Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-01-11
First Meeting Of the New Board
Held Monday Night.
MR.. A. 7. RUSSLER PRESIDENT
Thes Death Of Politics in the Public Schools
The Commissioners Pledge Themselves
10 Act w ,hout Political Bias,


in good spirits.
Those who comnose the City School
Board of 1902 are:
First ward, John L. Paulding.
Second ward. Geo. f. Evans.
Third ward, L. Dew Gerhardt.
Fourth ward. A. t. Russler.
Fifth ward. j. II. Whetzel.
immediately aftvr converting the
new board got down 10 business by
erecting the officers for the ensuing
year. On motion of Commissioner
Whetzel. which was seconded by Com
missioner Gerhardt, Commissioners A
T. Russler was chosen president.
On motion of Commissioner Evans.
which motion was seconded by Com
missioner Whetzel, Mr.. w. A Pitzer,
who has Tor so many years served as
secretary for the Board of Education,
was again unanimously elected to
that office
After the reading and passing of a
number of bills Superintendent @. II.
Cole spoke at length of the harmony
now existing among the teachers and
the warm support they give him, ex-
pressing his appreciation of the same.
He also spoke of the marked and sat
lsfaotory progress all along the line.
He extended cordial and stan ling
invitation to the members of the
board to attend the teacher S meetings,
mentioning that the next meeting
would be FRIDAY, Jan. II. The Su-
rerintendent further said that he
would in the future, as in the past,
try to do right but if at any time he
did wrong, +ell him of it and he would
gladly correct same; that he felt he
would receive the support of the board
ss long as he did right
Following SuDerintendent Cole
Commissioner Evans made a short ad-
dress. He said, in part;
| am grateful to the city school su-
perintendent for the encouraging re-
marks and | am grateful to all for
the good spirit and oneness of feeling
which prevails here tonight. FC rtu-
natly or unfortunately, for Mr.. Pauld-
ing and myself, we have been in the
minority for the past year and we
will still be in the minority for the
ensuing year. We we're elected on a
party ticket and we have been respon-
sible to the party and the party TO
the people; but there is a limit to
partisanship. We have in the past
and will in the future act in accor-
dance with the best interests of the
schools. l have always tried to rise
above party and Will do so in the
years to come.
1.-The High School and the Colored
School have always been bones of
contention in this community. Such,
as far as l can see has never been the
case with the ward schools | am
sorry that the other schools couldn' t
move along the same line with the
ward schools The Colored School
particularly, as result of being a
political football, has become almost
demorallzed If we have our duty to
perform il is that of lifting up that
poor and in many cases ignorant race.
We have either got to bring them up
to our own standard or thew will in
time bring us down to theirs. We
have now reached II period where quiz
ct prevails in the Oolored School
We have in charge Mrs. Corsev, who
is working with an earnestness of
heart. -
President Russler followed Commits
sioner K 'ans by thanking all for their
encouraging words. He said If there
is anything that should be taken out
of the public schools it is politics !;
that he had served in the board ten
years previous to this time and that
he had never asked teacher about
his politics. Mr.. Russler concluded
by saving that any thing the least
tainted with politics should not be al
lowed in the public schools; politics
had no more business In the schools
than in the church.
Commissioner Gerhardt said he had
been elected to help build up the
schools and he would do it to the
b : of his ability. regardless of poll
,cs. He would hue to the line, no
matter where the chips fall He said
that his actions in the board would in
no wav be interferred with by the po-
iltical position which he now holds.
When be was placed on the Citizens
ticket Ne pledged his support of the
schools without political bias and he
will carry out that pledge to the let
ter. In conclusion he said he hoped
that when his term ends he will be
able 10 point back with pride to what
he had done, as he now promises he
will do.