The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-03-05
:. 3: = = {. :: Il ;; u . " " :: = II ::
!: PEOPLES FORUM {:
:: :: :: :: :: ;: :: :: :: :: :: ;: :: ;: 8:
Replies to Mrs. Scott.

| EultOr OIL i ne AIuHOItitt.
In as much as Mrs. Scott protests
through the paper regarding the spell
ing contest of Friday night, March %,
and in as much as she makes false
accusation regarding the county su-
| tive committee of the Teachers Asso-
citation, | take occasion to reply to
her Protest
AS an officer of the Teachers Asso.
| citation, as well as a member of the
executive committee, also principal of
the Lone Grove school, from which
four of the five best spoilers won a
trip to Durant and the honor of rep
resenting Carter county in the con-
test to be held there. | first consid-
cred that the article, "A Protest"
should be ignored, as it seemed to me
that even a disinterested reader of
that protest would pronounce the
criticism therein, but the expression
of defeat ignobly accepted. In as
much as this article might gain Gre
dence among those who are not in a
position to be informed in the mat
ter; be it hereby known that Mrs.
Scott presented this accusation be-
fore the county organization the day
following the convention, which time
her accusation received the unani-
nous condemnation Of the convention
in whose presence the contest has
been held the evening before.
Mrs. SCOTS insinuation that the Of
fCers and executive committee of the
Teachers Association knew from just
what part of the book the 2j0 words
would be taken and were therefore
given an opportunity to drill their
pupils from that part, is positively
absurd. We only knew what every
teacher knew, and that was that the
words would be taken from Butchers
Speller somewhere between the front
and back cover.
Mrs. Scott's article begins: Spell
ing contests and rivalries of most
kinds between schools are helpful TO
the educational spirit of the towns
and counties, when they are conduct
ed on plan that permits equal ia
vors and the same privileges to all |
the schools alike" | agree with her |
that far, and during my eight years |
of teaching experience in Carter coun-
ty | have taken especial interest in
these spring county contests, and
have always found that the plan of |
the contests has permitted equal ia
vors and the same privileges to all
schools alike. If the results of the
contests have been favorable to
few schools and teachers, l fail to
believe that any person can charge
that result to unfair means. Child
life is somewhat the same, wherever
YOU find children. Plenty of talent in
all our schools. 1t is the business of
students who come under their charge
and develop, train and express that
talent. If some schools and teachers
find especial pleasure in that work,
that is certainly not enjoying a vic
tory at the expense of all" the other
schools and teachers. Indeed, every
school and teacher has the same priyi-
lege, and the word privilege means
WORK if favorable results are to be
obtained. Truly, child life must have
leaders, must have teachers who will
work and inspire the pupil to work
| deny that the result of Friday
night testifies unfairness on the part
IF anyone. | do wish to say, since
four of the five best spoilers in the
come from Lone Grove, that
t was the result of some systematic
work being done in our school in
spelling as well as in the other pre-.
'cribed subjects to be taught. The
,nly information received regarding
he $50 words to be given was that
hey would be taken from Butchers
'peller. Our students We're trained
N the entire book, and l make the
tatement that the four winners could
lave spelled any 2jO words in the