Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-06-08

tnS suspension during anOtner week Is
twholly unjust and unfair. :
We feel that we are right in Insisting
that no decision should have been rem
Edered except it was rendered in the
Hight of the, past history of the school.
For number of years the Senior class
has regularly awaited themselves OF
this privilege. They did the same thing
on The previous week, and the punish
ment il any which was administered
to them. like that on previous years,
was of no consequence.
The same privilege has been taken by
Iseveral Junior classes and no action or
warning either for them or the SEN
iors, had ever been given by the School
Board, we do not question the duty or
wisdom of the School Board in making
such resolutions as may prohibit these
| things in the future, but for them sud-
denly in the light Of all the past to ad-
Eminister such an unreasonable and eX-
| cessive penalty is a cause for, just re-
| sentiment on the part of every parent.
| Moreover the punishment seems to
be without observation-disclosures inno
cent are made to suffer equally with
| the guilty. Have the parents who in
| sisted that their children should remain
at home no right whatever in the eX
exercise of their own judgment for a
| single days absence-and, even here,
one parent was treated in one way and
others in another.
1t was said that the apologies pre-
sented by the classes on Tuesday af
tecnoon could not be received on the
ground of their defiance and lack of
| itH h1lt
have been said concerning the meeting
of Friday evening. Members of the
class had satisfied the Principal of
their genuine sorrow, and been assured
by him that he would recommend their
immediate reinstatement.
The class had also drawn up a most
courteous and frank apology signed by
individual members and, in addition to
this, a body of citizens, representing
the parents, appeared before the School
Board on Friday evening and, in a
courteous and humble attitude begged
the Board to modify its judgment.
When punishment has accomplished
its ends, is it right or noble to longer
continue it? The class was led to make
| generous appeal and it was not met
with generosity BY the Board.
The Parents had also made an earn
est appeal on the grounds of justice
and fair play and they have not been
met by justice or fair play on the part
| of the Board.
| Many of these boys and girls are
memhers of Christian homes and are
constantly taught to deal fairly, to be
| true and generous, to be kind and mer
ciful, and it seems to us that all these
qualities have been defied by the con-
| tinued injustice of the Boards deci-
| sion.
Is there not a time when the eXer-
else of authority ceases to be for the
| best interest of the governed and be-
comes purely the expression Of despotic
power? Was this not a case where
generous apology should have been met
| by an equally generous response?
| Have scholars no moral rights and
parents no legal rights with which to
| meet such an unjustly severe penalty?
Is the School Board sufficient unto it
self and supreme so that all others
| must bow to it's despotism and power?
| If so, it seems to us that we surely
have a right to criticise the members
| of the Board
| u
Il committee: of the class who appealed
to him, that a grievous part of the Of
| Tense lay in breaking an engagement
| for written test with his daughter.
| Two members of the Board did not
think our High school of sufficient val
lie to educate their children there; not
a single member of the Board has a
child studying within the school; and
| only one member has child studying
within any of the schools of our city.
| Perhaps this Board made up of such
| membership, has no desire to carry out
the wishes Of the people whom they
represent. 1t is certain that their con-
tinuing to actin spite of every effort
which has been made by the people of
the c:ty-directly against the convic-
| tics and wishes of nearly the entire
body of citizens, and the decision of
Friday night, only tends to increase,
rather than decrease the tide of indig
nation which is everywhere felt.
They continue to act, as though
breaking UP class, destroying the
precious associations of a class spirit,
Gripping it's athletic sports, and un-
Justly denying a whole class the privi-
leges of a school for which the citizens
| have duly paid. We're matter of triv
ial moment in comparison with their
own wise judgment as to what is fit
ting and right.
1t is at least certain that parents,
scholars and interested friends, have
done all in their power to win back
these privileges to those who have
been and still are unjustly deprived of
what should never have been forfeited.
| While this letter may reveal resent
mcnt at the Boards action, it is also
felt that their continued persistence in
| the punishment merits the public dis
approval which is so universally felt.
| EMMA l.. ROBINSON.
The Cony High Seniors are having