The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1918-09-21

storm center of interest in Proc
tor for the past ten days.
E. G. Grubbs, superintendent of
the Proctor schools for the past
two years, seeks to disprove
charges that he went too far in
making physical examinations of
girl pupils from II to 13 years
of age.
After the new board of educa-
ton came in, certain charges were
considered we'll founded and a de-
mand made that Supt. Grubbs
send in his resignation. That he
refused to do.
Before the fall term of school
opened early this month, the local
board Of education filed charges
against Mr.. Grubbs before the
state board Of education.
Before the state board took &C.
ton, Supt. Grubbs entered upon
his duties as superintendent. After
a week of service the state board
notified the educator that he was
suspended, pending an investiga.
ton The local board relieved him
Of duty and put Miss Brett in
temporary charge Of the schools.
Pupils and teachers are credited
with declaring that the second
week Of school ran much more
smoothly and pleasantly than the
first week.
Supt. Grubbs finally appeared
before the county attorney, stated
his side Of the matter and asked
an investigation. Last Friday, as
sistant county attorney Funck and
Mrs. Forgy went to Proctor to in
terrogate a number Of girls, al
legged to have made statements
charging improper conduct in
making physical examinations and
tests when they were pupils in the
schools.
Last Tuesday, state superintend-
ent Schulz and state school inspec-
tor Flynn appeared in Proctor to
thresh out the merits and dement's
of the matter.
Besides the state officers pres
ent there. were county attorney
Greene, the members of.the Proc
tor board of education, Mrs.
Quick, wife Of a member of the
board and, Of course, Supt.
Grubbs.
The little girls told their stories.
One witness declared that Grubbs,
after questioning her as to sex
ual health and development, i'm
properly put his hand on her per-
son.
Other witnesses, if the Rip-sa "
mistakes not, testified that they
were asked questions as to their
sexual development and health.
It seemed to be the general tes-
timony that the girls were re-
quired to remove their waists or
MILDLY blouses for measurements
and tests in breathing, expansion
and other items.
The defense, of course, disputed
the more damaging facts, as al
legged by the girls. It was stated
that the physical tests and exam
nations were duly authorized by
the school board and that Supt.
,Grubbs undertook the task be-
cause the board had no school ply
stefan. It was not shown that no
physician in Proctor was avail
able.
Statements were presented from
teachers formerly employed under
Supt. Grubbs in which they ex-
pressed the opinion that he would
not improperly tumble the per-
sons Of young girls.
Another teacher made the state
ment that the girls chiefly respon-
sible for the stories of misconduct
formed a clique; that they habit
ually run together; and that she
would not consider their testimony
reliable.
The defense also brought out
the fact that three teachers were
refused a raise in salary last year
that these alleged offenses were
committed the year before; that
formal charges were not pressed
until the close of the last school
year and after Mr.. Grubbs had
gone away on his summer vaca-
ton. The idea was pressed home
that these charges may have been
due greatly to disappointment and
resentment on the mart of those