The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-03-12

sured the other members that there
was no occasion for delay and a vote
might as well be taken. The vote was
accordingly taken on the molten. The
following persons voted aye: Holt.
Young. Frame, Hanson, Bolley and Me-
Ardle. Smith and Carpenter voted no.
Mr.. Hannaher explained that he was a
new member and did not vote.
This meeting of the board is what
has been called the star chamber ses-
sion. The facts are that the change
or SUPPLEMENTARY had been considered
by two meetings of the board with
each member present. outside of the
meetings of the board it had beef con-
sidered by the teachers committee and
by the school betterment committees,
each acting separately, but never in
Joint session. We believe that Mr..
mowers presence with the board ~
considering the SUPPLEMENTARY would
not have been proper and he never has
been present on such occasions.
We felt, that in justice to Mr.. Hoov-
er ne should be informed of the boards
so informed within two days. The
fact then lis that Mr.. Hoover was not
discharged as has been reported. His
term of employment was in no way in
terfered with, but he was informed
that he would no be re-engaged and
this information was given him six
months in advance OF the termination
of his contract.
The teachers committee acting on
instructions of the board, took UP ne
gotiations with the gentleman who
was met in st. Paul., and it was found
that conditions had arisen which pre-
vented him from accepting.
Negotiations were then entered
upon with other candidates, among
them Mr.. Siders. whose. recommends
ttons were so superior that he was re-
quested to meet a member of the teach
ers' committee in Bismarck for a per-
sonai interview. This he did, and the
impression made was so favorable that
1 hn ruYn { oGl-nH hX Mr. Half xxyhn mat him
at Bismarck, to come to Fargo and
meet all the members of the board,
which he did. His recommendations
were from educators Of the highest
standing, and from a careful investiga-
ton and very extended interview with
him on educational subjects we became
satisfied that he was the mar we want
ed for our chooI
1.-THE members joining in this change
are opposed to the introduction of
'fads and frills' in our schools. We
satisfied ourselves from an examination
of Mr.. Siders' record and from II per-
sonaI interviews that he is a practical
educator n not a theorfst, and can as
sure you that he is a man of good com
mon sense in educational matters, n
that with the aid of his services u
children will get the practical and sub
%stantial education which we believe It
Is the desire of the parents they shall
have. Our schools will profit greatly
If his services are secured.
I'VE therefore recommended his en-
ployment. A recommendation signed
by all of the teachers committee and
by the school betterment committee
was presented to the full board at the
Feb. 8. meeting, The president of the
board was authorized to make a con-
tract with him upon the following
Bolley and McArdle voted aye; Smith,
| Hannaher and Carpenter voted no.,
Every member Of the board was pres
ent.
"The members of the board serve
without compensation. Our action in
this matter has been dictated solely by
what IN our Judgment we believe is
schools, We take it that our first duty
is to these children. We maintain the
schools for he benefit of the children
not for the superintendent or the
teachers. The superintendent n
teaching force are mere agencies. What
we want is better schools and we feel
that it is u duty to do what is nee
essary to get them, and, in our opinion.
this requires a new superintendent.
We regret that u motives have been
impunged; there is no excuse or JUS
| LITIGATION for such attacks. No mem
Der instrumental in making this
change has any relative on the teach
ing force and we have no interest in
the matter other than the betterment
of our schools. The board is charged
under the law and by the patrons of
the schools who select us with the duty
of caring for the schools, and our inn
/ pOrTdnL duty is tue S6leCLlOn OF the SUI
perintendent. No member of the board
Joining in this has had any i'll feeling
toward or has had any controversy
with Mr.. Hoover. Our action has been
Edietated solely by our desire to do
what we understand to be our duty,
namelyi to improve the condition Of our
public schools t-~ .-
D.. B. Holt.
N. G. Young.
Fl. w. McArdle.
]. S. Frame.
Mrs. Frances Bolley.
Mrs. A. @. Hanson"
At the Feb. 5 meeting the teachers