The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-05-04
Secret Action On The
Pubic's Business

We have from time to time objected the procedure
of the State Board of Education when it holds socaed
tive sessions during which, official actions affecting the pub
lies interests taken without permitting representative
of the public aside from the members Of the board to be
We have always conended and still do that such
meetings not in accord with democratic principles and
smack somewhat of dictatorship
action by the school board Helena during the past two
weeks Violet Eastman, who candidate for the office
ticket last notified week before last that her
after eight of outstanding work teacher in
given Miss Eastman after unpubicized meeting of the
board which the final decision to the contract
reached While the board members discaim
that this meeting Executive meeting certainly
special meeting with notice to the public that going
to be held.
AS rumors had been going around that Miss Eastmans
contract to be renewed delegation from the Helena
Trades and Labor Assembly and from the Teachers Union
attended the meeng at WHICH unoer Ordinary routine tne
awarding of contracts to teachers for the coming would
be discussed However probably because of the of
these DELEGATIONS the matter OF contracts was not brought up
for discussion few days later this secret meeting of the
board held and the following day. Miss Eastman
notified that her contract was not renewed.
No given Miss Eastman for the action TAKEN
the superintendent and principal of the high school, have
been unable unwilling to give her for the action
One board member said to have stated that the refusal
Miss Eastmans contract was not based recon-
mendaon either the superintendent principal both of
whom have expressed themselves as satisfied with her work
Miss Eastman given hearing by the board
before took the action refuse her contract After
given by teacher she was just fired without reason
This gestapo procedure does not fit into democratic
much less into decent for public
poyee by the pubcs managing board And certainly has
place in the conduct of our educational system.
The Miss Eastman attained the stature of Estate
candidate for state office last when
than 1000 of Montana voters sgned their desire to have
the position of state superintendent be of the
for the boards action.
Floyd E. Young the chairman of the board member
Republican party and actuary for the Western Life
Insurance Company Incidentally he also tire state
payroll actuary the Teachers Retirement Board John
Carlson officer of the Union Bank and Trust Company and
follows the Republican partys lead He the who
the motion the board meeting not to extend new
contract This motion seconded by
ardent Republican and operator of the
employee the Board of Equalization and Mrs Bow
the who voted for the motion Young chair
did not, of vote The motion opposed by
S. A. Douglass plaserer and member of organized labor
and by John A. Woodard liberal educator holding position
in the office of the state superintendent
The makeup of the boards personnel leads to the
that political considerations be involved Miss East
having much strength her campaign for state
Office the ticket which the majority of the board members
opposed.
active participation in organized labor dispeasng
bg business attitude of such members of the
board Young Carlson and Larson Moreover Miss East
methods of making her instruction OF students lead
toward Independent thinking and expression would most
tany upon by these narrowmnded protagonists
of the status
action by Helena school board carries warning
of the state to take greater interest the
election of school boards Helena be
this respect than other communities in the state only
of the qualified electors bother to take
school elections but records indicate that too
few people almost everywhere the state take active
interest in them.
NAV however be safely asserted that the Helena school
board the public about this arbitrary action
it has TAKEN and will be called to account for it.