The Portland daily press., 1900-06-11
Their Opinions We're Set Forth With
Emphasis.
Lively Controversy Over
So. Portland School.
Caused By the Removal Of q
Teacher.

Who says that there Is no such q thing
nowadays as an aroused public senti-
mentf II such there be, he or she should
have attended meeting Saturday eve
ming at the school house In Pleasantdale,
called for the purpose Of expressing an
opinion touching the action Of the
school board of South Portland in not
re-electing Miss Rhoda Orr as teacher in
the grammar school.
The house was packed with persons
from every section of the district to the
number of at least 30. They represent
ed all professions and every walk in life.
They were old and young, notably SO
the latter, for 1t was said that every boy
and girl in the school was present to
join in the chorus of indignation over
what was declared to be as most i'll con-
sidered act ON the part Of the school
board.
Miss Rhoda Orr called the meeting to
order and said in substance that an in
justice had been done her by the super
intendent of schools. Mr.. Kaler, in causing
some one to be elected in her place. She
knew of no good reason why she was re-
moved and thought 1t was instigated by
personal spite. She had not the slight
est intimation that such change was
even contemplated and was prone to be-
lieve that it was the result Of a conspi-
racy. She recalled that not long since
Miss Rowe came to her rooms and she
showed her through the building and
extended to her every possible courtesy.
- a.,
until one morning the children of the
school came to her and told her that she
had not been reelected, that they were
sorry and were even going to circulate
petition to have her retained In her
present position.
Miss Orr's remarks stirred up the au-
dience and Mr.. Joseph Pickett ex-super-
intendent Of schools, took the floor and
paid glowing tribute to Miss Orr's
capabilities as teacher. He had known
her from a scholar up, and in passing her
school house never failed to notice the
neat appearance and orderly demeanor
of her pupils. Mr.. Pickett said he had
great respect for the school board as
whole, but was quite sure that they had
grievously erred in the case of Miss Orr.
DIR. Lombard was present, and being
the representative Of Ward q in the
school board, all eyes were conferred upon
him as he arose to speak. he uttered
doing so said that he believed he only
echoed the sentiment of the entire ward.
He informed his constituents that not
once, but several times, he had been
ignored by the school board and cited
three special meetings which had been
him. In the matter Of the new school
buildings he animadverted upon the
proposed action of the joint committee.
The Doctor said that Boston contrac.
tors stood ready to build three school
houses in Wards 3, 6 and Z, at say SIS, 600
Instead of negotiating with these par
ties the board had recommended the con-
struction of only two new buildings,
with an enlargement of the structure in
Ward 6. 10 do this would involve an
expenditure of not less than $50, 600, ac-
cOrding to the estimates made by Port.
land architects. In short, DIR. Lombard
believed that every immediate necessity
could have been met and that, too, with
a saving of s., 600 If good business meth
DDS had been adopted.
Remarks followed by Mr. Fullerton,
Mr.. Jones, Mr.. Runnells and others,
all of whom feel that an injustice has
been done Miss Orr and something
should be done along remedial lines.
1t was then resolved as the sense of the
meeting that an injustice had been done
Miss Orr and through her to the citizens
of Ward q, and a committee consisting
of four, consisting of Joseph Dyer, George
Watson, Mrs. Pillsbury and Mrs. Harris
the latter being secretary of the meeting,
was appointed to draw up resolutions to
be submitted to the school board, urg-
ing the reinstatement of Miss Rhoda Orr
to her present position as teacher in the
Pleasantdale Grammer school.
The resolutions went through with the
loudest kind of hand clapping, after
which the meeting adjourned.
Among those present were Mr.. and
Mrs. John Dyer, Mr.. and Mrs. Harris,
Mr.. and Mrs. Longley, Il. A. Fullerton,
Mr.. and Mrs. Mountford, Mr.. and Mrs.
Mr.. and Mrs. William Dyer, Mrs. Pills
bury, Mrs. Burke, Mrs. Moore, Mrs. Thorn
son, Rev. MIR. Leitch, Mr.. and Mrs. Wass,
Mrs. George Strout, Mrs. Anna Smythe,
Mrs. George Goodwin, Mr.. and Mrs.
Kelley, Mrs. Kennedy, Mrs. Downes, Mr..
and Mrs Latham, Mr.. and Mrs. Hughes,
Mr.. and Mrs. Runnells, Joseph Haley and
Mr. Batchelder.