The people's voice., 1958-04-25

exist within faculty-school board rela-
tionships in Misoula by virtue of an
earlier investigation on the subject of
teacher contracts.
The Missoula County High School
Board has refused to reinstate Mr..
Watt, following the April 18th public
hearing.
The following letter reviews this
case up to the time of a public hear
ing that was held April 18th in Mis-
soula at which there were more than
500 citizens present.
It might be we'll to note the School
Board of Missoula county sat as ac-
cusor, prosecutor, and judge of Mr.
Watt in the hearings held last week,
which may have had some bearing
on the disposal they made of his
defense. The unfavorable action
from the Board still leaves many
recourses, starting with another hear
ing before the county superintendent,
who has attended and participated in
the hearings to date. Then he may
appeal to the State Superintendent,
which will exhaust his channels of
appeal within the structure of the
educational field. However he then
can go to the courts where procedures
can take him to the State Supreme
Court.
Those who are leading in the de-
fense of Mr.. Watt, were. naturally
enough shocked and dismayed over
the letters and accusations presented
against the man and took great pains
to determine the facts in the cast be-
fore proceeding with the fight in his
defense. Two of these men have said,
after exhaustive search and question
ing, they are absolutely" convinced
Mr.. Watt is fine, outstanding and
good man and without guilt as at
tributed to him in this case.
His home was approved for girls
to live in by deans of women with the
full knowledge of the school admins
tration.
Mr.. Watt, who has been divorced,
has for many years had people living
in his home with him. The far greater
proportion of them have been mar
ried couples. One girl who lived with
him while she went to school returned
after her marriage with her husband
and lived there again. Notwithstand-
ing she testified against him, con-
cerning her stay before her marriage.
At those times when girls lived in
his home he always had two, except
for one period of about six weeks
when one girl lived there and during
which time efforts were made to find
her a companion. This girl testified
in Mr.. Watts behalf and about what
a fine man he was.
The testimony that has had the
most damaging effect was in the form
of letter from girl who had ad-
been receiving psychiatric
treatment. A telegram from a Cali
fornia psychiatrist denied at least a
portion of her statement.
Because the defense for Mr.. Watt
contends he has been entirely vindi-
Gated by the April 18th hearings, it
is expected his case will continue
the channels outlined above.
National Educ&tion Association
Defense Commission
D. c.
Dear Sirs:
In the spring of 1855, "a teachers of
Missoula County High School delayed
SIGNING their contracts in an effort to
bring about adequate adjustments in
salary matters. Robert Watt was one
of these teachers. Some twenty-five of
these teachers are no longer on the
In April 1857, four teachers Gall of
whom were included in the "a men
toned above) were frozen on their
contracts. The local MEA voted in secret
ballot to support their opposition to
this discriminatory treatment, and
elected a committee of six to represent
the four teachers in hearings before
the Board. Robert Watt was one of the
MEA members elected to this defense
which group in turn elected
him to act as chairman. He was very
.ctive forceful chairman, devoting much
time and energy to the cause of his
20 workers. He and his committee made
Use of radio and press in trying to
lpprise the public of the facts about
he board faculty relationships, despite
efforts by the Board to stifle all sources
IF public information. Mr.. Watt was
invited to speak before two service
,lubs these talks were frank, honest
,ppraisals of the situation existing in