St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-02-27
TO WHOM n NAY CONCERN:

! NO one will. ! feel sure, be sur,
prised 10 500 this article written b
Ime, for owe it TO myself to giyt
something Of this sort to the public
after the events that have trans.
pired during the past few weeks il
the educational circle, here.
My aim in writing this is not only
TO give the true version of the affail
but is for another purpose, which,
you will discover for yourselves az
You peruse it. am about to make
my departure from here to begin
work in another part of the state,
but / feel that would, indeed. be !
coward Of the deepest dye if i did
not express my sentiments ere
leave and give to she citizens of
0pelousas some few facts which will
serve to keep any other strange
teacher from being treated ais / was.
am almost thoroly convinced from
all / can gather from reliable author
lity, that | could easily be reinstated,
| in spite Of one mans opposition.
When | say reinstated, it is meant,
with my point won; but it would be
disloyal to the public to have them
reinstate me and after nine or ten
days resign again, FOR under no CON
ditions, do / think, ] could work un-
der or for persons that now only
have my pity for the manner in
which they run their school and the
way in which they champion right,
honor, pinciple and all that makes
the higher life.
If any one cares to investigate
these statements, as here given, and
can find those who are not afraid to
tell the truth in the face of political
pulls, losing positions" or dam
aged regulations mot damaged
characters, for that is what we real
II are and can't be hurt but reputa-
tion is what people think we are
they viii have all the proof necessary.
/ do not hesitate, one instant, to
say that the way in which | was.
treated in this High School affair was
a disgrace to the school. to the town,
to the parish, and to the cause of
education, ii general. Nor do /, at
the same time, hesitate to say am
delighted it all occurred for it will
be a forernnner to an educational
revolution soon to occur here. Many
of my friends, nay even those who
took such delight in helping me re-.
sign, say they regret it all, but not
SO ], for it will bear fruit in days to
come some of us have seen a few.
good results all ready, in the manner
of stricter discipline being enfoced,
even now, and Order as Pope says,
is Heavens first law" Surely itI
must be of a school room, which
sometimes doesn't seem just like
Heaven.
Before giving the story of the
affair, / wish to thank the people of
Opelousas, the parents Of my pupils,
the faculty, the children Of my grade
with few exceptions the promi-
nent men of this town who extended
to me their assistance and friend
ship, at this time. IL is so much ap-
preciated because the vast majority
who sided with me, did it for the
cause of right and not through per-
sonal friendship. "A few Of my friends
have watched it grow and could most
thoroughly appreciate my stand and
to them, render my thanks for
their kindness. Especially do / feel
to the teachers who were willing to
resign, il it would help any. Crate
full indeed do | feel to my patrons
who would have got up q petition for
my reinstatement and who, believe,
would have reinstated me, it / had
wished it and il not that, then weuld
have patronized the private school
/ was advised to open, but for the
good of the cause to which am de-
voted. believe it is best to leave st.
Landry just row.
What was the cause Of this trouble,
anyway? Well, to be brief, it was
caused by some Of my patrons, the
superintendent and principal not
knowing me as teacher, or really
not knowing me at all. Those who
know me here or elsewhere will most
candidly afirm that there is no orr
binary teacher who tries to do more
for the cause of education than I.
And why? ] deserve no credit, at
all, for it is all I have ever lived for
and all / ever expect to live for to
help make this world better by help
ing the boys and girls grow into use
ful, honorable men and women, who
viii be ali honor to their state and toI
their nation and who will see that
every one whether he be a street
Arab Oh one of those who claim to-
belong to the aristocracy but whose
only claim is the Almighty dollar
and political influence gets fair play
And while leaving here under such
conditions Us I an, / feel that the
best work of my entire life has been
done here. / have been led TO see bY
my pupils actions during this cons
rnolfnr khat have tanpht. thirty