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From The Teachers' Committee

From The Teachers' Committee image
Parent Issue
Day
22
Month
May
Year
1903
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

FROM THE TEACHER' COMMITTEE

PROF. SLAUSEN THEY SAY KNEW NOTHING OF THEIR REPORT

Committee claims That Public Pressure Had Nothing to Do With Changing Their Report

Editor Argus:

Will you kindly do your share in correcting certain erroneous impressions that prevail in various quarters by publishing the following facts:

1st. The first presort of the Teachers' Committee recommended the reengagement of the entire corps of High School teachers, including Prof. Pattengill, and an increase of salaries in several instances. This report was made after a long conference in which each teacher's case was fully discussed with the Superintendent.

This report was not accepted by the board, but referred back to the committee, with the understanding that a reduction must be made in the amount asked.

The falling off in the Greek classes had been very marked for two or three years, until at the present time the beginning class in Greek had dwindled to two.

This, coupled with the fact that Prof. Pattengill was not performing all the duties of high school principal, and as we supposed, did not wish to assume them, led us to make the recommendation we did. We had no expectation that definite action would be taken by the board, until, after ascertaining the board's feeling in the matter, we should be enabled to have an interview with Prof. Pattengill, as it was well understood that the committee's powers were merely advisory.

The board did exactly as we had reason to expect they would do, after the explanation which accompanied the report had been given them.

The records show the following action as taken by the board.

"Trustee Cavanaugh moved that the recommendation of the Teachers and Text Books Committee be concurred in."

Trustee Beal offered as an amendment that the case of Prof. Pattengill be referred to the Teachers and Text Books Committee, they to have a conference with Mr. Pattengill and see if some understanding could not be reached." The amended motion prevailed.

Our meeting with Prof. Pattengill was an amicable one, and we found him perfectly willing to assume the increased duties, although we had mistakenly assumed otherwise. Our report recommending that he assume these increased responsibilities was made and signed before we had seen a single petition and was not taken because of any pressure brought to bear upon us, but because as a committee we have always desired to bio that which would commend itself to our sense of right.

From the above it will be readily seen that the whole matter could have been easily adjusted had it been allowed to follow the usual course adopted by all school boards under similar circumstances, and not been prematurely published.

The result would have been exactly the same as at present and much trouble been saved to all concerned, if the article in Friday's Argus could have been withheld, as we have no doubt it would have been if the editor had been present when the request was made to that effect.

2nd. Prof. Slauson's first intimation of the Teachers and Text Books Committee's recommendation to the board in Prof. Pattengill's case came when he listened to the reading of that report in Friday's meeting of the Board of Education.

We feel that it is due to Prof. Slauson that this statement be made public.

3rd. No change has been made in Prof. Slauson's relation to the schools.

He still remains Superintendent of Schools, and this position, here as elsewhere, gives him full charge of all the schools, the high school included.

Mr. Pattengill's position remains the same in name as before, but he now is given and assumes the full duties and responsibilities of high school principal.

ANNA B. BACH,

EMMA E. BOWER,

E. F. MILLS,

Committee on Teachers and Text Books.