The Bryan eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1880-1913, 1911-04-06
fore the reading public.

1t is my present purpose to consider
only cause No. as listed above. Pos
sibly you would do well right here to
prepare yourself to be shocked, for
am about to announce doctrine that
may stun you. 1t is this: By virtue OF
their relations to the schools teachers
have some rights in such cases as
this. For example, when one OF their
number is decapitated, that teacher
and all other teachers have right to
know the cause of the decapitation.
The basis of this right may be re-
vealed to you in some such process OF
reasoning as this: Teachers ought to
feel secure in the tenure OF their po-
siticns so Ions as they are capable,
and faithful, and efficient, and person.
ally worthy. Hence, when one of their
number is guillotined by board, all
teachers have a right TO know what
capital offense ne has committed.
Otherwise they live in unnecessary
dread of a similar fste-a state OF
| feeling that would necessarily impair
their efficiency. In fact, some OF them
might conclude that the way TO make
their tenure of office secure would &c
TO curry favor with the board rather
than to discharge their duty to the
school faithfully and well. In this case,
the conclusion is easy that the chill
dren would suffer. And it should al
ways be remembered that the schools
exist for the children, not for the
teacher or for the board, even though
the governor be a member OF the
board. 1t seems clear to me that only
evil can come from shrouding in mys-
terry the removal of teacher from any
position On the other hand, II soEle
liustifying cause is assigned and estab'
lished the whole situation is relieved
All recognize the justice of the boards
action and are ready to go forward in
the faithful discharge of duty, feelins
assured that they will not be disturbed
without cause. How does this strike
you for sound reasoning? am fully
laware of the fact that am stating the
very simplest Of elementary princi
pies. In this | am trying to make II
impossible for you to fail TO under
stand my meaning.
You may say that 1t would not be {
good policy for board to make public
the reasons for dismissing a teacher
You may say that this would be az
act of unkindness or that it would in
Ijure the teachers future prospects.
: beg you again to suffer no uneasines
on that score in the present case.
: say to you again, as | said in my othe
letter, that l recognize it as your right
your privilege and your duty to com
: out with full and true account OF tn
! facts that influenced you in this case
| You will kindly remember that Il
: arguing that the teachers OF Texa
+ have right to know why you remove
. me from this position, do not retrac
or in any way modify the argument
g advanced in my former letter. sti
e adhere to the position that all right
O lin such cases are inherent in the pei
e pie who support these schools, an
It that it is to the people primarily tha
e you owe an explanation of the consi'
t. erations that influenced you to TAX
IS my head off. In mentioning the right
r, of teachers l am only giving an add
o tional reason why you should max
e the explanation that have previousl
e urged you to make.
~ Possibly may be permitted to ad
m not as a threat, but as a predictio
e. that, in case can by no sort Of appe