Gilpin observer., 1906-03-15
THE SCHOOL CASE.
Appeal Heard Before County Superintendent
Saturday Mot Finished.

in the local schools, was brought up be-
fore Mrs. Ida Kruse McFarlane Satur-
day. Considerable time was consumed
before the case was brought up, arguing
motion to set aside the application of
appeal, council for the School Board con-
tending that the certificate under which
the appellant was teaching when ON
ployed was null inasmuch as it had been
renewed after it had expired. The GER
tificate expired on the 18th OF August
OF last year aud was not renewed until
the 10th, the time elapsing between the
two dates being sufficient to nullify the
commission. According to law con-
tract must be renewed during the life of
same and the attorney for the appellees
made strong point in his argument in
this contention. However, the county
superintendent in ruling on the motion
said it was not in her province to decide
matter of that kind and she would
forthwith deny the motion to set aside
the application for appeal. This was the
signal for the contesting attorneys to get
ready for the main event.
Miss Myra A. Carson, lthe appellant,
was the first witness to take the stand.
She said she had taught in the schools
Of Central City three and one half years,
during which time she was the holder OF
first grade certificate. This certificate
was issued to her in August, 1902, and was
good for three years. In February Of
this year, the appellant claimed, she was
notified by the School Board TO appear
before that body and answer to the
charges of incompetencey and insubor-
dination. A few days following she re-
ceived letter from the board request
ing her resignation.
Adjournment was taken during the
noon hour and after reconvening f. II.
Clark was placed on the stand. He claim
ed he had served in capacity OF superin-
tendent in the Central City schools six
years, severing his connection in June,
1900. In answer to question put by
the attorney for the appellees as to the
young lady's competency during the
time he was employed as superintendent,
Mr.. Clark said he considered her compe-
tent and that she was not guilty Of insub-
ordination. In his testimony it was evil
dent that the witness was trying to
shield the appellant all he could. 1t
vas impossible for counsel to floor the
witness. despite the fact that a wrestling
match was in progress from the time
Clark took the stand until he was dis
missed. Counsel did succeed, however,
in getting the witness to reluctantly ad-
NIT that he did not consider the appel
liant strong teacher; also admitting
that he had said il recommending her
for reappointment after she had taught a
term, that he mad hoped for better SER
vices from the teacher than she had
given. Prof. Clark was given some ex-
animation papers to pass upon, the ex-
animation having been held in Miss Car
sons room. The subject was nature
study. These papers were introduced to
sustain in part the charge Of incompe
tency, the teacher having failed in sew
eral instances to correct errors. Clark
would read the questions and then the
answers. The answer to the first ques-
ton contained two errors, one 10 gram
mar and one in photography. There
were no marks on the paper to indicate
that the grammar or spelling was incor-
rect. Another paper was examined which
the teacher had given grading OF 100
per cent, or perfect. This paper was
full of glaring errors, speaking alone Of
the nature study which the examination
covered. Here is a sample: "What are
fossls?" "Fossils are air AMI water"
The former professor was compelled TO
admit in examining the paper before
him that the answers were by no means
perfect and the grading should have been
somewhat less than 100. Another strong
point was made by the School Board
when they produced proof that the
teacher had kept no record OF the work
OF the pupils other than the report cards.
1t seems that two or three Of the schol-
ars had lost their cards and when Prof.
Barker asked the teacher for records OF
their standing one morning she said she
would furnish them after dinner. The
reports she furnished did not tally In the
least with the markings received by the
pupils in their examinations, but In al
most every instance were much lower.
One pupil received grading Of 90 on
his examination paper and on the report
card furnished by the teacher he was
marked SO in grammar. This looked as
though the teacher attempted to flake"
the scholars report, not having any rec.
ord from which she could copy.
After Mr.. Clark had finished his testi.