The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-28
MIR. MoYLE'S LETTER.

MR. MOY LG > bGIIGh.
We print on the local side of The
Tribune this morning a letter from Mr..
Oscar W. Moyle, u member of the
Board of Education from the Third
ward in this city. Mr.. Moyle objects
to the construction placed upon his
remarks at the meeting where he was
nominated. But in further explana-
unsupported in The Tribune; and on the
report which appeared therein our edi-
torial remarks were based. Mr.. Moyle
gives in his accord with the sentiments
of that editorial with respect to get
ting in new aud strong teachers, and
yet his influence does not appear to
have been in that direction; but rather
10 the point of "sreater confidence
and sympathy between tho school
board and the local teachers" he be-
ing careful to explain that by this he
does not mean especially "mombers
of the dominant church, This is a
condition that might be reached pre-
cisely as the Russians reached their
mark when they were able to report
that "pcace reigns in Warsaw That
is, the Board of Education bas elm
mated the teachers not in accord with
the majority of tho board, and has so
disciplined the others that they dare
not assert their independence. There
have been instances where teachers
who made themselves outspoken with
board within n year or two past
wero disciplined by the board for no
other reason apparently than for that
independence. The accord which Mr..
Moylc refers to can be and often is
reached by the most tyrannical and
exclusive methods. And that is pre-
cisely what large numbers of Salt
Lake people think has brought about
the present. results in the public schools.
Mr.. Moyle considers that the schools
are running now under improved con-
dltions. He assumes this. But to as
sumo that is to assume the whole ques
tion in controversy. The opponents
of the present church dominance in the
public schools of this city do not think
that the schools are running under i'm
proved conditions, but under reaction.
airy conditions. And this sentiment is
so general that Mr.. Moyle's assump-
tion of improved conditions cannot be
allowed.
His further statement that teachers
4" do not have that feeling of distrust
that formerly existed against certain
members of the Board of Educate
lest they should lose their positions if
certain men were elected, no doubt re-
fers to the time when the Stroug
teachers from the East had to face
the dismissal which actually came to
them upon the gaining Of the control
of the board by the Mormon members
That was a time Of ousting of teachers,
sure enough. When Mr.. Cooper, the
able and efficient superintendent. was
ousted from his incunibency in this
city, a large number of the Eastern
teachers found themselves out of job
And doubtless they foresaw that this
WpulO Dt JuO case NUcu JuCy uSuTcQ
out that tue elections that had oc-
CURED gave the control Of the board to
the Mormon members, therefore they,
not being Mormons, had no hope of be-
ing retained in their places, and they
had TO depart accordingly.
We give space 10 Mr., Moyle's COM
municatjou because we always desire
TO be fair in these matters, aud not
TO shirk any responsibility in answer
ing for what we say, Mr.. Moyle is
kind enough to state in the note en-
closing his communication that "while
it is somewhat lengthy l hope that you
will be willing and able TO give it
space IN your valuable paper. | feel
that you desire to be fair with me with
reference to my position on the school
board, and know that you are deeply
interested i'll the welfare Of the
schools. And he asks that this ex.
planation should be given in the in
terest Of the schools, as we'll as in
justice to himself We give it space
accordingly, while, as herein, declining
10 accept his view Of the present con-
ditioD of the schools, or his conclusions
as TO the nonpartisanship which he