The copper era., 1911-03-24
CLIFTON SCHOOL.
LAST WORD.

friends have been wonderfully misin- formed in regards to my efforts on behalf of Clifton Schools, I trust that | it will not be out of place to call your attention once more to my view in the matter.
 Ia the first place, men in a position to know tell us that at least 200 children in Clifton are out of school all the time. They have not been even enrolled. And any of us see at least good part of this number upon the streets as we go to and from work. Again, it is admitted that we have not buildings sufficient to house our children. Furthermore, we have not the teachers if we had the buildings, and, we have not the money with which to pay more teach CTS. We will do exceedingly well to get out of debt this year. It is evident that our first need is money, and we can not get the money required. unless we first get the pupils in school. Is it not better to get the children in of the streets, if we can do no more than discipline them if it brings us a sufficient amount of money with which to build up our schools, than to let these children run wild on the streets? Everybody feels that something ought to be done and can be done. But who will take the lead? It is evident that the parents will not, or at least they have not. They leave school matters with the teachers and trustees.
 When first taking the office. called the twenty teachers of Clifton togeth- CT and suggested that they organize a Teachers Association for the ex- press purpose of trying to make the work more systemtic, easier, and more effective.
 History shows that but little can be accomplished, without organized effort. The more complete the organization, the more effective the work. Whenever the teachers work together, systematically, they will then be able to bring about an in fiuence upon the town which will better their conditions and simplify their problems. No institution can succeed without a head. I know of no town having twenty teachers without Teachers Organization of some kind. With the bare exception of two out of those present they fought the suggestion to finish and have since accused me of having the most unjust and narrow objects in view. I contend that twenty teach CTS can change the entire educational atmosphere of the town if they mean business, and go at it in a business way. They work hours per day with two recesses and twenty days per month. The substitute teachers get S75.O0 per month, or S3.75 per day; twelve teachers get S80,OO per month or $4.OO per day; one gets S85.0O per month, or S4.25 per day; two get S90 % per month or S4.50 per day; an- other gets S130.00 per month or S6.5O per day; one gets Sl1O.OO per month or S5.50 per day; one gets S135.OO per month or s6.75 per day; and, one gets S160-OO per month or S8 .OO per day.
 It is true that they have only nine months employment during the year. wish we could pay them more. They must make considerable out lay for their qualification. We want to make their work as agreeable and light as possible, and they can do much in this direction themselves in an organized effort.
 Some have tried to misinterpret the meaning of my efforts along the line above mentioned. The chairman of the mass meeting held in the Library Hall last Thursday evening went so far as to make an elaborate and some what lengthy address upon my ideas of school work. He and his sympathizers accused me of trying to force the teachers to attend church. This of course is merely an effort to evade the question and to shift the responsibility. Anticipating that would be acc used of this very narrow aud unjust act I have tried to steer absolutely clear of such dangerous waters. But since they have suc- ceeded to some extent in scattering this rumor by misreading a private letter that 1 wrote to one of tue teachers over a mon tn ago, I beg to enter that letter here full and cUm- plete, with the exception of the teach CTS name, which hope will exonerate me in he eyes of all sane persons who are willing to meet out justice fairly and candidly to a meritous position: The letter is as follows:
 Clifton, Arizona, Jan. 30, 1911. My dear Friend:
 The news has reached me from the school room that you are given to speak lightly of religion, defining it as a superstition and a menace to American principles and to Society. The duties of the teacher in regard } to such instruction is clearly set forth f iu Par. 2243 sec. 113, of the Revised