Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-15
TROUBLE At HIGH SCHOOL
Several Patrons Dissatisfied and Take
Children Dat of schosl.
BOARD MEMBERS ALSO DISCOUNTED
In Addition TO Difficulties with Pupils
Board Members Think They
Have Been Ignored on
Important Matters.

Judging from statements made to me
and other members OF the board, matters
are not such as they should be at the
High school," said a member Of the Board
Of Education yesterday. Continuing he
said that the trouble which had manifested
itself last year in the management Of the
High school was'again breaking out and as
a consequence the parents of several pupils
had already removed their sons from the
school, although the new school year had
commenced but little over a month ago.
The parents who have removed their chill
dren from the High school make no secret
about the cause. They do not hesitate to
state that they are dissatisfied with the
course pursued by Principal Ensign in his
management Of the pupils. While admit
ting that Principal Ensign is IN educator
Of high class they contend he lacks the
executive ability which a man in his POSI-
ton should have.
1t was said yesterday that the whole mat
ter would be given an airing at the meet
ing of the Board of Education next Tues
day night and that some action would prob
ably be AIKEN. Many OF the d~issruntled
parents rave approached different members
Of the school board with their complaints
on the management of the High school but
heretofore no member OF the board has
cared to make the matter pubic by bringing
II to the attention Of the board. 1t was said
yesterday, however, that the complaints
have become so frequent that they can no
longer be ignored and that at the meeting
of the board next Monday there will be
something doing.
Several members of the board are also
taking issue with superintendent Clifford
and Principal Ensign over matters which
have recently materialized in connection
with the High school. It Is said that Super
intendent Clifford and Principal Ensign de-
cided on the addition Of another teacher in
the High school recently without consult
ing any member of the board or even the
chairman of the committee on teachers I'M
til the new teacher had been selected by
them. The members of the board. includ-
ing the president and the chairman OF the
committee On teachers, feel that they
should have at least been consulted be-
fore the choice was made
The new rule promulgated by the prin-
cipal Of the High school with the authority
of the superintendent relative to members
of the foot ball teams securing statement
from their parents or guardians exonerat-
ing the district from all blame or liability
in case Of accident to the pupil, 1t is said,
was put In force without being referred to
the Board OF Education and securing its
sanction. The members. OF the board feel
hat they were slighted in this matter al
] hey are Of the opinion that before any
such radical move had been made by the
High school faculty. the board should have
at least been consulted.
These. however, 1t is said, are but small
matters when compared with the com.
plants which have been filed in the short
time since the new school year began
about the management at the High school
That many parents are dissatisfied with
the way things are running at the High
school is evident by the number Of pupils
who have been withdrawn there and placed
in other schools before graduating.