The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-07-03

The law expressly provides that no per-
son can teach other branches than
those named on his certificate. A col
lege diploma is not in itself a legal
credential qualifying the holder to
teach in the public schools"
Previous to 1898 l accepted a college
diploma as sufficient evidence of sChol-
arship, but on receiving the correct in
terpretation OF the law from Harris
burg, our court of last resort, decided
to comply with the law in its best in
depreciation, and examine the teachers
in the High school who held no certif-
Gates in order to secure our state ap-
proprlation. I went to the High school
and asked all the teachers to take the
examination in order to secure our state
appropriation, and they all complied
with my request excepting Professor
Phillips and Professor Loomis. They
refused to present themselves for ex-
animation. To get our state appropri-
alton | was compelled to send the ex-
animation questions through Captain
May and allow him to conduct the eX-
animation.
A controversy at this time with Pro-
fessor Phillips and Professor Loomis
would have DELAYED our state appro-
priation five months, IL not a year, kept
our teachers waiting that length of
time for their pay and in all probabll-
ity we should have lost the appropria-
tion.
If Professor Phillips and Professor
Loomis can select their own examin-
ers, other applicants can do likewise.
and each member Of the board can be-
come Reconstructed superintendent
with full authority to pass judgment on
examination questions. In all my ex-
perience as teacher and superintend-
ent this is the most corrupt and wilful
case of characterization ever recorded.
My Visitations to the High school
during the last year revealed the fact
that the main entrance doors on Vine
street were frequently locked during
both the regular session and intermis-
sion. ! asked Professor Phillips alone
and in presence of the committee, for
the safety of the pupils, to keep the
doors unlocked. He refused every re-
quest l then reported the case to the
High and Training committee and
asked them to visit the High school.
They did so twice and on each occa-
sion they found the main entrance
doors locked. 1t may be trivial mat
ter to keep those doors locked. but
should any one fail to get out of the
building during a time of fire or ex-
superintendent and the principal for
criminal negligence for all times to
come.
SPECIAL STUDENTS.
Again, we have two classes of spe-
cial students in the Scranton High
school, those who have graduated and
those who have not. Those who have
graduated are allowed to select any
branch in the curriculum and those who
are taking a special course, owing to
want of capacity or Illness, are not al
lowed to take any branch they please
in the curriculum. The latter must con-
fine their work to the prescribed course.
To grant boy in the freshman class
who has failed for the want of capac-
ity or even Illness the right to drop the
| studies of that year and jump into the
sophomore or senior year is all out
rage on the freshman class, an injus-
tiCe to the boy himself, favoritism OF
the worst kind. We must follow the
true order of studies. To allow a boy
to take up the study of trigometry
without a knowledge Of geometry, or
geometry without a knowledge Of al
zebra Is wrong, and the course can not
be justified. l have protested against
this irregular work for two years, but
it still goes on, and / ask you for the
| best interests of the High school, and
for the best interests of higher educa-
tion, to have it stopped.
The cost per pupil in the Scranton
| High school is nearly sixty dollars per
year, almost twice the cost OF the
Wilkes Barre school, exclusive of in
terest on the building, and if Profess
sOr Phillips is allowed to give the sec
ond class of special students the right
to take advanced work when they are
not prepared to do so, it will only be
short time before il will cost more
per pupil for public instruction than
for private instruction.
The board in 1897 passed the follow
ing resolution: THE general discipline
of the Scranton High school must be
| improved" The discipline was bad
then and 1t is bad today, too lax for
efficient work and the development of
strong character. l do not ask for mill
tary discipline, but / do ask for dis
! cipline that is firm, and for punish
ments and penalties that are severe
| enough to prevent the constant repe-
| tition of the same Offense I can not
| commend the discipline of the Scran-
| ton High school, it is too boisterous in
! my judgment to elevate and refine
| character
Hoping that these statements may be
of some service to you in drawing lust
| conclusions, and hoping for your hearty
| cooperation in conserving the highest
rights of pupils and parents, am
Yours truly,