Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-02-18

board Of the Swink school district:
To the Honorable Board Of Directors
Of School District No. IL. 0tsro County I.
Colorado.
Gentlemen:
A question has arisen. the decision
which in my Judgement, SER
iously effects the welfare Of the schoo.
in your district
The county superintendent Of schools
has issued . county diploma b Pup u
who 10 badly dsfieisnt in one brsne b.
This deficiency 10 Of such nature and to
such extent ss to seriously intsrfsrs With
her futsrs progress in the higher
branches.
Ihavs requested that rsvisw b re-
quirsd Of this pupil to enable her 70 meet
Ia = small mSasurs the requirements Of
hsr school work in this branch.
The county superintendent Of schools !.
your own honorable body and the pupil
herself have admitted that the deficiency.
as herein stated. in all probability exists.
The superintendent Of public instrue-
ton Of the state Of Colorado has decided
that the school board has full power to
require the review which deem neees-
sary, but the county superintendent has
urged you to sustain the contention Of
the pupil. against my Judgement, and
your honorable body has chosen 70 rspu-
diats my Judgment rather than reflect on
the reputation Of the county superintsnd-
ent who issued the diploma.
wish to call your attention to the gem
eral understanding that the county sup
desires another term Of Office.
bot whether this be true or not It is a
reasonable presumption that he does not
wish unfavorable comment to emanate
from this district in consequence Of a
in his Office. But take the
stand that, whereas the state superin-
tendent has decided that the district
board has full power to use its discretion
in the matter. regardless Of the advice
Of the comfy superintendent. | should
not be made the victim Of another mans
error in order to save the political scalp
Of the real eulprit.
1t Is grossly unjust TO me. hurtful to
your school and in every respect very
unusual procedure for your honorable
body to uphold pupil against my advice.
considering the fact that am the only
person IN position to know the facts con-
corning the question at issue.
quote from the school laws Of the
state Of Colorado. page 81. section 1925.
as follows: Every school board. unless
otherwise provided BY law. shall have
power, and Il shall be their duty. First
etc. Sseond-to enforce the rules and
general regulations Of the state superin-
tsndsnt to FIX the course Of study, the
exercises and the kind Of taxi books
used
This view is upheld by the state sursr-
Of public instruction in her ad-
vice to me Of recent date in which she
states In answer to my inquiry as to
whether or not the district board has
such legal authority: There is no quss-
ton in case whore the grades are in the
same building but that they have full
authority to do so.'
1t Is true that the county supsrintsnd-
ent has denied that district board has
this power. but in giving such decision
he is in effect sitting as Judge in q case
where. in effect, he is on trial before the
people.
Your honorable board has also commit
ted grave injustice to me in passing
resolutions rebuking me for taking steps
necessary to prevent the planning Of
fights among pupils. and by this action.
in effect have set the stamp of your ap-
proval on disorder and riotous conduct, in
the presence Of which no school can b
successfully conducted.
In consequence Of the above facts, and
realizing that without the support Of the
board. no principal. however earnest, can
continue to be Of use to the district in
which he teaches. and in consequence Of
the further fact that no self respecting
man will submit to be used as a screen
for public official who may have been
negligent in his duties. hereby submit
to your honorable body. my resignation.
to take effect as soon as you can con-
viently relieve me from the embarrassing
position in which have been placed by
the recent action Of your honorable
body"
Yours respectfully
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