Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-06-13
THE SCHOOL BOARD NET
At the Regular Meeting Last
Monday Night.
DlSC0RD IN C0L0RED SCHOOLS
Contention Over the Assistant IN the School
Spirited Discussion During Evening
Other Business Transacted.

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The commissioners of the board Of
education met in regular session Mon
day night at O'Clock IN the room in the
Second ward school building with
President Russler in the chair and
Commissioners Gerhardt, Paulding.
Seibert and Whetzel present.
The minutes of the former meeting
we're read and approved and then the
business OF the evening was taken up.
A number OF bills were read and or
dered paid.
/ A motion by Commissioner Gerhardt
was passed that all persons who have
made application for positions as
teachers in the Martinsburg district.
and who shall be el5cted as such,
shall be elected upon the special terms
or contract that they will serve as
teachers for the period of the school
year, beginning September. 1908, and
ending June. 1904; and that unless
the teachers so ele ted, accept such
terms by notifying the secretary on
or before the first meeting in July,
1908. then the board shall proceed to
elect such other teachers as will COM
ply with tire terms OF such contract.
The applications of all OF the teach
ers of the High school, for the posi-
tions they now hold were read. A
motion wxs carried. that they be
elected in regular order as in the past
The applications of the teachers in
the Second. Third. Fourth and Fifth
wards for the DOS tions they now bold
in the different schools. were read and
upon vote all of the teachers were
reelected. The election of the teach
ers in, tfae colorad school was then
taken un but before electing them a
complaints was entered.
The charges were entered bv Mr..
Clifford in writing but he asked per.
mission to explain them orally to the
board. which was granted He said |
that he had no complaint against Prin-
cipal Philips. he being competent
uttSiOit OdS tii6t lib ODlCttiOuc WCIG
against the assistant. Miss Curry.
He said that her character, morally,
as far as he knew, was not bad but
that the character of her associates
was bad and that he considered the
Young man with whom she was kesp-
ing company, one of the worst char
acters in this CITY and he gave an ex-
ample of their conduct. both in writ
ing and orally and in concluding his
remarks said that he could prove all.
| Rev. Curry. the f,ther, who was
present to defend his child, then took
the floor. He denied all the charges
agains his child and said that the
young man referred to ia the COM
Dlaint was not keeping company with
her and that he wanted the board to
examine the character of his daughter.
| He said that she was trying to lead a
christian life by lifting those who had
fallen, to their feet. He asked the
board to consider the matter carefully
and that he would abide by their
decision. a number of the patrons of
the school were given the floor and
with verv few executions all said that
the school was in better form than it
has been for number of years and
that their chilrden had learned more
4 in the last year than in four wears
previous. During the remarks of tile
patrons some grave charges were
brought against those who preferred
the charge against the teacher and
insults were thrown at one another.
At this point Commissioner Ger
hardt asked that the recrimination
among those present should be discon-
tinued and that he as one of the
board would not listen. President
Russler offered a few remarks and said
that he regretted that such state of
affairs existed and that he thought
that the difficulties should have been
4 settled among themselves. The dis
cussions were then stonped.
The application of Mr.. Philips as
principal was read and he was re-
tanned The application of Miss Curry
and Miss Freeman were received. A
vote was taken. which resulted in the
i election of Miss Curry
Mr.. William A. Pitzer and Mr.. Lee
Siler were appointed by the board as
assistants to the principal, Q. H. Cole,
on the examining board. Three recon-
mendations were offered of Mr. Akeley
for position as music teacher in the
public chools. Commissioner Gerhardt
reported that his services could be
secured at lower rate than the for
mer teacher. The matter was held
until the next meeting.
The appointing of teacher in the
third ward to fill the vacancy caused
bv the resignation of Miss Wilson was
then taken up A votewas taken on