The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1908-05-28
SCHOOL BOARD
MAKES REPLY
Give Their Version of Trouble
With Teachers
SPITE WORK BY ENEMIES
OF City and Board Makes Noun
tain out of Mole Hill. School
In Fine Shape

In view of the fact that several ar.
ticles have recently appeared in one
OF our city papers. questioning the
wisdom and integrity of the School
Board and maliciously attacking our
City superintendent the Board of Ed
ucation deems ii advisable to state to
the public the exact facts as they have
transpired during the last three sit
tings.
At the regular meeting March 9th
the School Board met for the purpose
OF electing teachers with the following
members present: Geo. p. Sexauer,
=. Hallen, VIM. Paul, J. Tree, II. C.
Johnson and T. l.. Chappell Mr.. West
having been in Minneapolis for some
time and w. A. Caldwell being In
Rochester with his daughter, these
two could not be present DR.. Parsons.
| suffice 1t to say has not been
| to board meeting but seldom for the
past Is months and apparently has
given little or no attention to schools.
The Board proceeded to it's duty
and taking each teacher separately
elected the entire present corps with
the exception Of Miss Lands of the
7th grade and Miss Mable Roper who
is principal Of the high school
| In dealing with the question of prin-
cipalship each member of the board
beginning with the president was cal.
led upon to express his opinion and
each member stated that it had long
been his opinion, reached by careful
| deliberation, that we should have
man principal, more especially for the
next year since there would be about
two hundred students in the high
school, and many of whom would be
boys. And these boys will be inter
ested in athletics and being so, it Is
| imperative that a man should be en-
ployed, who could direct them during
training hours and accompany them on
their trips. Realizing this the board
feels justified in their decision. This
opinion be it known, has been repeat
edly expressed throughout the year
and its assertion now is no new move.
Superintendent Brown being asked his
opinion. said, Il think the Judgment of
each member of the board on this mat
ter is well formed, and that the con-
ditions necessitate man principal,
| however whatever action is taken by
this board will be accepted and satis-
factory to me. The question, gentle
men, is up to you" The matter was
further carefully discussed, a motion
was made, seconded and passed with
out dissenting voice that we should
employ a man principal. This motion
being passed, Miss Mable Roper ceas-
ed to be an issue for further consider
alton either at that board sitting or
any which was to follow. The clerk
was instructed to Immediately notify
the teachers of their election. Board
adjourned to meet April 10th.
On April 10th the roll shows every
member present except Dr. Parsons
whose absence was unexplained. Be-
fore the board appeared four men who
stated that on the previous evening six
teen citizens had met in private cOun-
Gil and had discussed the action of
the board relative to the dismissal of
Miss Mable Roper and that this coun-
Gil of sixteen had delegated these four
men to wait upon the board and lay
before them petition which had been
signed by many school children and
some citizens and to ask for the re-
tention of Miss Roper as principal on
fle grounds that that she was the best
teacher in the schools, that she was
exceedingly popular, that she was a
need to the social welfare of the chill
dren and specially that they personally
liked her" These gentlemen having
delivered their message retired to an
adjacent room requesting that the
board before taking final action should
call them for further instruction"
Having spent considerable time in vis-
iting the school and being in close
touch with it's needs, each member OF
the board felt himself able to act
with fairness and justice In the matter
and with due Difference to the commit
tee waiting upon them, they felt their
integrity and good purposes were Ques-
toned; yet nevertheless they took a
day for further consideration. On the
following evening the board met and
every member was present as the min
utes show. At that meeting nine rep
lresentative business men appeared.
These men, be 1t understood came un-
asked and unsolicited. They came
with this message, 1--WE men, hearing
that the action of this board is being
criticised and that your good intentions
and purposes are questioned, appear
to assure you that you were elected
to your positions on this board by the
citizens because they had full faith in
your judgment, integrity and ability
to handle our schools. We deplore
and regret that any attempt has been
made to bias or unduly influence you.
We believe that your judgments and
decisions formed during moments of
cool deliberation are more nearly cor
rect than those formed under pressure
and entreaty. We cannot approve of
our teachers being employed by chill
dren's petition because this Is bad
discipline and leads toward destruction
government. We believe In teaching
our children to subject themselves to
those in authority and respect the
law. We wish to say that you are en-
trusted with an important duty-do
that duty to the best of your ability,
i withOuf yNroS,, A{ro htao saorursnol favop-