Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1906 — TEACHER’S LICENSE IS REVOKED. [ARTICLE]

TEACHER’S LICENSE IS REVOKED.

'On last Saturday Bernhart N. Fendig, for several years a teacher in the Jasper county schools, son of Nathan Fendig aud owner of the B. N. {fendig shoe store in the opera house block, received thru the mail a revocation of his teachers's license, the s»me having been sent to him by County Superintendent Hamilton. ‘The prominence of the parties and the reason assigned by the Superintendent for bis action, created the utmost surprise aud instituted a contest between the principals that is not likely to end until a decision is rendered*- on ap peal to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The charge made by the Superintendent is immoral conduct in the shape of gambling, the notice of revocation stating that the action is taken upon the admission Of Mr. Fendig that he is in the habit of playing cards for money. The admission is said to have been made by the teacher to the Superintendent, "Co YrtiStee Stackhouse and to Attorney Baughman. The two gentlemen last named claim that the Superintendent is mistaken in qnoting them as stating i that Mr. Fendig ever made such an admission. They both state that Mr. Fendig had told them that he flayed catds socially, ancl 5 Mr! Feiwfig states that thro Was YiS statement to the Superintendent. Mr. Fendig wag this* year engaged by Trustee Stackhouse to teacnxhe Bowling Gfe&n [school, miles northwest ofctown, and the Trustee having consulted his attorney has b£n advised to continue him as teachernfltrr the case Ms been decfifecttfy the highest authority. No notice of a date fpr hearing was given to Mr. Fendig in tire re* vocation, which he contends is not legal form and that until this date is set he shall ignore the proceeding altogether as he hasro right to set his owif date'for a hearing. He claims the power to arbitrarily withdraw a teacher’s licenses without giving a hearing does not vest in the Superintendent, and claiming! nnocense of the charge he alleges that Mr. Hamilton has treated him With the utmost nntairness, that' the Whole circumstance is brought about by reason of his own candidacy for the office of County School Superintendent. Be further alleges that the Superintendent granted him only a two years’ license on an examination he took in Angust of this year, thereby making hfm ineligible for the office which requires of applicants a three years or state license.

He alleges that he went to Indianapolis on Sept 15th and went over his papers with the State Superintendent and was as a result given a three years’ grade, his arithmetic papers having been graded up from 83 to 100. The State Superintendent, so Fendig states, promised to forward to Mr. Hamilton Fendig’s new lating the first of the week, and that he did so bat that Mr. Hamilton withheld the three years license, and sent the revocation in its stead. Mr. Hamilton states that he has no other motive whatever in the case but the moral Welfare of the schools, aud also that he has frequently told Mr. Fendig that he must reform his habit of poker playing and that on Sept. 14th, in response to a letter ordering Fendig to answer the charge of gambling in his office, Fendig appeared aud made confession to the charge. On the strength ol this he gave Fendig until Friday night to resign, and wrote the State Superintendent requesting that the success grade of 95 awarded the teacher be reduced to 0, and that the license would be returned. The State Superintendent approved this action and stated in his reply that he had no doubt the teacher was an unfit person to teach school.

Mr. Hamilton says he has referred the entire matter to the State So perintendent and considers the hearing already given Fendig sufficient and that if the appeal is not made to the revocation within the five days right to appeal will have been and Mr. Fendig removed from the schoolState Superintendent Cotton is expected to come here immediately to look into the case. Mr. Hamilton has been County Superintendent for the past ten years and his faithful service and untiring labor in the interest of the schools has brought th.m up to their present high standard. On the otner hand Mr. Fendig. is an excellent teacher, and his conduct out of the school room and not his efficiency as a teacher is under discussion.