Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1914-06-26
SCHOOL BOARD HAS
EXCITING MEETING
Large Delegation Appears For
Mr.. Carson's Reappointment,
But Without Avail.

difficult problems they have had to
solve in years-that of election of Il
principal of the school, by refusing to
re-elect w. w. Carson. The Board
was in session several hours wrestl-
ing with the matter. AT the conclusion
of the meeting vote was taken and
of the three members Mr.. Carson re-
ceived only one vote, that of w. l..
Moore, the other two members voting
against him. Applications for other
positions in the High School faculty
will be disposed of at an early date.
The meeting of the Board was
held in an upper room of the build
ing. Patrons of the school and others
were invited to be present and pre-
sent any facts they desired for or
against the reelection of the princi-
pal. A number of gentlemen favor
ing the principals reelection availed
themselves of the opportunity and
spoke in his behalf.
Mr.. Barns Gillespie was the first
speaker, presenting Mr.. Carson's pc
tition, which contained ninety odd
names of many of the best people of
the town and community, and which
MIR. Gillespie said represented so per
cent. of the patrons of the school.
Mr.. Gillespie referred to the fact that
it was futile to try to get head for
the school>who would be acceptable to
all, and that he deplored the feeling
that had arisen over the selection of
principal. Mr.. Gillespie noted the
high standing taken by the graduates
of Tazewell High School in the col
leges and universities. He said these
conditions would not exist were it not
for the fact that these students had
received the proper training in the
High School. In every class
there are pupils who lag behind and
cannot keep up, for which the man
agement of the school cannot be held
responsible. However honest parents
may be they cannot find the faults
with their children that are apparent
to the teacher"
Mr.. Geo. w. st. Clair thought that
the question to be considered was not
the objections of a few patrons, but
to elect a principal who can teach the
pupils. "If a parent objects to prin-
cipal because a child won't study,
should you dismiss the principal?
Whoever you select for principal, re-
gardless of moral character and abb
lity, you will find objections to-"
DIR. Peirce thanked the Board for
the excellent school it had provided
the past few years. His opinion was
that great injustice would be done
the pupils if the Board did not con-
tinue the present management of the
school.
Mr.. John S. Bottimore: "Not man
present here, but has at heart
the public good. Mr.. Carson's quail
fications have never been questioned,
the only difference is personal diff
Guilty with one or two pupils. My in
formation is that last session was
the best in the history of the school.
The school and not the wishes of
few people should be uppermost in
the minds of the Board"
w. T. Gillespie: "The idea that
change, may reconcile all differences
and not injure anyone is preposter-
Gus. Parents who have had their chill
dren in the High School will meet
with distinct loss if change is made"
Mr.. Geo. A. Martin: feel an in
terest in the school as belonging to
the community and fully endorse all
that has been said"
Mr.. j. G. Buston: "I think Mr.. Car.
son has the qualifications of teach
.er, has given perfect satisfaction, and
hope he will be retained"
H. G. Peery: "My personal exper-
fence is that in 80 out of a hundred
cases troubles arising in school can be
charged to the pupil, and not to the
teacher. It's bad plan to cut down
the tree that's bearing good fruit, and
plant one that you don't know what
kind of fruit it will bear"
-J. A. Greever: II endorse all that
has been said"
R. G. Chapman: 81 think the past
session of the school has been the
best we have ever had, and ] favor
the reelection of Mr.. Carson. am
not the least bit in sympathy with
any movement that favors Mr.. Car
sons defeat. If school principal does
his duty he should expect to make
enemies"
w. w. Peery: Mr.. Peery said that
careful investigation he had made
developed that one-third of the pat
rons favored Mr.. Carson, one-third
were against him, and one-third didn't
care. He said: "Under these condi-