The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1921-02-18
STORMY SESSION
OF SCHOOL BOARD

Harry l.. Summers took his place
on Monday night as a new member
OF the Salmon school board succeed
ing G. A. Beers, resigned The board
TOOK action in matter involving
some disturbance and dissension IN
the management Of the schools. This
resulted in the resignation of Miss
Ethel Pugh as teacher, the decis-
ion being unanimous to accept the
resignation. Miss Pugh was a teach.
er in the high school, Her duties
were assumed by teachers who had
vacant periods during the regular
school day.
II was said by one member of the
board that the change as to Miss
Pugh had not removed all the cause
OF trouble and that fight is still on.
For the day or two after the meeting
little groups of people wherever
gathered together were discussing
the rather stormy sessions of the
board. Other matters in hand were
the regular routine of passing bills
Asking Hearing for Miss Push.
At the instance of Mrs. King, a
member of the board. special meet
Ing was called at the Abstract cffice
Yesterday afternoon. AT the same
time Miss Pugh appeared to request
formal hearing of the charges on
which her dismissal was based. Sne.
maintained she had never been al
lowed to state her side of the contro-
yersy, which as she had alleged had
grown out of personal matters be-
tween herself and the principal. At
the first appearance of the members
OF the board a reporter present was
invited to absent himself as the
meeting was to be an executive ses-
sion, but there was division on the
propriety of the exclusion and the
reporter was called back in a few
minutes. with nothing to transpire IN
his absence, SO he was informed. To
all appearances there had been no
execution Of anybody in the execu-
tive session.
Getting Down to Business.
Between the hours of and 3, the
board heard formal charges prefer
red by Mrs. King against Superin-
tendent Appleman. followed by
general discussion of the controversy
between them at meeting or the
board held at the courthouse last
Monday night. In what Mrs. King
had to say on this point was involved
also the action of the board as to
Miss Pugh. to whose defense Mrs.
ling came also. She said in- part Z =,
Before making the complaints
that am here to make to this
board | want to say that i have
heard it is being said in behalf of
Mr. Appleman that my actions as
member OF this board have
been of disturbing nature. II
this be true l am here to listen
to any criticism from any mem
ber of the board on that point.
1t is my privilege and duty to
work for the best interest of the
schools and if in doing SO take
issue with any member in an ar
gument it cannot be construed
as an effort to disturb the peace
of our proceedings. always
speak my mind and perhaps lack
the diplomacy of trained poll
tician.
make the charge that the Sal
mon schools. at least a part of
them, under Mr.. Appleman, have
been demoralized. The students
are kept in such a state of mind
that it is impossible for them to
use their mental faculties. He
has no control over his temper
and his extreme actions keep the
children in fear of him. To sub
stantiate this | can tell you of
mothers who are always anxious
for their children lest some bod
lily harm may come TO them any
day before they return home at
night. | can tell of his dare that
the pupils bring their elders to
fight him at the school. He has
sent them such challenges. even
telling the children to bring
along their parents or elder
brothers and he would whip the
bunch. His overbearing and
threatening attitude toward the
teachers. his loss of temper and
insult TO the chairman of the
board of trustees: his branding
another member liar at meet
ing. when in reality he lied him
self; that he was the cause of
the resignation of Mrs. Emigh
from the high school faculty;
tldt ne lIitu W oiS-
credit another teacher before the
board; that he has made the
statement at different times that
he has the FIVE male members of
the board with him and on his
side and that | am powerless:
that he unjustly accused a de-
fenseless teacher who has
since been discharged; that my
children have been thus debarr-
ed from attending this school
where he has charge: that for
the good of the schools he be re-
moved.
This embodied the recital as il ap-
peared TO the press box.
Mrs. King said she recommended
Judge Casterlin to take charge till
the end of the present school year.
Miss Pueh Is Heard.
At the appointed hour IN the aft
ternoon Miss Pugh was permitted to