The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1904-06-22
SCHOOL BOARD ASKED
TO RETAIN MRS. STAIR
Petition Presented to Directors at a
Meeting Monday Evening-Protest-
ants Leave Matter to Board.

| 4 movement was started last week b,
} number of the patrons of the higl
! school to induce the board of education
to re-cmploy Mrs. Ella :. Stair as prin
cipal of that institution. \ meetin.
was held at the Hotel Yakima Frida,
evening presided over by a. j. Shaw. }
NJ. Brown of Fairvicw acting rs secre
tary. 4 committee of twelve was APP
pointed to wait on the board of educa
ton and a committee also selected Il
circulate petitions for Mrs. Stairs re
instatement. The committee appointed
to wait on the board consisted of j. ID
Comett. Mrs. Frank Sharkey, +. D.Cook
Mrs. Harry Moran. J. NJ. Brown. Mrs
y. $. johnson. j. p Crawford, Mrs. +
c. Burlingame. |. Nj. krutz, Mrs. +. l.
Sessions, +. II. Lampson. Mrs. y. j
Shaw.
The school board accorded the pcti
TONERS a hearing Monday night at a
meeting held at the high school building
President Barge called the meeting to
order. stating that it was called at the
request of parties to hear statements
and receive petitions favoring the rc-en'
gagement of Mrs. Stair as principal OF
the high school for the coming year
There were some Is parties wishing to
be heard y. ID. Cornett, on the part OF
the petitioners. stated they had some pc
titions to present to the board, and he
was asked by the ladies present to make
some remarks favorable to Mrs. Stair
He was not present at the meeting at
the Yakima MOTEL, but was willing to
give his vote in favor of the retention
of Mrs. Stair. if the board. in its judg-
ment. thought it best. He considered
Mrs Stair fine teacher; the pupils all
loved her. and he hoped the board would
see its way clear to re-engage her.
President Barge replied that the board
agreed as to tine very many estimable
| qualities of the lady; that the members
of the board considered her very highly,
and were all. personally. friends of hers;
that she had very many strong points
and some weaknesses: that the members
of the board had for some time been con-
sidering the necessity for change. but
that owing to the lady's many strong
and valuable traits as lady and edu-
Gator. had hesitated about taking any
steps; tht the first official objections to
the manner of the conduct of the high
school came over year ago from the
regents of the state university; that
since tnen there had been many com
plants; that Il large, and influential
number of the taxpayers and patrons
were opposed to her being continued;
for these ana other reasons. which, out
of Difference to the late principal. he did
not care to refer to. the board had decid
ed that change of principals was for
the best interest of the high school. He
went on to say that if any other men,
bers of the committee had anything to
say. the board would be glad to hear
them and give their remarks due con
| sideration. and also would study and
consider the petitions presented
| Mrs. Sharkey. Mrs. Crawford, Mrs.
Shaw and Mrs. n $. johnson eacn made
some remarks in support of Mrs. Stair.
speaking in the highest terms OF her as
lady and the friend of their children.
her pupils. Mrs. Johnson, in the course
of her remarks. stated the children would
not attend the nigh school if Mrs. Stair
was not retained. which sentiment was
not acceptable, apparently, to the 9th
er members of the committee.
President Barge replied that the high
school had outgrown the personality of
any one individual no matter now strong
or lovable: that it must henceforth be
conducted by system acting over the
whole school: that the continuance of
the school did not depend on any one
person: that the school system of the
country was so deeply engrafted in the
affections of the people tnat if all the
teachers at present employed We're wip-
ell out and even the school boards. that
the people of the country would at once
see to it that their places were filled by
competent public servants and the com
mon schools would still 90 on fitting men
and women for American citizenship.
| He explained that the late principal had
been dealt with as all others and in ac-
| cordance with the rule of all boards of
| directors in this state. it being the Gus
tom and rule to consider the agreements
to teach made with teacher in the
| light of contract, which, once expired.
necessitated new engagement. and that
| boards in this state We're not in the hab
it of re-engaging teachers until the sat
| isfactOry conclusion of the previous CON
| tract
| Mr.. Conett then thanked the board
! for the courteous manner in which they
| had been treated and for their broad and
and wise presentation of the position of
| the board. ana said the committe We're
now willing to leave the whole matter
with the board, satisfied that it would act
calmly ana di-passionately for what. in
| its best Judgment. was for the advance
ment and welfare of the schools and with
that decision they would be content. as
| they were satisfied the schools of the dis
! trict were in good hands; that the beard
was working otPadfasGly to promote
their efficiency and highest and best
interests.
! President Barge assured them that
was the only purpose of the board; that
each and every member was above any
personal feeling in the matter. but that
the board was working as a unit for the
highest possible development of the pub
lie school system in tii, district that
the board would not render its decision
until all the petitions were in, and that
they coulI have until noon of Tuesday
to file those yet out. The meeting tnen
adjourned
The Herald understands there arc
about $50 names on the petitions pre-
,ented. The board has not made known
tle character of the signatures. wheth-