The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1905-01-10
A TRUE STATEMENT.
TO THE PATRONS OF SCHOOL
DISTRICT No. l


ors circulated concerning the re-
cent muddle in the Challis pub
lie school, and having been re-
quested by number of people
believing it my duty as memb-
er of School Board to make a
true and correct statement OF
what has been done and is being
done in the matter take this
means of doing so.
For some weeks the Board has
recognized that our school has
not been what it ought to be, and
undertook to remedy the evil and
give the people good school,
or at least improve matters to
some extent. The principal
stated that owing to her ill-health
she was unable to handle the up
per room as it should be handled,
and handed in her resignation,
which was accepted. The Board
requested the resignation of Miss
Lois Butt, the primary teacher,
but she ignored our request. We
then notified her to- appear on
the evening of Dec. goth, before
the Board if she desired hear
ing; she appeared with her coun-
sci l.. III. Johnston, and stated
to the effect that she was not
prepared for a hearing at that
time. The Board then asked
her to set any reasonable time
and the Board would make it a
point to hear her case. She re-
fused to set any time and stated
she would not appear until GER
tain techanical proceedings were
gone through with and certain
papers served on her. On Dec.
% the Board had served on her
a written notice to appear and
answer the charges on the 9th
ultimo. The notice contained
the charges she was to answer.
On the 9th, the chairman of the
Board, DIR. G. p. Huston, was
unable on account of sickness to
attend the hearing, and Miss
Butt was notified through her
counsel, Il. HI. Johnston, that
the hearing was postponed until
the 2Sth. On the 28th, l.. I'll.
Johnston appeared without Miss
Butt and stated he had made a
special appearance for the pur-
pose of filing certain objections,
that the Board had no jurisdic-
tion to proceed etc in the mat
ter; his objections were over
ruled and he was requested to
produce Miss Butt for her hear
ing, he refused to do so. The
Board then stated that we would
make it convenient to give her a
hearing at any reasonable time
she would set, that we were de
sirous of getting at the truth of
the matter, and only wanted to
be fair, and be treated fair in ex-
change. Mr.. Johnston stated in
substance that they were stand
ing on technicalities of the law,
would not hear evidence in the
case or produce any unless var
ious new papers were served and
a certain number of days notice
given Miss Butt. | then made
a motion to discharge Miss Butt,
which motion was carried by the
following vote: Yes" G. p.
Huston and w. w. Adamson;
NO" Jas. T. Gayle.
Before the last mentioned pro-
ceedings took place a petition
that had been circulated by M.
A. Brown and Rev. McDougall,
asking for Miss Butts retention,
and containing about 10 names
was presented and for various
reasons denied.
About this time Mr. Gayle re-
signed from the Board. Mrs.
Margaret MCGOWAN appeared
and asked for the position of
principal of the school, which
request was denied by DR.. Hus-
ton and myself, both of us at
that time desiring a gentleman
for principal.
I az, q, do,.lv,,o x,e, os ~ so,,,,