The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-10-27
MORE CRITICISM OF SCHOOL BOARD.
Serious indictments, Which WOUld
Seem to Demand Explanation.


Editor True Democrat - Tallahassee
has during the past few weeks demon
strated the correctness of the estimate
of those who have called it "conserva-
tive" What other community would
have remained so quiet, so dociIe, under
the recent actions of our school board
in ignoring competent home teachers of
proven ability and importing from dis
tant States for our high school those of
third grade. One lone citizen has had
the temerity TO stand up and publicly
protest, where the whole community
should have done so, and do not wish
him TO feel lonesome.
If our own teachers are not to be
given the preference when the higher
priced or more desirable assignments
are made, whence comes their encour-
agement? If all Florida school boards
should follow the policy of ignoring first
and second grade teachers and import
ing those Of third grade to ell desirable
places, where third-grade teachers really
should not be allowed, would not our
normal schools become superfluous and
useless? This situation would seem to
be sufficient TO make the board appear
ridiculous in the extreme; but we are
'old that they have generously agreed
to raise the salaries of these imported
teachers S. a month, so as to legalize a
guarantee to bear their travelling ex-
penses - paying third grade teachers
hrst-grade salaries, with bonus Of s.
added! Will our people stand for this
proceedingH
Only recently our school authorities
were asking for, and were given, an adj
ditional tax levy with which to make
our high school 1.-THE best school" of It's
kind in this section Of the State, and
now observe their negative method Of
accomplishing that endl Is it caused
by lack Of business acumen, or are they
inoculated with the idea that anything
imported" is beyond peradventure bet
ter than the home product? Is some
one on the outside pulling the strings,
or is it just case Of monumental stu
pidity?
One teacher was imported, have
heard, because they desired one strong
in mathematics, and. on examination,
obtained a percentage Of so tout of
possible 100 In arithmetic, and 80 in
algebra; and is teaching, too, in a grade
where strength in mathematics should
be a prerequisite. Other very low
markings are noted In the examination
records of these teachers.
Mr.. Editor, IL is time for the public
70 wake up ana look into this matter.
Something Is amiss. II there Is mig
ger in the woodpile, let's find him.
think the school board Is due the
citizens of Tallahassee and Leon county,
whose money they are spending, an ex-
PLANTATION as to why these places were
not offered to home teachers, why teach
ers we're imported, and why they Sc
cured those of third grade--thus failing
to advance the standing Of the school,
as they had promised, and were ex-
pected to DO, though increasing the ex-
penses.
learn the country members are en-
deavoring TO place the blame on the city
member, not appearing to realize that
they are thus branding themselves as
fgure-heads. Surely G. |. Davis, even
II proposing these measures, could not,
with one vote, overcome the votes of
both the other gentlemen. And IL they
do not understand that they are jointly
responsible with the city member for
the proper conduct Tor misconduct) of
all schools in this county, 1t Is high time
some Of their friends were informing
them. II, X. SAULS.
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