Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-30
SUPERINTENDENT GIVES REASONS
Beveridge Tells why Outside Teach
ers Are Being Hired.

Il believe in getting the best teachers
that we possibly. can. BY this / mean
teachers who are strong in discipline,
character, scholarship and ability to in
struct. Such teachers in the public schools
of Council Bluffs mean much for the chill
dren who attend them" said Prof. J. II.
Beveridge, superintendent of the public
schools Of this city, yesterday afternoon
when his attention was called to a pub
lished statement to the effect that Mem
her Capell Of the Board of Education crit
icised the superintendent's policy in secur-
ing the appointment of teachers from out
of the city. Beyond this / do not care
to say anything at the present time" de-
clared Mr.. Beveridge, "in view of the fact
that the Board of Education will meet
next Monday night, at which time, II Is
understood, teachers will be elected for
the ensuing school year"
Mr.. Capell, who is a member of the
teachers of the Board of Edu-
cation, contends that superintendent Bev-
eridge has adopted a systematic policy of
supplanting local teachers with persons
from abroad. At the meeting of the board
next Monday night, Mr.. Capell stated yes
terday, he would present figures in sup
port of his assertion. Not being chairman
of the committee, Mr.. Capelr expects
merely 10 submit Ills statement oI Tie Blu
uation as he sees 1t and then leave the
matter with the board.
Il have no desire to precipitate a fac
tlonal controversy" said Mr.. Capell. land
1 merely intend to declare my attitude on
this matter, which / believe of vital In
terest to the people Of this school dis
triot."
Mr.. Capell said yesterday that Superin-
tendent Bevridge had declared himself In
favor of appointing teachers from otheI
places than Council Bluffs, because such
teachers, IL they proved incompetent could
be discharged without bringing down upor
the heads of the members of the board
and others connected with the management
of the schools of the city, the importunities
and wrath of their friends. For this rea'
son and because teachers living In this
city were supported by other influences
than their ability as teachers, the superin
) tendent, according to Mr.. Capell was op
posed to appointing teachers from the city
In support Of this contention Mr., Capel
said that out of over twenty teachers ap
pointed during the last year only one haC
been from Council Bluffs. Mr.. Capel
further charges that an undue proportion
of teachers from Missouri Valley ant
Harrison county have been appointed. Mr.
Beveridge was superintendent of the publ,
schools at Missouri Valley before sue
ceeding Prof. Clifford as superintendent
here. Mr.. Capell even goes so far as 4
say that Mr.. Beveridge has opposed tn,
appointment of all applicants from Council
Bluffs for positions now vacant in tn,
school and that he has insisted on tn,
retirement of a number of the presen
teachers, some Of whom are veteran in
structors.
There are at present nine vacancies 4
the teaching force of Fhe city schools
which the board will be. called upon Z
fiji at the meeting next Monday night
The teachers committee is said to hav
over 200 applications for these positions.
Next Tuesday is the regular meeting
night OF the board. but as the class da
program will be given that night at tn
high school as part OF the exercises O
commencement week the board decided {
hold its session on Monday evening.