Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-09-29

sion held by the Waterville board of
education for many months. the mem
bers voted last evening to lay or the
table the resignation of Miss Margaret
Friel. teacher in the Waterville
schools for II years The major part
Of the meeting took the form of an
informal hearing at which Miss Friel,
assisted by her sister. Mrs. Elizabeth
Julien, and brother-in-law, Paul
Julien. presented her case to the board.
Following the hearing the board went
into an executive session and at Ills
announced that they had voted to lay
on tho table Miss Friels resignation.
II was the sentiment Of the board to
uphold Superintendent Of Schools w.
H. Patten and they sincerely hoped
that Miss Friei would reconsider her
resignation. The cause Of the trouble
seemed TO be that Miss Friel felt as
| she had been a successful teacher IN
the Waterville schools Cor II years
that she was entitled 20 classes in SEN
tor English in the new Junior High
| school Instead Of teaching the courses
OF middle and Junior English to which
classes she had been assigned by supt
Patten and Principal Merrill.
At the first OF the hearing the fol-
lowing letter addressed to the board by
Miss Friel> was read by Chairman F.
Harold Oubord as follows:
Is Pleasant Street.
Waterville. Maine.
Sept. .. 1923.
Mr.. T. Harold Dubord.
Chairman Of Board of Education,
Waterville, Maine.
Ny Dear Mr.. Dubord:
ON lifelong resident of Water
Vile. having given II years oe my life
- L., -ot1 II
during which time I have been free
from criticism Of parents. principals,
superintendent and school Board.
The last FIVE years I have taught
English IN the so-called Junior High
school with uniform success. Because
of my interest in the subject I have
during these five years worked dill
gently to equip myself with the neces-
sary training so that when this de-
partment could be fully organized I
would be deserving of a high place.
I have been assured by the Sup
erintendent, Mr.. Patten that he con-
sdered me competent to teach Senior
English in the Junior high school but
because of my lack of a secondary
certificate the State would not permit
me to do so.
Before l signed my contract for
tHlS year COilSulleC WI. dltSli le-
garding the subject of subjects which
l would teach. He informed me that
1 would have middle English and
when I asked him if l would have
any Senior English he stated that |
might, but the State requirements
of secondary certificate for such
work made It doubtful.
Accordingly / conferred with DR..
Thomas, State superintendent in re-
gard 20 the matter and he assured
me that in view of my successful tea
ching experience and the strong en-
dorsements from prominent eduCa-
tors 7 would be issued such certifi-
cate if | attended summer school this
year. ! did so with the result that l
have received my Junior high school
certificate.
On August -. with the certificate
in my possession. l interviewed Mr..
Patten in reference to my assignment
being confident that l would then be
given Senior English classes. When
he told me that | was to teach middle
English only, l asked him if Miss
Drummond was to have all of the
Senior English because l believed
the number would be so great that
no one teacher could satisfactorily
instruct them all. am free to confess
l fully expected | was needed for
Senior English and ] did not think
for an instant any other member of
the faculty would be placed over me
in those Senior classes. The reply
Mr.. Patten made to that question was
Miss Drummond is all scaled up"
To my surprise, Saturday afternoon
at the meeting of the faculty at the
new Junior high school l was assign
ed Middle English with two teachers
younger in years and by far in en-
perience, both of them having taught
but one year in the Waterville schools
assigned Senior English classes.
Unless the Board of Education sees
fit to rectify this grave injustice by
assigning me the Senior English
classes I herewith submit my tcsig-
nation to take effect as soon as the
board can fill the vacancy or at the
end of the fall term of school.
shall appreciate the early consd-
GRAFTON and the advice of the action
of the Board in this matter.
Respectfully yours,
MARGARET NJ. FR1EL.
Following the reading of the letter
Miss Friel took the floor and declared
that she had an ambition to be head of
a school depa rtment. and possessed the
necessary certificate. 1T does not seem
just" said she. after II years of
teaching to have classes lower than
had before"