Year: 1873

LAST week we mentioned the fact that the
South Haven Sentinel improved ali occasions
to make fings at the Eastern portion of this
County, for the purpose Of promoting feeling
of jealousy and enmity against one portion by
the other. In confirmation OF what we then
SAID we quote the following from its issue of
July 18th:


In this portion Of Van Buren County we
have learned to respect and honor the people
OF Allegan County Just the same as II that im
aginary dividing line was wiped from existence.
The interests OF the people OF the western por-
ton OF the two Counties are Identical and they
will some day be cemented together by circle
forming the boundaries OF a new county organ
ization. Whatever we may think OF our Ale
gan friends we must admit that things look
different to the people OF the Eastern District
of the two Counties. The County Supenntend-
ent OF Schools of Allegan made personal ex-
animation of an applicant for teaching. judged
her to be worthy of, and she received, first
grade certificate. Desiring a school in this
County she forwarded this first grade certificate
to the Van Buren, County Superintendent OF
Schools, recently assembled at Bangor and
he acting, under some inspiration. perhaps,
aside from the law in such cases made and pro-
uded, and without ever seeing the applicant at
all, but on the strength OF Prof. Llndsleys
tirst-grade certificate for Allegan issued her
third-grade certificate for Van Buren,. By this
II can easily be figured that the Eastern part
of this ranks the Eastern part of Allegan Coun-
ty three to one. Our Superintendent lives in
Porter, that lies near Kalamazoo and Cass, so
the probabilities are that he doesn't rank those
Counties 30 much. We feel confident that our
friend, Capt. Ford, Of the Michigan Teacher.
will give the van Buren, Superintendent special
notice and advise the teachers of the State who
have first-class certificates to exchange to send
them TO this County. We don't know whether
OF not the gentleman from Porter could act on
postal card without the inclosure OF the for
eign certificate. Much expense might be saved
by adopting this course"


As to the matter OF grievance therein stated,
we fail to see that the people Of this part Of
the County have any responsibility in the mat
ter whatever. 1t is SIMPLY matter with the
superintendent alone. 1t does not appear that
the holder of the certificate presented herself
for examination at all, but 1t does appear from
the statement that she sent certificate licens-
ing her as teacher IN Allegan Comfy for ex-
change for one licensing her to teach in Van
Buren County, aud in the absence Of a person
al examination the Superintendent, assuming
from what was before him that on examination
she would be entitled 10 at least third grade
certificate granted 1t on the basis of the one
furnished. 1t does not appear that the Super
intendent has not been over-reached in the ex-
change, for the AlIegan certificate can avail
him nothing. We do not see that any great
wrong has been done the teacher, as she could
have presented herself before the Superintend-
ent and received just such grade certificate as
he deemed her entitled to. But it seems that
she chose to avoid public examination in this
County beside it is not entirely clear to us
that third grade certificate in this County is
not equal to first grade certificate in Allegan.
And still more, If superintendent Lindsey of
Allegan County knew that the applicant did
not intend teaching in that County, he may have
issued such certificate as the applicant desired
without much examination.