Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-04-25

en- on the principalship, with no re-
suit. the board standing three to three
l-Messrs Carly, Marshall and Whit
worth voting for j. M. Hawkins, and
Messrs. Russell, Gay and Wemp for E.
E. Wilkinson. After hundred ballots
had been taken the board adjourned to
a future day. AS above stated, this &C
tion-or, rather, non-action-on the
part of the board was a surprise to eV-
erybody not on the inside. Not only is
it surprising but it is incomprehensible
TO the ordinary observer. 1t has been
the custom heretofore to employ the
teachers at the regular meeting in
May; why this unseemly haste in call
ing a meeting to elect teachers, aud
thereby deprive the patrons of an OPP
portunity to be heard? In the thirty
years we haye noted the school events
of the district, we do not call to mind
| any year wherein the satisfaction CIV
en- by the teachers was so general or so
free from ..kick." At the late school
election it was understood by many of
US that the contest hinged upon the
question rs to whether certain teachers
should be s'rolled" or not, and the ex-
preston made in behalf of the Demo-
cratic candidates was that no change
was wanted, that good satisfaction had
been given by the teachers in charge,
and that it was good to let we'll alone.
In view of these facts, we think 1t not
unreasonable or impertinent to ask OF
the board the causes of their failing to
respond to what we believe to be the
general desire of the patrons OF the
school. Your reasons, gentlemen!
If they are good and suffcient-and we
can't believe that your action 1s dlctat-
ed except by your consideration for the
general welfare of the district-then
thew ought to be made known: you "a
we'll afford to take the public into your
confidence, and it is proper that you DO
so. There ought to be no antagonism
between you and your constituency
such as is sure to result from your &C.
ton if left unexplained. The REGIS
TER is not enamored with b pubic
school system, for reasons often here
tofore given; but while we have it let
US at least use it to the best advantage
of the people who support it. Let US
extract the greatest possible amount OF
good out of the surrounding evils of
the system. To do this we must look
solely to the efficiency of the school.
Has ineffciency been shown under the
management for the past year? Ii so,
.sroll" the teachers and try a new deal;
if not, why this determined stand for
a change? As to the personality OF
the applicants for the p~rincipalshlp,
the REGISTER has nothing to say. they
are both good men and capable. 1t is
the editors good fortune to have their
friendship, and we need not assure
them that this article is not dictated
by ill-will or preference toward or
against either of them. This is not a
question of friendship. but of the fit
ness of things under prevailing condl-
tions. Immediately succeeding the
election the charge was made that the
Democrats OF the District had broken
faith, in that they had made an agree
ment with the Republicans that as the
outgoing members of the board were,
one a Democrat and one a Republican,
80 we would all vote for q Democrat
and a Republican to succeed them. At
the time the REGISTER let the charge
pass as of no consequence and unbound
ed, and it still holds that no such
agreement was made. But, in view OF
later proceedings, may not some cred
ulous people believe it, and that there
was a deep-laid scheme to trick them9
The charge has now sufficient weight
to Justify the demand for the name or
names of the Democrats to the alleged
agreement, failing to furnish which it
falls to the ground and does away with
ugly suspicion. The REGISTER deems
it scarcely necessary to state that what
ever OF ~unfavorable criticism it in
dulges in toward the action of the
board, it is not actusted by ill-will for
either directors or applicants. But the
coming school year gave such unusual
promise of satisfaction and success
with the retention of the present teach
, ers that only the gravest reason, in our
belief, could justify the change thai
now seems so desirable. We regret
that it is so, but, under the circum'
, stances, do not feel justified in refrain
!, ing from vigorous protest.