The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-11-01


forts of Mr.. Frank Is in no wise due
to him. but rather to new course
OF study and q capable and efficient
corps OF teachers.
One year ago the board after
much agitation end personal effort
on my part, at cost of less than
$400. purchased 1900 volumes OF
supplementary readers, so that every
child of every citizen now has access
to the choicest juvenile reading pub
lished. Every progressive teacher in
our schools testifies to the benefit de.
rived from these readers and nothing
done for years Is fraught with such
far reaching benefit to our children.
Prior TO one year ago pupils were
required to purchase their own writ
ing paper and charcoal At my sug-
gestion, not that of Mr.. Frank, the
board now purchases these supplies
at n cost of less than 5000 per year.
"You say that Hill and Jacoby
have served together or the board
for two years. but neither has ever
urged free text books in all that
time / reply that Mr.. Hill and my.
self have, on several occasions, in
open board meeting declared for free
text books and that the purchase OF
free supplementary reading and
supplies for which Mr.. Hill and
myself both voted sufficiently dis
proves your statement. / am further
reliably informed that with the adop.
tion of FREQ text books in Fostorja,
Ohio, Mr.. Frank had nothing to 10.
The board of education has for
years ben employing many teachers
without experience, upon the rec
ommend OF Mr.. Frank. seriously
object to the employment of any
teacher except upon her merits. Az
ter more than one year of agitation
the board last summer passed rules
requiring that all applicants be class
iiled and that in the appointments. of
teachers. applicants be appointed in
the horder of their classification. Mr..
Frank did not recommend tho pass.
ing OF these rules. He did not OPP
pose them. He drifted. The first
teachers recommended by him under
these rules were promptly voted
down by Messrs. Dickerson and
Christian. These gentlemen voted
against n graduate of the Ohio
Northern University who stood at
the head of a classified list of twenty
applicants. who held professional
certificates. both for High School
and Elementary Grades with a splen-
did personality and record as a
teacher, under the slender pretext
that she was not Marion county
girl. so that Mr.. Frank was blocked,
not by his opponents, but by his
friends on the board.
Il think that YOU and the public
should know that many of our best
teachers have personally expressed
to me their satisfaction with my
service of about two years on the
board. Rev. Mr.: Bailey, who has so
favored Mr.. Frank, and who
has at times unjustly criticised me,
complimented me few weeks ago
by telling me that in the two years
l had been on the board many whole
some reforms had been instituted,
and that the credit was due me
'Modesty should, perhaps. prevent
the saying of these things on my
Part. But you have. by insinuation,
attacked my motives in school mat
ters. You have asked for facts, and
now you have them first hand. My
activity in school matters needs no
other excuse than the fact that
have two children whose education
means more to me than n few pass
ing personal favors.
MY opposition to Mr.. Frank Is
bf.sed pom his record in the Marion
schools. A superintendent who re-
celves $4,000 per year. should be
educator, man of
splendid executive ability. He should
be so strong in his chosen line that
the would not need the powerful in
1uence of his personal friends to hold
his position. And if by chance sem
liment should OF such a man become
divided. as IL now Is on Mr.. Frank In
he should quietly pass OH 70
4 position which would pay him n
larger salary and with n wider field
)f influence. A professional educator
would have done this a year ago, in
stead of forcing his election by q
board of county commissioners.
I'm conclusion, permit me TO say,
hat / favor the election of Mcssrs
Hill and Briggs because they have
and openly shid they favored
he selection of new superintend-
mt Messrs Rhu and Pepnell have
both said TO me the same thing and
,he selection of any three of these
our gentlemen would be gratifying |
o me;1 You say that the election of
christian and Nebcrgall will assure
dr. Frank of supporting board, |
md the school controversy will be |
1t an end. i say that their election
would not necessarily mean Franks
reelection, because no one seems to
Inow whether Messrs. Dickerson and
iuthery vii vote for Mr.. Frank
gain. on the other hand, ii Is well
o say now that so long as Mr.. Frank
emains superintendent and you con-
inue your unjust and unfair criti-
ism of board members, there will
,e no end to this controversy. The
opposition to him is too general, and
90 well grounded in reason to be
nded by his reelection"