Year: 1859

made aware OF having talked foolishly
in her sleep without knowing what she
said. ! feel terribly conscious of having
had my whole intellectual being over
hauled, weighed and measured by this
astute committee without an idea when
it occurred. That we were examined
is evident For do tley not say "upon
examination &C." Will Mr.. Anderson
enlighten me on that part?


That we had no such examination on
the 31st, l am certain. Having had
some little experience in that line, in
years past, as teacher and committee.
most unhesitatingly affirm, that as far as
came under my observation on that
memorable afternoon, no examination
of qualifications" took place. either by
letter or otherwise, by which acting
Trustees could even guess at the relative
merits of the different applicants; much
less decide with such positive assurance.
They could not from aught that took
place th"re, tell whether one ofus could
even read intelligibly, parse sentence
correctly. or whether we had advanced
far enough in mathematics to be able to
repeat the Multiplication table. Not
question was asked us in arithmetic,
grammar, geography, or any ofthe high
er branches; nor was Mr.. Jennings
questioned at all upon his methods of
teaching, or government. True, they
asked me several questions as to what
text books used in school, in sort of
"beating round the bush" manner, to
get at the Bible question, which. we
soon reached, and spent the rest of the
time in discussing. But the only prac-
tical question even bearing upon our
"qualifcatior as teachers. was a SIM
pie sentence in spelling given us to write
as they pronounced. and the examina


ton closed !; and lest it might contain
some mystic signi6catiou. that escaped
my observation, by which the Commit
tee were enabled to jump thus hastily at
their remarkable conclusion. l will give
it as nearly as can recollect for the
benefit Of the community "John, trav-
cling i'll baggage wagon to save ex-
pense, ate plum pudding out of = cob
bler's BASIN This was the sum total
of the boa. ted examination of qualit-
cations" as far as was aware. Permit
me in self defense to add that the Trus-
tees decided that l was the only one
who spelled the words correctly. Now
in conclusion on this point, will simply
add ;hat have no good reason for
doubling Mr.. Jennings to be other than
lie represents himself to be-a gentle.
man of education, but they had no means
of knowing it from the examination. as
he took but little part in any thing that
was said. and left when l did. They
may have had his ipse dirit for it. but
that would hardly satisfy ordinary Trus-
tees vet Mr.. Anderson positively as
serts THAT on examination, &c." veri
ly daniel has come t" judgment"


Cd. He says they were governed in
their selection by the price. Without
following him at length OIL this point, j
will state that both before and after the
examination, if such we might call so
palpable farce, Mr. Rolfe expressed his
willingness to engage me at my price
On the Saturday foIlowing. he frankly
told me, in the presence Of others. that
his only reason for voting against me
was the Bible question. He said unhes-
itatingly that both he and Mr.. Anderson
would have voted for me, if would give
up the Bible. So much for that, let them
settle it between them As to my say
ing that would allow pupil to dictate
whether he would use the Bible or not,
he entirely mi,ul derstood me. told
him that if friend desired that their
children should not read in it, l should
of course comply with their wishes if
they persisted. but at pupils request
never, and in an experience of over ten
years, during which time, we invariably
used the bible / have never ha a dozen
examples of parents so phjrcting. And
lastly, he says that l stated that ] had
as many pupils as / could teach which if
taken TO the public school with me would
exclude the poor children. Now with
al. due Difference to Mr.. Anderson allow
me to reply that | made no snch remark,
nor did indirectly convey any such idea
that am aware OF. On the contrary, !
told him and endeavored to argue the
point with him to the best of nv abilities.
that if l had charge ofthe public school
with the aid ola good assistant. each of
MS could teach tWice as many scholars as
| now have with less trouble, as each
would have but half my present number
of classes, and it is easier to teach a
class of 10 or IL than or pupils, as you
can excites emulation in a large class,
hence it will progress faster. ] feel con-
fdant that if had charge of the school
conducted on the plan proposed it
could easily be made to meet all the
reasonable wants of the community
And l hazard nothing in saying under
their present miserable arrangements. 1t
vii! prove failure-howevercom
the teachers. The past history of the
school proves the truth of my assertion,
and its present state confirms the sad
fact. Else, why with teacher SO we'll
qualified does the public school contain
less than ! the number of scholars that
my private school with its high tuition
does2 Verify, facts are stubborn things.
And yet have not as many pupils as |
can teach to advantopa oc c,p cop