The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1920-01-22
Supt. Skinner Gives His Side Of
the Question.

IAc XuCSt4Ou.
| His statement is here published
VERBATIM. as follows:
In answer to the Harrington
Particle mentioned in the Tribune
where Miss Edna Harrington was
Ivindicated before the state board
of education L wish to state that
the school board of Nezperce was
unable to be represented there ex-
cept by brief. | had intended tc
be there but was unable to attend
Consequently when she trumpet
Iup the charge that | had agreed
Ito release her and we had nothing
| to answer it in our brief she cas-.
lily walked off with the case. Miss
Poole's and Miss Harrington s
statements that | had agreed ia
release her are open prevarica-
|tions. Miss Poole had a reason
lin swearing to the statement be-
;cause last spring there was some
hesitancy on the part Of the Nez-
perez school board when she was
reelected and after she was re-
elected she was denoted to an in
ferior position. Hence when she
asked to be released the latter
part of June to teach in the Lew
iston schools the board willing re-
lensed her. Miss Harrington s
resignation did not reach the
board until late in August and the
board and I both insisted upon
her fulfilling her contract.
No board could discharge a
teacher because they could secure
a cheaper teacher. On the other
hand it is a professional disgrace
for any teacher to jump a con-
tract because they can get a little
more somewhere else. We had
one teacher in Lewis county last
year that jumped a contract four
times during the summer to grab
higher pay elsewhere. Such a
practice of that should be stopped
and every one that does it should
be ruled out of the profession.
That everyone of our teachers
could have secured better posi-
tions during the summer is true.
When they contracted early in
April they were given a generous
raise in salary which seemed AIDE
quate at the time but during the
summer ON account Of the teacher
shortage salaries raised much
higher. Our high school princi-
pal less than thirty days ago was
offered position near here pay
ing forty dollars per month more
than he contracted for here.
Teachers should make the most Of
their opportunities and secure the
best positions possible but after
they once contract they should
be honorable enough to fulfill the
agreement. The Nezperce school
board intends in the future that
the teachers they employ must
abide by their contracts unless
by illness or suffer
the revocation of their certifi-
Gates.
In connection with this / want
to say that schoolboards are find
ing it harder than ever to finance
their schools on account of higher
salaries and the over cost of sup
plies. We are taxed to the limit
of fifteen mills here in Nezperce.
No further tax can be allowed by
law. The taxable property of this
district is assessed at several
thouBand dollars less than two
years ago. The bonds are coming
due now that were voted several
years ago and they must be paid
regardless of consequences. When
the district was bonded three per
cent of all school money each year
should have been set aside to re-
1eem these bonds when they be-
come due. That fund was never
set aside and now we must pay
hose bonds with money that
should be taken to run the ordin-
Try expenses Of the schools. I'm
ess the next Legislature allows a |
higher rate Of taxation it will be
necessary to cut down the number
# teachers in our schools in or
Ter to maintain our schools. The
chool improvements that we are
ARRIVING on are being paid for
Mostly by school entertainment |
nd public subscription.
The board and I ask your sup
,ort and counsel in the matters
hove stated q r Skinner