The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-06-04
FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT.

Editor BOssier Banner: In your issue of Nav
7th occurred scathing article contributed by Dr.
[. N. Keoun, which purported to be reply to the
published proceedings of the Parish School Board
had at the meeting held on the 23d of April, and in
which he takes all the members of the Board (saye
the one from his own neighborhood) and the SUI
perintendent severely to task for their action in the
Plain Dealing School troubles Perhaps no article
was ever published in the Banner which showed
more papably the asininity of a would-be ward
boss than the one in question. His TRADE of ram
bling invectve leveled at the entire Board, save
Mr.. Sentel, is unfair, unjust and much of it with
out shadow of truth. | do not say that the Doctor
has Intentionally misstated anything, but, to quote
his own language, will say that he is the man who
has gotten things 'aU balled up."
If he will stop and think for one minute he will
know quite as we'll as he knows that he is living
that his attempt at intimidation on Monday, April
18th, the result of outburst of anger on his
part and that it Immediately followed that of
Burgess and that it preceded any remark made by
Sentell by more than minute. He knows also
that neither Sentell nor Staples spoke in an angry
tone of voice.
In speaking of his own conduct and that of
Burgess ne reminds one of the bad boy who, with
out provocaton, had cruelty mistreated his sister,
On being called to account for his misconduct he
exclaimed: "What fabricated story of cruelty
is this against me! didn't knock the breath outn
her no three minutes, and didn't break no three
ribs, no such OF thing. just sorter tapped her
and didn't knock her breath out but half minute,
and didn't break but one rib. Now, you see Pm
innocent
In many things Keoun admits the correctness of
che Superintendent report, but attempts to put
matters in milder light. The fact is, as one may
readily see, that it occurred to these gentle
men that they might be called to account for their
domineering conduct until they read in the Banner
the Superintendent report to the School Board.
Then, like the bad boy, they cried out, az didn't do
no such of thing But Sentell, who was present
and witnessed their conduct, says in article over
his own signature that the Superintendent
treport avas correct.''
He refers to the Superintendent the zone man
in authority" There never was an utterance more
contemptibly absurd and ridiculous than this. The
Superintendent, knowing the tenacity with which
many OF our good people hold to old customs and
object to strict enforcement of the present school
laws, has in almost no instance opposed the sim
plest wish of any local trustee; and no parish
school board in Louisiana has striven more assdu-
ously to please the people of it's parish than the
present Board, which Keoun mathematics and
seeks to kick out of the public service in disgrace
and all because its members could not reconcile it
to their conscences to do things according to his
way of thinking, and because they did not ask him
what his wishes were in this particular case.
They have often done things against their better
Judgment in order to please the people and comply
with the demands of local trustees. There never
was more glarng and contemplate specimen of
ward bosssm than that portrayed in the article by
Keoun and his coadjutors.
1t is not the duty nor the privilege, even, under
the law, except by sufferance of the School Board
for local trustees to select or dismiss teacher.
That " y function 81 the Scn0or Board itself.
Hence in this case the Board acted wholly within
the scope of its authority
The question will naturally arise in the minds OF
the taxpayers whom Keoun seeks to influence
against the Board and Superintendent as to why
Keoun and his friends should take such deep in
terest in the Principal of Plain Dealing High
School in the face of the views of responsibility
entertained by six rstclass assistant teachers who
declared that it would be revolving to their Of
decency and propriety to remain in school with
Burgess any longer, and in the face of a fair in
vestigation, where Burgess acted as his own coun-
questioning all others; and further, in the face Of
the opinion of seven out of eight members of the
Parish School Board, all acting under their oficia
oaths. For aught the public knows now, echo may
answer that they being large creditors cannot aort
to turn debtor loose without struggle. cay
there's the rub.'
In referring to the Superintendent he speaks O.
him as the "man in authority who acts as Judge
| jury and prosecuting attorney" He does th
simply to catch the unwary and carry them his wa!
against justice, simply because he is mad and dis
gruntled. The Doctor we'll knows, and so does an!
intelligent man, that the Superintendent when in
vestigating an infraction of the school laws, tn,
parent in the control of his children, the teacher il
the discipline of his school, any Judge, justice
the peace or United States commissioner on pre-
liminary trials fills the functions, if so to speak,
Judge, jury and prosecuting attorney. Avaunt
thou wizard, with this juggle Of sophistry! Hence
The Superintendent did not attack Keoun OF an,
other person in this trouble. AS Secretary of tn
School Board he simply handed the Banner tn
minutes of the Board meeting on the 23d of April
the Banner being under contract to publish tn
, proceedings of the Board.
It is positively untrue that "John Cdrstarphen
7 under oath, denied absolutely any knowledge 9
!. anything derogatory to Mr.. Burgess" Carstarphe
was never asked what he knew against Burgess
The idea is simply the product of fertile magi
nation The Doctor in his role as autocrat of Plat
: Dealing directs the voters of the whole parish
2 retire their School Board members Except NJ
r Sentel.) And why? Only one answer can b
. given. Simply because seven out OF eight, Will
acting under their official oaths did not do thing