The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-05-13
Teachers Accompany Applications
With Ult;matum Regarding Con-
duct of Schools in Lakeland, De-
manding More Teachers, Larger
Salaries, Better Buildings and
Retention of Supt. Jones.

NctentlOn OF cupt. JOneS.
The call issued by a committee of
the Womans Club for a mass meeting
next Tuesday evening in regard to the
present school situation in Lakeland
was no surprise to those who have
been in position to watch the brew
ing of the school situation storm. and
much satisfaction is EXPIRE Ssod that
this step is being taken toward Il
clearing up of the matter.
The committee was appointed to
inquire into the rumored situation re-
garding the schools. and Mrs. Geo.
| M. Wright. chairman Of the commit
tee. states that the Woman's Cluh is
not, in this action, taking sides, but
stands ready to do its part toward
bettering conditions. whenever it's
/ part in the matter shall have been
/ made plain. The meeting is called
in an effort to bring about Il better
understanding on the part of all con
/ cerned, especially the taxpayers and
/ the patrons OF the schools, and to Ell
/ able voters to know what action to
i take regarding the conditions. which
are, in the words of Mrs. Wright. "u(-
mittedly deplorable."
| Mrs. a. B. Carrier, whose; name is
mentioned in the call. felt thp; Super
| intendent Jones would be in q better
! position to give an authoratiye state
ment in regard to the matters n is
sue.
Prof. c. NJ. Jones readily ,adml;trd
that there are Il number of situations
which should come before tile pubic.
and said:
You may quote NC as saying that
| heartily endorse the mass meeting.
! No honest person. can object to it,
am hoping that ill who are in any
way concerned Will he ON hand 10 hear
! what | shall say.
Teachers Apply Conditionaly
He admitted the rumored ,dissatis-
! faction among the teachers. saying
( that practically the entire teaching
force of the schools are making their
return to the work next year condi-
tional as regards several matters
! First and foremost is the matter of
the overlooking OF the teachers. which
! was brought out in the previous mass
meeting. Prof. Jones has figures TO
show that the teachers have been un-
/ der load of from forty to tifty-thrae
| pupils each, whereas the t. s. Ru-
reau of Education and Other auth0ri-
! ties designate thirty as the limit.
More teachers is one Of the condi-
tions set forth by the teachers rela-
tive to their return next year Larger
salaries is another point brought out.
The matter of better buildings and
equipment is another point, and on
the matter of the retention of Prof.
Jones as superintendent OF the schools
! of Lakeland" practically all have ex-
pressed themselves in definite terms.
This, relates to the recent division
by the county board of Lakelands two
schools. Prof. Donoho having been ap-
pointed principal of the Lake Morton
school. and Prof Jones as head of the
Lake WirePschool, instead Of as super
intendent Of both schools. as formerly.
"UnprofessionaI Acts" Charged
The charge of "unprofesSional acts"
on the part of certain officials, which
Prof. Jones gives az serious cause
of dissatisfaction among the teachers
is understood to refer to the county
school board and superintendent, and
to relate in the main to this same
matter, the objection being both TO
this action and to the manner in
which it was done"
1.-The End of the End"
ut is." continued Prof. Jones, "as
one of the teachers has expressed it.
the end OF the end and the issues
are clearly defined"
He went on to say that at the mass
meeting it is his intention to review
the development of the present stu
alton in order that the public, with all
the evidence before it, may decide ex-
actly where the blame for this situa-
tion should fall, and he in position
to adopt remedies.
| C. A, Parker, county superintendent
Of schools, speaking of the matter.
says:
Whatever this board has done has
not been done hastily or without due
consideration.
Asked as to whether he would be in
attendance at the mass meeting, Mr.
Parker said:
If the meeting is, as | understand
it, a meeting called for information,
I shall be glad to attend and to
answer any questions that may be
asked me. If, however, it is an in
dignation meeting I shall have to say
that | have ne time to attend an in
dignation meeting. We maintain an
office and are supplied with legal
counsel. and anyone who has a griev-
ance should take the mater up with
this Office
The city school board had nothing
to say further than that they are pre-
pairing statement to the public which
they will present as soon as it lis in
shape, and that they VIII be on hand
at the mass meeting prepared. to give
any information that may be called
for.
Hints that personal feeling has at
various times played a part in Great
ing the conditions that exist today are