West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-12-27
a Reply to "a Teacher in Trouble.


In Tnn ARGUS Of December 18th, 1000
there appeared an article describing the
trouble between Ross Leonard. the teoehe,
aud trustees of Red Oak school No. %
Reno district.
First, he says, ellie had trouble from The
first week with the big girls" Yes. he had
trouble from the first day. not only with
the big girls, bu, the little girls aud boy,
too.
Second, Ross says, "lle had To send one
home the first week aud cNpel another IA,
second week"
The fact of the matter is the first one lef
school, because as she said. Ross failed &c
explain anything in way that she could
understand it as her former teachers had
the second lief, school because Ross wanted
her to stand ON the lloor for moving over on
her seat away from the sun.
Third, "rha, one Of the trustees got down
on him and go, 20 watching the school very
closely to get some hold on Ross in order 10
turn him out and It is reported that he
| offered 5, for evidence ON which he could
close up the shooting Gallery" aud stop
Leonard from teaching the young IDEAS how
shoot at that particular target range. So
this trustee Go, to attending the school
pretty regularly himself and one day when
Ross was ''giving out" to the spelling class
and pronounced the word ''dam."
Al this the trustee called halt and oh.
jee,ed to teacher giving out swearing to
the scholars" Ross accuses me Of visiting
the school regularly aud watching him very
closely in order to get hold ON him as
he iu,imates, to dismiss him.
1t is a fact, as Ross will not deny that |
only visited his school once. aud tina, was
the fourth day of his school. until | was
called there as one of the trustees to hear a
charge preferred against him by w. III.
Deets for neglect of duty. offered no 81
for evidence on which 10 dismiss him, nor
did give my Witnesses ,riHing presents,
might induce them to give evidence against
Ross, but a part OF his witnesses says he
gave each of them campaign handkerchief,
judging from their sire and quality they cost
10 cents per dozen.
Now IN regard to the word ''dam," Ross
knows II there is any such thing as n lie that
is one, willfully told, as | positively said
nothing until school was dismissed for noon,
then simply made the remark that my
teachers, 80 years ago, pronounced the
word "dame" instead Of "dam. 4"
The trustees did dismiss Ross as they
unanimously agreed that according TO the
evidence produced they could do nothing else.
Just little of the evidence was that he
punished some for what he allowed others
to do that he had 8 and 10 on the floor
quite frequently for sigh, offenscs say for
looking back of their seats, when one saw
another do this they told OF, them then they
must stand on the floor, sometimes when
one told on another they would be called a
black liar then the reply would he made,
''you are the blacklist one" and Ross stood
amazed and said nothing.
Thus things went on from bad TO worse.
One day Ross forgot to take his hat off
when he called school at noon, until he heard
at least two classes recite. Ross may as
well have tried to arrest the clouds that 20
boating by, or hush the waters mighty roar
as II goes moving on to the sea, as for all
his end was gained to quiet Red Oak School
J stand ready to prove all have said
J. "A. DANsEs, Trustee.