The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-04-28

ing 10 the city schools.
The iueeting was for the purpose
OF taking some action relative to
conditions alleged to exist, and. pri.
marily to protest to the school board
against the re-appointment of c. w.
Richards, as superintendent, for an
other year.
Informal Affair
The meeting was an informal at
fair, and all present were invited to
participate, many took advantage Of
the opportunity and were not at all
backward in expressing their opin.
ion, both OF the present superinten.
dent and Of some conditions which
they alleged exist
Mrs. Squlres the First Speaker
Capt. W. NJ Hutchinson opened
The meeting by calling the house to
order and introduced Mrs. C. C.
Squres, who stated briefly what she
thought OF present conditions rela.
tive 10 the schools Mrs. Squires
urged that the school board be peti.
toned not to re-employ the present
Superintendent, c. w Richards, as
she thought 1t time to make a
change.
Sanitary Conditions
Mrs. II. d. McCollom spoke briefly
OF conditions as she said they exist
ed referring principally of the sani
tarv conditions surrounding the
buildings and also to the absence
OF fire escapes For the good OF
the schools she urged that the board
mat" chance in sunerintendcnts.
Browns Statement Sweening
H. H. Brown took the floor and
SPOKE 10 some length on conditions
ne he said they existed. He charged
the present superintendent with neg.
lcc'ino his duties, basing this charge
upon the statement that some Of the
cider scholars had been compelled
TO take courses in other schools be-
fore they were competent TO enter
work Of any character.
The speaker dwelt at considerable
length upon the number Of expul
sions that had been made by the
superintendent. and charged many
other matters against the present
superintendent.
Would Cut Salary
Among other instances cited was
the salary Of Superintendent Rich.
ards. rs compared with the superin-
tendent at McAlester and Enid. At
Enid the salary OF the superintendent
is $500 and at McAlester $4,000
per aunum while the SUPERINTENDENT
Of Ardmore schools receives a salary
of $1,000. He urged the board to
revise this and pay the grade teach.
ers more. He urged the board to
heed the petition and not re-employ
Richards for the coming year.
Judge Brett Suggested Resignation
At the conclusion of Mr. Browns
remarks Judge Rutherford Brett was
called upon to preside.
During the course OF his inti oauct.
cry remarks Judge Brett criticised
present conditions and stated that IL
all the charges brought against the
su u"erntcndent were true, he should
be DISCHARGED: that il none OF them
worn true he should at least resign
ae his usefulness to Ardmore schools
hHs passed in face OF such opposi.
ton.
Mrs. Skipworth and Mrs. Arthur
KYLE spoke briefly OF alleged condi.
tiors and urged that Mr. Richards
NOT be reappointed by the school
bOord.
Mrs. NJ. Ikard, who is q member
Of The board was called upon and
stated that she had been out of the
cit for some time and was not
in as close touch with matters as
she otherwise would be- Asked II Il
was true that Mr. Richards had been
reonnointe1 for the ensuing yeor she
, replied that It was her understanding
thai he had been.
Appointment Only Tentative.
Quite a lot OF argument was de-
vcloped at this stage over the legal.
itv Of any appointment being made
at this time by the school board,
ard II was not until DR.. McNeese, au-
other member of the board took the
floor and explained matters that II
was made clear. DR.. McNeese said
that the reappointment OF Mr.. Rich.
ards had not been made, although the
board had entered into a tentative
agreement with him. He stated that
Mrs. lizard misunderstood the matter,
that no contract had been made with
any one, nor could there be until the
board met after the first Monday In
May.
McNeese willing TO Resign
At this point II. II. Brown arose
md asked DR.. McNeese If he d'd not
think Il would be n good policy for
the school board to resign, DIR. Nc
Neosa replied that he could not sneak
for the balance Of the Board. but said
that so far as he was personally con-
cerned he would be perfectly willing
10 rosign as member Of the board.
ard make the matter an issue In m
election before the people for re-elec'
ton
Free for All Discussion.
From this stage the meeting devel.
o,ed into a free for all discussion in
which many took part, while the pre-
ponderance Of arguments offered was
AGAINST Mr.. Richards, he had some
very warm partisans present who werc
not slow in defending him whenever
they had the opportunity Of saying
a word.
DoIman Supports Richards.
L. S. Dolman was the principal
speaker in behalf Of the school board,
and hc reviewed to some length the
charges and counter charges that
had been made against the present
superlptendent