The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-02-13
HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER
RESIGNED UNDER FIRE
TAKES UNDUE LIBERTIES WITH
YOUNG LADY PUPILS.
Board Accepts Resignation in Silence.
Member Of Board says That Cause
is "None Of the PubIie's Business"
Board is Making \ Mistake. II 10,
the Pubiie's Business. Parents
Have Right to Know.

circles. At the Central High school
there is little scandal The pupils
whisper about it, but it is in a don't
you telr' sort Of a way The school
Board is doing everything it can to
Keep 1t quiet, but 1t will not down. The
trouble is all over professor who was
affllcted with combination Of those
strange maladies, referred to in the
science of love-making as "kiss-to-
mama" and "hugmography."
1t was reported some times ago to
the faculty of the High school that
Professor Barker, teacher of. Chemist
ry, was in the habit of meeting GER
tain girl pupils in the school when the
air was surcharged with that little
microbe known to the pedagogue
from time immemorial, as the kissing
bug,' and was then and there over
come with the seductive sound of it's
buzZing wings.
This was reported to the powers that
be, and the infected professor was i'm
mediately called upon the carpet. He
was told Of the charge against him,
but like man who was afflicted, and
knew not whereof he was suffering
uen1ed the charge.
When confronted by the blushing
witnesses who were the victims of his
strange mania, there were "ahems'
and "haws," suffering and stammer-
ing followed by general collapse.
So ended act two.
Resigned Under Fire.
The finale of this episode occurred
at meeting of the Board Of Education
held at the High school last Satur-
day evening when the resignation Of
Professor Barker was received and &C.
cepted without comment. Resigned
under fire. as one of the more talk
ative members of the Board put it, to
the Labor World.
The curtain might have dropped
here were it not for the presence Of
the irrepressible newspaper man, who
thought he had "funch" on good
story. He asked a prominent mem
Der of the board the cause for the re-
signation, saying at the time that the
public would like to know something
about it. TT is none of the public's
business" pompously responded the
member.
None of the public's business, Ell :?
Well it is the public's business: The
people have a right to know what is
going on in the schools Of this city.
They have a right to know the moral
status of the teachers employed in our
public schools, and the public servants
have no right to hide from the parents
Of school children the conditions sur
rounding them while in school,.
Moral Life Of Greater Importance.
This is a serious question, and we
can appreciate the desire Of the board
to protect the good reputation Of our
schools, but it is of infinitely more
Importance to protect the moral life
Of our children. This can best be done
by making an example Of persons
guilty of taking liberties which tend to
debauch the lives Of the young.
The board ought to know by this
time. that their policy Of shielding men,
who so far forget themselves and their
positions of public trust, that they
take undue liberties with the children
placed under their care, is not condu-
Give of the desired results.
This is not the first offense Of this
nature committed in the public schools
Of our city. 1t was just short time
Bankers was compelled to resign for
conduct unbecoming a teacher. The
Board pursued the: same silence in
that: instance also. This man, by the
way, resigned and so far as the world
at large is concerned, was given a clear
record.
Publicity Will Stop 1t.
Try the other course gentlemen. Try
publicity. Your, secrecy will not pre-
vent these offenders from going else
where. Your silence is a recommen-
dation Of these men to other commun-
tiles, when you know full well that
their records should be published to
the world.
The future safety of our republic;
the perpetuity Of our christian institu-
tons, and the moral status of the ris-
ing generation depends very largely
upon the character of the men and
women who are intrusted with the ed
ucation of our children.
Let us see to it that the personnel
of our educators is above reproach.