|
14
<br />We repeatedly invited them to bring their charges before us in
<br />a proper manner, as is commonly done by all districts. They
<br />would not do so, and the Committee, of course, could do no more.
<br />They would have been liable to prosecution, had they turned
<br />a teacher aside, without specific charges against him, which
<br />they should judge a sufficient cause of removal.
<br />The Committee were distinctly charged with partiality. This
<br />we as distinctly deny, in the sense in which it is asserted. We
<br />invited the opponents to come to us, and bring their objections and
<br />complaints, and were ready to confer with them at all times.
<br />Our partiality was just this, and we are glad to have it to boast
<br />of. We sought the counsel and the assistance of those, who were
<br />willing to aid us in maintaining the order and harmony of the
<br />school. We gave them whatever advice it was in our power to
<br />do, and trust every Committee will take the same course. But,
<br />as to coveting the counsel, or seeking the assistance of those,
<br />who did not merely whisper about their discontent, but openly,
<br />and to our face, accused us of ignorance of the matter in ques-
<br />tion, and of incompetence to decide it rightly, we had too much
<br />regard for ourselves, and too great a respect for the town,
<br />who had given us the authority, and imposed upon us the duty
<br />of deciding it, to take any such course.
<br />We fervently hope that peace may be restored to this district
<br />yet, we must be permitted to say, that the welfare of no school
<br />can be secured, unless all persons are willing to submit to the au-
<br />thority of the Committee, and unless all resolutely set them-
<br />selves against any attempt to disturb the order of a school, and
<br />give the least possible countenance to the complaints of scholars.
<br />The presumption should always be, until by proper inquiry and
<br />investigation the contrary is proved, that the teacher is in the
<br />right, and even if he is afterwards found to be wrong in any-
<br />thing, no effort should be made to displace him, unless the Com-
<br />mittee deem his error sufficient cause of removal. If this course
<br />had been pursued, as it was in the case of some difficulties in
<br />the North-east district school, the session might have gone on as
<br />that did in harmony to the end. We must do some of the schol-
<br />ars the credit to say, that they evinced a willingness, as did
<br />those in the district just referred to, to return to obedience, and
<br />.:
<br />15
<br />we believe all would have done so, but for the influences that
<br />prevailed without.
<br />The school in the North-east district presented the only oth-
<br />er instance where the interference of the Committee was re-
<br />quired, on account of any difficulties. On the 15th of December
<br />last, we received notice, from the very faithful and vigilant
<br />Prudential committee, that a determination seemed to exist
<br />among the scholars, to break up the school, which was under
<br />the charge of a young lady of the highest accomplishments.
<br />We immediately visited the school, and inquired into the
<br />difficulties. The stove pipe had been knocked down, the at-
<br />tempts of some to restore it to its place had been interrupted,
<br />and other acts of disorder had occurred. After appealing to the
<br />good sense of the scholars, and assuring them that the order
<br />of the school must be maintained, we urged those who had
<br />been disorderly, to inform the Committee, in order that our
<br />action might not be embarrassed. In this, we were unsuc-
<br />cessful. We then called upon all in the school, who could con-
<br />scientiously declare that they were in no way concerned in these
<br />disturbances, to rise in their places. The whole school arose.
<br />We were informed by the teacher, that they, who had made the
<br />trouble, were undoubtedly present, and we were thus left to the
<br />only method of discovering the offenders, by requiring those,
<br />who knew who they were, to testify to that effect, assuring them
<br />that their course would be entirely honorable, that it was a duty
<br />to themselves, to the rest of the school, who were innocent, and
<br />to us, thus to aid in maintaining order. The testimony thus
<br />sought was obtained, the offenders designated, and they were
<br />then heard in regard to what was alleged against them, and
<br />questioned upon the whole matter. The Committee, being per-
<br />suaded that they had violated order, decided that they should
<br />be suspended from the school, but, that if by a specified day
<br />they were ready to confess their wrong doing, make suitable
<br />acknowledgments to the teacher, and promise obedience and a
<br />regard to order in future, they might return to their privileges,
<br />and resume their studies. We are highly gratified in being able
<br />to state, that they did so in the time specified, and that from
<br />that period the school went on with a good degree of harmony
<br />
|