May I trouble you to ascertain whether there is any vacancy in the schools at Elgin, to which I would have any prospect of an appointment? You will confer a great favor upon me if you will ask the superintendent, and let me know soon what he says. You can say to him that after I finished the high school course at Racine, I taught a term in a district school in Racine County, Wis., and was one year in charge of a primary department at Woodstock, and that I had charge of the grammar department at the latter place last year.
You know something of the work I have done, and I can furnish testimonials from the school officers where I have taught.
Yours very truly,
Emma C. Bowen.
If a favorable answer is received, something like the following form may be used, which is also a form suitable to make application where one is already acquainted, and where formal applications are expected.
Chicago, Ill., Jan. 10, 1899.
I desire to obtain a position in the schools of your city. I enclose a letter from Mr. Henry Jones, a director of Woodstock, where I last taught; and I refer you to Mrs. Mary Smith, of Elgin. I prefer the intermediate work, but would not object to any position that I may be able to fill.
I completed the course in the Racine High School, and have taught a little more than two years, first in a country school, then in a primary school a year at Woodstock, where I afterward had charge of the grammar room for a year.
Please inform me when and by whom candidates are examined, as well as what vacancies there are, and be kind enough to make any suggestions that you think will be helpful to me.
Very respectfully,
(Miss) Emma C. Bowen.
