Notice from Pinellas County School Superintendent to striking teacher Hope G. Schneider concerning her resignation, 1968

Strikes and lockouts--Teachers

Teachers--Salaries, pensions, etc.

Education--Finance

Teachers' unions--Florida

Teachers' unions--Officials and employees

Labor unions--Political activity

Employees--Resignation

Collective bargaining

This correspondence contains a letter from Pinellas Co. School Supt Thomas Southard to striking teacher Hope G. Schneider about her decision to resign. Includes impassioned response from Schneider about why she stands by her decision to strike.

Pinellas County School Board (Pinellas County, Fla.)

Schneider, Hope G.

State Archives of Florida, Series S303

1968-02-21

Florida. Department of Education (1969-1974 : Christian)

letters (correspondence)

eng-US

Text

s303_b010_f17_07

Postwar Florida (1945-1968)

Pinellas County (Fla.)

/fmp/selected_documents/thumbnails/s303_b010_f17_07.jpg

s303_b010_f17_07_01

s303_b010_f17_07_02

Education And Libraries

Pinellas County School Board (Pinellas County, Fla.)

Florida. Department of Education (1969-1974 : Christian)

Florida Education Association.

Southard, Thomas B.

Schneider, Hope G.

Christian, Floyd T., 1914-1998.

Constans, Phil Jr.

Cekau, Fred

Howie, James

Kirk, Claude R. (Claude Roy), Jr., 1926-2011

copy MEMORANDUM February 21, 1968 FROM: Thomas B. Southard, Superintendent Having checked the roll at your school, I find that you were absent from your teaching position last Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Further investigation showed that your absence was not the result of illness nor had you indicated other acceptable reason for the non-attendance. This fact, in conjunction with the actions of the Florida Education Association and the Pinellas County Teachers Association, has led me to the logical conclusion that you have resigned your position as a teacher with the Pinellas County Board of Public Instruction, through my office has yet received no official notification of your resignation. I am sure that you are aware of the results of the resignation - the loss of salary, the ultimate cessation of insurance benefits and interruption of retirement planning, the forfeiture of continuing contract status - and I mention them now so that you may plan for the future for I shall today, February 21, recommend to the Board of Public Instruction that your resignation be accepted as of Monday, February 19 unless a specific communication in writing is received by your principal or by my office before 10:00 a.m. on Monday, February 26.

2199 Academy Drive Clearwater, Florida 33516 February 25, 1968 Thomas B. Southard, Supt. Pinellas County Board of Instruction 1960 E. Druid Road Clearwater, Florida Dear Dr. Southard: This is not an apology nor a retraction for my action as described in the first paragraph of your memorandum dated February 21, 1968 but rather a letter of appreciation for your second paragraph in which you expressed your concern regarding the future welfare of every individual teacher in Pinellas County with whom my action coincided. Loss of salary, the ultimate cessation of insurance benefits and interruption of retirement planning, the forfeiture of continuing contract status are the least I can give so that all children throughout the entire State of Florida may have quality education and better schools beginning as of NOW. My actions were the climax of long, sincere, prayerful consideration and at all times never deviating from being deeply aware of the results of my decision. Sincerely, [Signature] Hope G. Schneider Copies to: Phil Constans, Ex. Sec. F.E.A. Fred Cekau, Pres. P.C.T.A. James Howie, Principal, Oldsmar School Floyd Christian, St. Supt. of Schools Gov. Claude kirk hgs