Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1910-11-11
Communicated
A REPLY TO WHAT ARE OUR HIGH
SCHOOLS ESTABLISHED FORT"

BY PROF. N. 3. COOPER, PRINCIPAL.
OTTOMAN HIGH scRoL.
Mr.. EMLzW. LEWIS: Dear SIR
thank you for your article published in
the CITIZEN" of last week. will en-
tighten you on some history as well as
enlighten you on a hard question which
you seem unable to answer. don t
care for the publicity of a newspaper
controversy, but you compel me to an
swer you. or would not clear myself in
the regards of the public, or nv
patrons (for which care).
You do not explain the incident of
the ball game. l will do it for YOU.
My boys asked me TO arrange a game
with Lancaster High School for FRIDAY.
9TH. l told them to GO ask Mr.. Shack
eiford, member of the school board
FRIDAY and Saturday was to be at a
teachers Institute at Lancaster). They
did so, and reported that Mr.. S.. said
Il could go play or not play, Just as I
chose, l interpreted this az all
right. Not until November 4th did this
trustee tell me that his utterance was a
veiled threat. Pm not much scared of
threats; but prefer them to be omen.
SO will know. Saturday was very
rainy, then they asked me for the game
Thursday, October IL. q am a new
teacher here). They said when | in
CURED, that it was customary last wear
for players and those who wished to on
to make the trip. This, with the trus-
tees former reply, said Eyes"
trustee at the School Board s meet
ing Saturday, said that he heard that
said: Twas going to run this school"
with the inference that was going to
please myself alone. My school and
teachers agree with me that what I
said IN speech to the school was: "If
the patrons ask you about my policies.
please tell them that if am Principal
they must trust my judgment to some
extent. as | am supposed to know more
about running the school than thew. >"
AT this trustees instigation q did not
get hearing) the Board deducted
$2.l2 from my salary and said I was to
pay for textbooks used in teaching
In fairness to Mr.. Lank ford and MIR.
Rock, OF the Board, let me say thew did
not know the case. l shall appeal the
matter to the School Board and expcct
to be able to announce that I have
received fair treatment. All want 10
justice.
am new to Tidewater Virginia and
people of Lancaster. For nv family
inquire of any reputable citizen of Win
chester, Va, about Lewis F. Cooper.
de VIII be known as city councilman
who has served already IL years inoffice.
For my character and record. address
Mr.. M. M. Lynch, Supt. of schools.
You ask about the school wagon. I
am sure my friend. Mr.. Warren. can
answer you, if he wants. You ask
another question: "Do baseball games
distract from studies?" Then from
your great fund of knowledge. YOU an
swer yourself by saying my High school
boys look first at the baseball news in
the newspapers. am delighted. that
you took cognizance of this tribute 10
my instruction. What better sign that
the world is not going TO the dogs Tin
spite OF howlers) than the fact that the
youth is concerned with clean. red
oiooded. American-game, that develops
him.. mind and body; and not in murder
news, divorce scandals and other sup-
gestive things, which / have advised
them not to read? If you mean to in
sinuate, that the scholarship of Ottoman
High school suffered after that game
OF baseball. you say something that is
not true; proving that you know moth
ing about it. Why, had to have nv
Latin class correct your "vice versa
But, hush! I'm not going to tell any,
body you made mistake! AS YOU are
such prophet in Israel" YOU are. of
course, well versed in pedagogy. the
science of teaching children. If not
you may cay (like the Irishman) that
the wisest words you ever said were
those you never spoke. What HIGH
schooi did you graduate from; in what
year! You are a graduate of what
college?
Son, you make the mistake of placing
the lessons as the highest and ultimate |
ann They are but a means to an end
namely: a broader life. Morality
truthfulness, the virtue of TEMPERANCE
obedience to just authority, politeness
aitruism (helping the other fellow,
love Tin many forms) all take prece.
dence.
in your attitude against heaItbfu,
athletics, you are disproved by the hest
educators. Pestalozzi saws. IESncat;nn
IS the development of ali the facnIt;as
OF the Northumberland. mental anS I
physical. There is no doubt that the
soul is supreme. There is no doubt that
you have physical basis. Don't Won
take any exercise for a month. and GO
where your physical entity will Land
and how 1t will affect your soul.
Milton says that, "Education sbopld
nc man for the duties of a citizen ar
All times. Have you ever heard This.
DeVeiop sound mind in a sound
oody. You are not too narrow-minded
20 see that when good schools ,snnrovs
d baseball always, that il has merit
why was 1t played here before and
<icked on now? A certain 'penfiaman
old me that you were seen consnltina
WITH trustee just before YOUR art;cje
appeared. Partner. use sarcasm in a
spirit of finn Mon, iA