The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-08-29
An OUTRAGE IN THE SCHOOLS.


The local board OF education pre-
sents most remarkable case Of un.
utterable darkness and light we
refer. with regret. to the boards com
mittee on course Of study for pupils
in the Guthrie schools This com
mitiee is the very quintessence Of ri.
bald ranlsness II is positively
unique The news columns Of The
Leader yesterday told Of disagree
able rumpus among members Of the
board, over the summary and unpro
volxed dismissal by the president Of a
teacher from The examining board. or
this r1impus we care little Guth-
rie school board working In harmony
and to the interests Of patrons would
be refreshing novelty. The board
has quarreled ever since J. S. Lyon
exposed the building boodlers nine or
ten years ago. and II bids fair to con
tinue It's caterwauling as long as its
members carry into It partisan poll
tics and egregious favoritism 1t is
the committee on course Of study for
the pupils OF which we wish to speak
In The Leaders news article yesterday
the personnel Of this committee was
brought out II ought 70 have been
kept covered and sealed The com
mittee is composed Of three men--fwo
Of them coiored men of meagre men
tality and the other a white man, who
probably was never la school build
ing until he was elected a member of
the board Yet these three men. by
the grace Of the president Of the board,
who Is undoubtedly possessed Of deep
wisdom. keen discernment and the in
exorable aptitude to comprehend the
eternal fitness Of things are empow-
ored to designate tLe course Of study
for more than two thousand school
children in Guthrie. It is possible
that this course Of study committee
is well-balanced asSfar as color is con-
cerned. but what does it know about
educational curriculum? Are men who
spell bull with one II" and cap "B,
who make, the mark TX" when sign
ing an instrument. who would be com.
PEELED to advertise in the want col
umns to find the greatest common
dlwsor and whose grasp Of mental
calculus would sober the las. letter in
the alphabet--are men like these we
say--competent to pass upon and
adopt schedule Of school work for
young men and ladlesg And yet
there you arel Guthrie, with a popu-
lation Of thousands OF enlightened, 'cul-
.ured people. boastine OF the best
schools in the southwest. a victim Of
partisan stupidity This is. indeed, a
sad commentary on local education A
trio of mediocre wardmen whose alma
mater was handout distilling men
raj palladium for school children. Even
the thought involves the abandonment
OF lifelong convictions and the sacri
nee Of cherished sentiments It also
breeds worms. Yet this committee
on course OF study" was appointed
BY the president OF the board merely
20 crafty political whims. The Lead
er believes this is a matter for the
womens clubs OF the city 70 take up
II the sensible members OF the school
board are unable to understand the
enormity Of the shame The idea Of
men. absolutely immune to learning
and who would be unable to retain the
elements of Baxter's
statehood text book. II pumned into
them with syringe, composing a
committee to outline the studies which
should be taught 10 children in the
public schools. IT'S too muchl Like
wise damnablo outragel