Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-07-28
Quarrel in school Board


Y ven want languas &c teacher,
Wen So out ano slam the deer
You can holler down our rain-ba4re
You can sung oar iiisle sone
Fer won Z have ulusiC taught here
Iust because we think its wrong
The question of employing music and
language teachers Tor The public schools.
which has been a bone Of contention ia
the Board Of Education all summer. Mon
day night finally resulted in a fuss among
the school comnnisss oners. and the cues
tons still remain unsettled.
Despite the fact thar the rain had
cooling effect upon the temperature. the
meeting might be turned warm one
one OF the 'warmestf ever held by the
Martinsburg Board Of Education. ~,
was short and sweet. said the amazed
commissioners after il was all over. The
meeting lasted about ten minutes. but
during that time one OF the most exciting
meetings ever held by the Cry School
Board was in progress.
The meeting was called 70 order at S
o'clock. President KIimer presiding and
Commissioners BENZ, McKown and
Weliinger present.
After the reading and approval OF the
minutes OF the last meeting. MIR. Bentz
moved that the music ana language teach
erS be dispensed with, which was seconded
by Mr.. Wellinger
Then came the short and sweet" dis
cussion. After the motion was made,
President kilmer made few remarks.
stating that there was absolute need of
language teacher at the High School. In
regard TO the teaching of music, he said
that the people of the city, especially the
residents of the Fifth ward, had petition7d
the Board to employ a music teacher.
Mr.. Kilmer said he was in favor OF en-
ploying both and hoped the Board would
not act hastily in the matter.
Messrs Bentz and Wellinger then
called for the question. which was PUT by
the president, Messrs, Bentz and Yelling
er voting r the dispensing Of the two
| teachers and Messrs. Kilmer and Nc
/ Kown voting against the motion.
AS soon as President Kilmer cast his
vote Messrs. Bentz and Wellinger were
up in arms, charging him with under
ground work and claiming that he had no
right TO vote, except when there was tie
vote.
The following portion of section 4, page
| page "a, of the laws governing the Board
of Education was then read
The president being a member of the
board by virtue of his election as commits
sioner, shall be entitled to vote upon all
questions submitted TO the decision of the
board.
Messrs Beniz and Wellinger would not
listen to this,nor to anything. Messrs. Nc
KoNn ard Kilmer said in favor of the rule
prevailing. Standing upon the floor, in
heated words they charged the opposition
| with sneaklng actions, underground work
and said if that was the way business was
to be transacted they were going to leave
the room and let the other commissioners
do it all. Commissioner Bentz put on his
hat 20 60, but finally sat down.
/ President kiimer til IN declared the mo-
ton lost, there being four commissioners
| present and the vote resulting in tie,and
that there would be further action when
there was full board
This brought Commissioners Wellin-
ger and Bentz to their feet in an instant,
again repeating their charges They
charged President Klmer with stirring up
the questions after they had been once
settled. They charged Pren't. Kilmer and
Prof. Cole with making the statement that
the teaching of languages altogether
would be dropped, instead of the specia
language teacher,ln order to influence the
opinion of the people. The other com.
missioners did not resent the statements
but urged them to sit down and conside
matters calmly; but, reiterating their &C.
cusatians and making more with decided
emphasis in angry tones, they left tht
room.
The onlookers and the remaining com.
missioners stared after the departing
commissioners and then at one another ir
surprise.
President X ner finally recovered b m
self and announced the board adjourned
as these were not enough members pres
ent TO transact any business.
The unpleasant meeting and the un,
| fortunate termination Of the question:
are subjects of discussion on the streets
today. How matters will terminate is Z
question of conjecture. Some have sug-
gested that the people will YET have 10 de-
eide n