The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1913-02-06

At meeting of the board of educa-
tion which was held Jan. behind
closed doors, or in other words in exe-
cutive session it was decided by a ma
jority of the members to GUST w. e..
Hoover from the position of city
superintendent OF schools. During the
heated discussion OF last night which
prevailed while the matter was being
considered, the assertion was made
that for two years certain members
Of the board had been endeayoring
to secure a successor TO Mr.. Hoover,
whereupon Member Smith said IL this
was so, he wanted to know why ne
had not been informed OF the matter,
and he told the board in plain language
that he did not believe in these star
chamber sessions" and he didn't think
the people did either.
All the members OF the board were
present at the meeting and President
McArdle was in the chair.
Petition Of Teachers.
The matter first came up when the
order of business reading OF coulmuni-
cations was taken up. by the presenta
ton OF a. petition signed by q vast
majority Of the teachers asking for
the retention OF Mr. Hoover. The
petition contained the names OF sew
enty- three Of the elghtyrtive teachers.
and it was received and ordered filed.
Tt was S follows
The Petition.
To the Members Of the Fargo School
Board We have recently learned with
unfeigned regret that you contemplate
a change in the SUPPLEMENTARY of the
city schools.
We do not wish to intrude our opin-
ions nor in any way seem to dictate in
the matter of such a decision on your
part, but think it only just to Mr..
Hoover. and also that you may be glad
to know how we, the teachers. feel in
the matter.
Some of us have been here for many
years and know what such changes
mean Superintendent Hoover has
been here more than six years, and
during all that time spirit Of har-
rnony and CO operation has obtained
throughout the entire school system;
certainly had there been friction or
dissatisfaction, we would have been
the first to know OF II.
We all agree that the schools are in
the best condition they have ever been
and are steadily improving. All prfn-
.cipals agree they have the best corps
of teachers they have ever had. There
is perfect harmony between superin-
tendent and teachers.
we attribute d very large part OF
this to the faithful services Of Mr..
Hoover.
we, feel that he has always been a
loyal friend of the teachers and we
have always found him fair In his
Judgments. ambitious for the best In
terests and advancement Of our school
and city, and man OF the strictest
integrity.
We are taking this action without
his knowledge, and we hope you Will
not misinterpret our motives.
& We sincerely believe that change
in the administration will check the
growth and will be very detrimental
to our school system
We honestly believe that we are in
a position to know Of conditions and
earnestly pray your honorable board
not to take this action. which we feel
Is not justified by conditions, and must
result In harm rather than good to
our schools and the $500 children In
them.
The business Of the session was
continued until the order came for re-
ports from the teachers committee
was made and this was the real be-
ginning OF the trouble. The report
of the committee in full follows:
COMMITTEES Report.
TO the board OF education Of the
city OF Fargo: The tcaehers' com
nittee recommend for employment as
superintendent OF the Fargo schools
for the ensuing year Walter r. Siders,
who Is now serving as superintendent
OF schools OF Pocatello. Ida. At the
Jan q. 1913. meeting Of the board an
executive session was held ait which
ali the members OF the board were
present at which meeting the teach :
ers' committee and gehool betterment
committee orally reported that their
respective committees had had under
consideration the matters OF Buperin-
tendency and were of the unanimous
opinion that the best interests of the