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

1
basis on which to rest this question.
We suggest that the Committee on
| Teachers and Salaries make recommen-
dations to the Board, so amending
our rules, that the matter of salaries
shall be placed on more definite
and fixed basis.
Fourteenth. We believe that con-
fusion and trouble have often arisen
| from the failure on the part of our
| committees TO follow the rules pre-
scribed by the Board, and We there
fore suggest that such rules be more
closely followed hereafter.
Fifteenth. We find that members
of the Board of Education have re-
quested and received gratuitously
| from dealers in text books, books of
considerable value, the same not be-
ing regular text books used in the
schools. This is dangerous and inn
proper practice, and we therefore
recommend that such gratuities on
the part of any member of the Board
or employe of the schools, should
cease, to the end that they may be
entirely free in the discharge of
their duties, to the best interests
and the economical running of our
Schools.
Sixteenth. If we understand Alright
the policy of the Board when the
change was made in the management
of our schools two years ago, it was
to put our schools on the highest pos
sible plane of efficiency, and to that
end. the best talent obtainable was
to be secured and a thorough rear
rangement was to be made of our
schools; and from the statements of
the principals, supervisors and many
others who came before us and who
are in close touch with our schools, it
Is our Judgment that on the whole,
they are in healthy and flourishing
condition, and that much progress
has been made in the right direction.
But a still further work must be
done which can only be accomplished
by the full and hearty cooperation
of the entire Board, and the citizens
of our city in the burying of all per-
sonal feelings and grievances and re-
membering that the schools are not
conducted in the interests of any one
in particular, nor even for the teach
ers, but rather for our ten thousand
boys and girls whose interests we are
striving to upbuild and advance.
Seventeeth. There should be a
careful redistricting of the city so
that pupils should attend the school
lying nearest to their homes and most
conveniently reached by them.
We find that at the present time
there has been no general rule as to
districts, and careful arrangement
along this line will he helpful to the
management of the schools and
would save, we feel. much trouble
and dissatisfaction among both
teachers and parents.
Eighteenth. We find that in the
case of Miss Anna Thomas, the atti-
tude of the superintendent and prin-
cipal of the High school has not been
warranted by just regard for her
feelings and proper consideration
of the condition and circumstances
surrounding the case.
Ninteenth. In justice to all parties
concerned, it is but fair that the COM
mittee make the following state
ment:
Soon after Mr.. Thomas was elect
ed superintendent of our schools,
more than two years ago, and the
new Board organized, Mr.. Thomas
was invited to attend a meeting of
the teachers committee. Mr.. Bryan,
the President of the Board, was also
presnt. At that meeting general
plans for the coming year were
talked over. Mr.. Thomas said he
could not make any recommendation
of teachers in the employment of
the Board at that time, as he was not
acquainted with their work, but he
would recommend the new teachers
to be employed; so that the recon-
mendation of old teachers fell largely
upon the teachers committee. Sup
erintendent Fraunfelter being in
poor health asked to be excused
from this work.
The committee feeling the great
responsibility resting upon them
moved very carefully in this matter,
and after repeated consultation with
Superintendent Fraunfelter and the
principals of the various schools, it
was found advisable not to recon-
mend some seven or eight teachers.
At a meeting of the teachers COM
mittee, at which Mr.. Thomas and
Mr.. Bryan were present, it was de-
CIueu pcSe w iiobiiS bileSt UedCHels DIT
an early date that their election for
another year was uncertain. 70 re-
lieve the committee, and upon the
suggestion of Mr.. Bryan, Mr.. Thomas
offered to have his clerk send out
these letters from his Office in War
rem, which was done, but it has
proved most unfortunate. One of
these letters was publ ished in one of
oar daily papers and freely COM
mented upon, and through this