Montana labor news., 1945-07-05
(From the Peoples Voice.

(From the Peoples Voice.
The school board of Helena school dis
trict No. /, has refused TO renew the
contract of Violet Eastman who has been
a teacher on the Helena high school
staff for the past seven years No rea-
son for their refusal to re-employ Miss
Eastman have been given by the board.
The superintendent and principal of the
high school have offered no criticism OF
Miss Eastman's work as a teacher, and
members of the board have admitted
that their action was not taken on rec
ommendation of either of the heads Of
the teaching staff of the high school.
AS has been stated before, the tax
payers of the Helena school district, with
the possible exception Of few intlmaJes
of some Of the leaders in the school
board, know nothing about the reasons
for the actions of the majority Of the
board. The fact that Miss Eastman has
been an active member Of the Teachers
union local in the high school, has been
suggested as a possible reason for the
boards action, on the assumption that
a majority of the board do not favor
examinations of labor. Another plausible
reason for the action is suggested as be-
ing the fact that Miss Eastman was
strong candidate last year, on the Demo-
cratic ticket for the office of state super
intendent of public instruction, polling
over 10000 votes, and majority OF the
members of the school board are known
to be reactionary and ardent supporters
of the Republican party. Failure by the
board to make public any other possible
reasons, the people are justified in as
suming that these must be the influences
back of the boards action.
The Helena labor organizations re-
tanned Attorney Lester Loble who filed
an action for a declaratory judgment
against the school board requiring them
to re-employ Miss Eastman or establish
in the court sufficient reasons for their
failure to do so. The board countered
with a reply that Miss Eastman had
been discharged but again failed -tO-state
any reason for its action.
Admit Efficiency of Miss Eastman
In its answer, the board not only gives
no reason for failing to renew Miss East
mans contract but admits her compe-
tence as teacher in the following state
ment:
e. there is at the present time
a great demand for competent and
qualified teachers in the schools of
many cities and towns throughout
the state of Montana and in the
United States and that the plain
tiff CNliss Eastman) can secure en-
plovment elsewhere upon request at
remuneration equal to or greater
than that she has heretofore received
from the defendant (Helena) school
district !"
Having admitted the above In their
answer. the assumption that their action
was prompted by prejudices on the part
of members of the board and not by
consideration of the public's interest Is
completely justified
Records Altered
Mr.. Lobe, in an answer to the ooaIo'
charges that the minutes of a meeting
held by the board on April 18th have
been altered to make the arbitrary action
taken by the board appear as taken after
omen consideration in a meeting of which
the public had been apprised so that
interested citizens might attend
The Helena labor organizations having
heard rumors of prejudice on the part OF
members Of the board, had delegation
present at the meeting of the board on
April 10, when renewal contracts for
some high school teachers, including
Miss Eastman, were scheduled to be dis
cussed.
During this meeting, according to MI.
I,obles answer to the school board ana
statements of the labor delegation pres
ent. a motion made, seconded and car
ried without dissenting vote that a spe-
cial meeting be called for the purpose
of discussing the high school, but it now
appears that the record Of this motion
has been expunged from the minutes OF
the meeting and it was formally ad-
iolrned without any action on high
school matters.
In the answer to the school board
charges that "at the special meeting
filed by Mr.. Lobe, Miss Eastman
of April "a, 1915, there was no dis
cussion of the junior high school,
that any alleged meeting of six
members of the board after adjourn
ment was outside the scope Of the
meeting and not an official act Of
the board and no such action ap-
peared in said minutes thereof, but
that the records have been so altered
and changed as to recite the alleged
meeting of said six members of the
board. after adjournment, and that
the minutes of said board have been
so changed and altered as to attempt
to make it appear that said special
meeting was called for the purpose
of considering the contract of plain
tiff herein. whereas in truth and
fact said meeting was not called for
said purposes and further alleges
that no meeting Of the board Of
trustees was held on the third sat
urday Of April, l945, as required by
law.
A CowardIy Act
Alterations of records Of meetings by
g public body made subsequent TO q
meeting. and made for the purpose OF