Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1915-11-26
DISCHARGED TEACHER
APPEALS DECISION
A. Parker, Former Instructor in
Commercial Branches at High
School, Would Nullify Action
of Board

I Ralph A. Parker, formerly in
structor in the com mercial branches
E d the high school, who on October 2
n vas discharged by the school board,
has filed an affidavit of appeal in the
I office of County superintendent
Daisy Busbey, and will attempt to
7 nullify the action of the directors.
Mr. Parker was dismissed and his
i contract terminated at a special
meeting of the school board held
October 2, with Mr.. Parker present.
Charges were preferred against the
Instructor by Superintendent J. w.
Graham, and were properly certified
4 before a notary public.
The report of Edwin Twitmyer,
4 state high school inspector, was in
4 large measure responsible for the
charges by Superintendent Graham
3 and the action of the school board in
A diminishing the instructor. After an
8 Inspection of the commercial
81 branches here, Mr.. Twitmyer wrote
Superintendent Graham as follows:
My report regarding the work in
your commercial department, grow
ing out of inspection, to the state
board of education will be substan-
TALLY as follows: Work in CONNER
cial departm ent not sufficiently
thorough and efficient to meet the
states requirements. Teacher i'm
pressed me as lacking in Compel
ent knowledge of his subjects, as
we'll as lacking in his power and
ability to teach. His instruction was
indefinite and important points were
passed over without being i'm
classes in English, stenography and
commercial law. Only a very few
minutes were spent in the CONNER
cial law class as only two pupils were
present.
81 wish I might be able to make
a different report on Mr.. Parker's
work, but l could not recommend
1t conscientiously as meeting the re-
Quirements for accreditation.
trust this matter may be settled in
the best interests of the school.
Sincerely yours,
EDWIN TWITMYER,
III. S. Inspector"
Superintendent Graham asked the
dismissal of the instructor for the fol.
lowing reasons:
1st-That he is incompetent to
teach the subjects assigned to him.
and more especially commercial law
and commercial English.
2d-That he is unable to maintain
discipline in his classes.
3d-That he refuses to take sug-
gestions from either the principal or
superintendent, maintaining that it is
none of their business how he con-
ducts his classes.
4th-That he misrepresented to
the board his qualifications for the
position at the time he was employed.
5th-That he has failed to keep a
proper record of the attendance of
the students in the typewriting de-
partment.
After a comprehensive digest Of
the evidence submitted, the board
dismissed the instructor. giving as
their reasons for the action that Mr..
Parker had misreprented his quail
fications; was unable to maintain dis
cipline; was incompetent to teach the
subjects assigned to him; had failed
to keep proper attendance records III
the typewriting classes, and had re-
fused to take suggestions from CT
work under the instructions of the
superintendent or principal.
The matter was considered closed
and in Difference to the deposed man
the school board permitted the pub
lie to believe that Mr.. Parker had re-
signed. Fl. ID. Fades was at once
elected to fill the vacancy.
Mr.. Parker is alleged TO have
threatened an appeal at that time
but it was believed that he had
changed his mind until official mott
fication came from Superintendent
Daisy Busbey to the effect that the
affidavit had been filed. The school
board, under the law. must now file
with the county superintendent O
complete transcript. properly certi-