Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-08-18
Make Mach Work. =
Prof Cole INDICATED.

the superintendent Of the Martinsburg
public schools, on charges preferred by
Commits sloner Beniz, which are the out
growth and it is hoped the finale of the
dispute and inharmonious proceedings
that have attracted so much attention to
the Board Of late.
The announcement Of the purpose of
the meeting had attracted a considerably
crowd to the Second Ward building and
when the meeting was called TO order al
o'clock the room in which the meeting
was held was we'll filed President Kill
mer presided and all four of the commits
sioncrs were present.
The first business before the meeting
was the election Of language teacher at
The High School. Commissioner Nc
KoWn nominated Mr.. Clearance P. c.
Rinker for the position, which motion was
seconded by Commissioner Whetzel. The
motion was put and lost, Com'r. Nc
KCwn and Whetzel voting for and
Com'rs. Bentz, Weilinger and Kilmer
against it.
Com. Whetzel then nominated Prof.
Saunders, of Hedgesvle, for the position
which was seconded by Com. McKown.
This motion was carried and Prof. Saun-
ders was elected as the language teacher,
Com'rs. McKown, Whetzel and Kilmer
voting in favor of and Com'rs. Bentz and
Wellinger against it.
Prof Lole stated that the regular fixed
date for the opening of the schools after
the summer vacation. the first Monday in
September, had been fixed by the Govern
or as Labor Day, a legal holiday. Com
missioner Mckown then moved that the
date for the opening OF the schools be
liked for the following Tuesday, which
motion was carried.
The trial Of Supt. Cole on the charges
preferred agains. him, the purpose for
which the meeting was called, was then
gone into. The charges preferred against
the superintendent were as follows
To the Honorable Board OF Education
of the Independent School District Of
Martinsburg. Gentlemen The under
signed, citizen and taxpayer Of Berke-
ley county, believing in the blessings of
education and realizing the importance Of
thorough work in connection with every
department of our school system and de-
string 10 promote the best interests OF our
schools, most respectfully submits 10 your
Honorable Body the following charges
against Prof. c. II. Cole, superintendent
OF our city schools and principal of the
High School in Martinsburg, and trusts
you will give them such consideration as
they merit
First-That your undersigned is in
formed and believes that said Prof. {. II.
(HAla raDaefaIi,t h. 1oet
made false statements concerning the
studies taught in said schools and has at
tempted to deceive Your Honorable Body
in the number OF studies taught IN said
schools and by himself personally, and has
knowingly and willfully misrepresented
and misinforned certain persons as to the
continuation Of the language course in
said school, meaning and intending there
by 10 place your Honorable Body in a false
attitude before the public.
Second-Taa. sad Prof. c. H. Cole is
not in harmony with the teachers en-
ployed in said schools or the majority of
the scholars attending them.
Third-1hat said Prot. Cole is guilty
of eavesdropping and other conduct I'M
becoming gentleman and school teach
err all OF which said charges the under
signed stands ready to verify.
Respectfully Submitted,
F. BENTZ.
Before s citing into the trial Messrs.
Bentz and Welnger had little dispute
with the President, in which they charged
him with making sport of them and with
"humbuggery.'
They finally came to an agreement and
the first section OF the charges was taken
up. Prof. Triplett, teacher IN the third
room at the H ieh Schoo,was the first
witness, He stated that the night the
question of employing language teacher
was before the Board Prof Cole had
make an ltemlzed statement OF the
branches taught, IN which he placed on
the blackboard three studies that were not
taught-Englsh History, Comparative
Geography and general e .iew.
Prof Cole than asked Prof. Triplett:
Have ever refused to make a correction
of any mistake ever made ? If YOU are
nv assistant, as you ask 10 be, why didn I
you call my attention to it ?" Mr.. TupIett
replied; 1T wasn't my business: it was
yours. Prof. Cole then stated he had
pldCCu the lVtCt Dl duNuCS, EoIlllCi Clai
geography, English history and general
review, upon the board for the purpose of
showing that he was going TO introduce
them and not to deceive the Board by
sta Ing that they were already being
taught.
Prof Tripett was the only witness on
this charge ard the end charge was then
taken up, Com. Bentz first explained the
cause by stating there was not sufficient
harmony b4tween the superintendent and
the teachers in the work and at the teacL-
ers meeting.
Prof. Ser, the first witness, said in
some cases there was harmony and in
some cases there was not. He thought
Prof. Cole had unjustly criticised some
teachers and didn't think he 81 I'D
criticse them before the scholars
| He further stated that he did not
think Prof Cole had given his support 10
the teachers, as he ought 10, when they
asked for an increase in salary and IN
other matters relative to the teachers