The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-04-30

to hurt your feelings am glad OF It,. AND this
conduct on the part of Carstarphen went without
rebuke from Burgess
It testified to by all the witnesses that at the
faculty meeting on Tuesday evening the teachers
were unanimous in demanding of the Principal that
Carstarphen should be suspended next morning at
the chapel service and that Burgess agreed to do SO.
Burgess testified that he agreed to do SO If he
could not amicably arrange the matter with Car
starphen, that he sought Carsarphen that night in
town and obtained promise from him to resign his
position as pupil in the school, and held that the
resignation of the pupil sufficient, that no
further rebuke was necessary and refused to say
anything more about the suspension.
On Wednesday morning the teachers, on failing
to hear of the suspension, presented the Principal
with written ultmatum, declaring that if the sus-
pension was not read out at chapel service they
would walk out and seek protection from the
Superintendent. AS this was refused, they did so,
and the statements above set forth were given to
me under oath on Saturday the nth instant, the
day of my investigation
Having the institution at heart and seeking to
avoid the great detriment that would result to the
pupils by walkout of the splendid faculty at this
advanced stage of the school term, rendered a de-
cision, but it was highly conciatory that must
confess that found it necessary to shut my eyes in
order to my conscience up to the task. l sus-
tanned the teachers in their contention, and ap-
proved the course they had taken commemorate |
of high bred education; but failed to pass on the
main point of their grievance inasmuch as l said
nothing about the suspension of Carstarphen. II
urged all to return on Monday morning to fheir
posts of duty with the determination to make the
closing work of the term browning success.
On monday morning l received motion for re-
hearing, prepared and signed by five of the assist
ant teachers Zone had returned to her home). The
rehearng was granted, and while was on the floor
summing up the evidence, Principal Burgess rose
to his feet and in angry excited tone, declared
that should not go any further with the investi-
cation of the case, stating that he would not permit
it to be done. l informed him that was an officer
in the discharge of my duty and would not permit
such an interruption. | commanded him to sit
down, but he refused, and it was not until had
threatened to send for peace officer that he would
resume his seat. At this juncture DR.. Keoun, who
is President of the local Board of Trustees and as
l had every reason to consider, strong friend OF
Burgess, came up near to where was standing
and in a very excited tone of voice informed me
that the men on his side of the house, and whom
knew were supporting Burgess right or wrong, had
stood all they could, we're highly wrought up. and
if did not hasten through with my decision, or do
whatever intended to do and get out, that l might
expect violence
At that moment felt that all hope for immedi-
ate adjustment of the school troubles at an end.
The assistant teachers refused ever to enter the
school again with Burgess at the head as Principal.
Reviewing in my mind every feature from first to
last, l felt that in keeping with my self-respect
and maintaining the purity and honor of the office
of Superintendent, could not do less than revoke
the license of Prof Burgess and declare the school
suspended till further orders; and this did without
further ceremony, leaving the conduct OF Burgess
and DR.. Keoun in attempting to intimidate the
Superintendent to be dealt with by the Grand Jury,
in accordance with law.
l am convinced that the conduct of Prof. Burgess
as represented by the witnesses showed that he
| was under the influence of Carstarphen from the
time of the interview in room No. I. His own
actions during the investigation adds emphasis to
this view, notwithstanding he held to the contrary
, l maintain that whenever principal finds he
cannot enforce proper discipline in his school and
cannot protect lady assistant from gross insult
offered her by grown male pupil for fear that his
own private life will be exposed to his detriment
4 by the offending pupil, the principal becomes at
: once unworthy Of the endorsement given him, and
n that this endorsement should be revoked
S Respectfully submitted,
e Jos. E. JOHNSTON,
S Parish Superintendent of Public Education,
d Bossier Parish.
State of Louisiana, Before me, the undersigned
g Parish of Bossier. authority, personally came
: and appeared Jos. E. Johnston, Parish Superin.
. tendent of Public Education in Bossier Parish, who
being sworn declared that the statements set forth
in the above and foregoing report are correct ane
reflect the actual facts in the case he understood
d them. Jos. E. JOHNSTON Parish Sup't.
e Sworn to and subscribed on this, the 23d day o
y April, 19Oo. Wv.
!, So Clerk B b s.; 1S Court.
a After hearing the reading of the report, ant
it being informed by Mr.. Sentell, who lives in tn
neighborhood and is patron of the school at Plai
v Dealing that the statements were manifestly cor
rect there was nothing left for the Board to do bu
1t approve or dsapprove the action of the Superin
: tendent in revoking the license of Prof. Burgess
W After good deal of discussion both pro and con
,e motion was made to sustain the action of tn
i'd Superintendent. The motion was carried by vot
IS of 6 to 1.
ct A petition from citizens Of Rocky Mount an
er Concord on the subject of consolidation was pre-
,e sented but laid till the next regular meetn
as for action.
l. There being no further business of importanc
to for this meeting, the Board adjourned to met
til again on Thursday before the first Saturday in Jul!
IS J. N. PLATT, President.
~ JOS. E. JOHNSTON, Secretary.
r Rss~I have been using Virginia Carolina Ferti