his jurisdiction,
when silence or plain, brief or decis-
i've expression would have been
wiser
Second. A mistaken conclusion
drawn by the applicant, from state
ments made by the Superintendent
and members of the Board, together
with feeling on the part of many
teachers and their friends that the
position of teacher is one of life
tenure.
Third. Injudicious, illtempered,
and illadvised comment upon, and
interference with, the duties and pre-
negatives of the Board of Education,
it's teachers and employees, on the
part of the public press and many
well-meaning citizens, without TAX
ing pains to ascertain the facts and
circumstances bearing upon the cases
in question ,and then building thereon
sound and dispassionate Judgment,
thus in effect assuming position of
hostility and unfairness, instead of
manifesting ii proper spirit of friend
Illness, towards the schools and
school officers.
In view of the premises, your COM
mittee, having an eye singly to the
welfare and education of the youth
of this city, and the continued main
tenance of the high standing of our
schools, do believe and find that
without an honest and united sup
port of all good citizens, the superin-
tendent's usefulness will be mater
tally impaired and his efficiency
permanently affected, in this city,
and this, for the most part, from
causes not his own; hence we do not
recommend any present action upon
the matter of superintendent.
Respectfully submitted,
c. B. RAYMOND,
w. E. SLABAUGH,
J. Il. DIEHM,
s. p. HARTZELL,
F. G. REED,
Committee.
After the reading of the report Mr..
Talcott of the Fifth ward, moved
that it be accepted. Col. Gibbons
sprang to his feet and moved that it
be referred to the Committees on
Teachers and Salaries and Schools
and Discipline. Mr.. Slabaugh sec
onded Gibbons motion.
DR.. Reed, who seemed to be per-
fectly satisfied with the report, said:
''I am ready to act on the commit
tees report now as well as any other
time.''
Col. Gibbons suggested that the
individual members be given an op-
portunity to look over the report and
if possible get it down to something
more definite and conclusive. His
motion finally prevailed.
Mr.. Otis said that DR.. Reed had
struggled with the report for four or
five weeks, and had every reason to
be satisfied with it's findings, but
that other members of the Board not
on the committee knew nothing at
all about the matter. He asked for
time to investigate the report.
Mr.. Raymond said he didn't want
to ram the report down anyone's
throat and said he wanted it thor
oughly digested.
HartzeIl made motion to rescind
the Gibbons motion, which carried.
The report was then referred to the
Board as a committee of the whole by
unanimous vote.
Each member is expected to inves-
tigate the report and be prepared to
act upon it at the next meeting of
the Board.
leo AIIan,c Eoot Easa in Your EiovnS