The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1923-06-23

See america F1rBt ne Iulnki
that they should roam around II
Rome and other European places
like the very fortunate Miss Barnes
whom Mr.. Bentley looks upon al
Fine material for principal q
eoupls OF years hence"
Thanks to Mr.. Bentleyis cantank
.erous ways, he recently lost q verg
cempetent and popular principal
Perhaps her popularity and years
OF Service were O mark against her
a. they have been in the cases 'od
other teachers who were subject te
Supt. Bentley's wilkins, obsessioni
and tenlper.
Miss Alice M. Hegdahl finished
her normal school training and be.
gan her practical work in teaching
at Grand Rapids, Mimi, in 1912
Ten years ago, she secured pos
ition in the Duluth schools. She
first taught under Miss Belle Cal
verify, principal at the Jefferson
school, who has just retired after
Al years service in the Duluth
schools. -
Miss Hegdahl was very success
sful at the Jefferson school and she
often assisted Miss Ca1ver1y in her
arduous work as principal. Miss
Hegdahl's work WIS SO excellent,
in fact, that she finally was trans
ferred to the Congdon Park school
and given the prfncipalship. She
was very successful and popular
with both pupils and parents In
that sector OF educational endeavor.
II SO happened that a prominent
Duluth family perfected plans to
make an automobile trip to. the
Pacific Coast, visiting Yellowstone
Park and other famous scenic points
ON the way. It was trip Of great
educational yaiue to q teacher and
one not often available to even a
principal. It happened, however,
that the friends who invited Miss
Hegdahl were compelled to start
something like three weeks before
the closing Of the schools, hence
she must secure either leave Of
absence and relief from duty or
lose the opportunity to make the
trip.
Going to Supt. Bentley and ask
ing q years leave of absence for
the purpose OF travel and study.
she was received in Q manner that
was fairly insulting. He roundly
abused her for asking to be re-
LEVIED belize the schools had closed.
He roughly told her that she was
lucky TO have a Job at all and that
she evidently did not appreciate
what the school board had done for
her.
tssYou are making q poor Choice
OF q trip, the autocratic and chol-
erie superintendent gratuitously
inf med her. ST you were making
trip to Europe, You might learn
something and be proffted by It..
Despite Miss Hegdahl,s ten long
years of steady, faithful and able
service In the schools, Supt. Bent
lev refused her request. AS a result,
Miss Hegdahl resigned and went
on the trip, anyway, an Opportunity
of q lifetime for a public school
teacher.
Position, Influence and pull seem
to go a long way with Supt. Bent
ley. Last year, Miss Gertrude Barn
es, daughter Of Madam director
Barnes, of Duluth and New York,
finished a course Of study in some
fashionable and expensive 1nsn-
tuition in the effete East. Evidently
wishing to follow in the footsteps
of mama, when she was young. and
aunt Gertrude Carey, also, Miss
Barnes sought and was given q
position in the Franklin school In
luluth, thereby adding to the many
cases of nepotism of which SO many
public officials in Duluth have been
guilty from time immemoriad.
Miss Barnes experimental with
the children OF the plain, common
people and she practieed all sorts
OF educational stunts with ITEM,
The principal dared not say a word,
for that would have meant trouble
with Supt. Bentley and MRS. Barnes,
II not with aunt Gertrude Carey
and papa Julius. Not only was Miss
Barnes given a roomful OF children
with which to perform girlish edu-
cational. stunts. bnt she was con-
xeyed to her daily duties in Q lin,
CUISINE, driven by faithful James,,
the family chauffeur.
It came to pass last January that
Mr.. Julius III. Barnes found 1t nee
essary to visit Rome and other
European points on a serious COM
mercial mission, very vital to the
honor and prestige OF the United
States and even the distinguished
dollar-a-year man, himself. He de-
cided to have Madam director Barn
es, OF Duluth and New York, ac>
company him, and then came the,
idea to take along Miss Gertrude.
To DO that, it became necessary to
ask for q leave OF absence in the
middle of the year and nearly in
the middle of a semester. There was
not the slightest trouble In getting
q leave of absence for that novice
in educational work. Neither did
Supt. Bentley baWl like q bull OF
Bashan when the matter was put
up to him. He was sde-e-e-e-elighted
to recommend the granting of the
request. The school beard passed
the matter without comment or dis
senting vote. Even that hateful mi
nority OF three lacked the courage
to object. il there really was any
objection.
Miss Hegdalll, upon the other
hand after a brilliant and faithful