National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-03-10
THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE CRITICISED.
Resignation and Promotion Of Teachers.
The Committee on III-VentIIAtcd
Rooms Report - They Think So
TO0-NsW - stem OF Drawing TO
be observation-disclosures OF
General Business.

The Board Of Public School Trustees held Q
regular meeting last night at the Franklin
school building. Present, Messrs. Curtis, Dyer,
Brooks, Hoyey, johnson, Lloyd, French, Brooke,
Moffatt, DERRICK, Ferguson, J. S. Brown, Champ
lin, Hart, Smith, Ryder, Packard, and Superin-
tendents Wilson and Cook.
The following communication was received
from r. W. Bates and F. A. Springman:
THE M'KEE-sPRIRGER TROUBLE.
To the Board Of Trustees of Public Schools, Wash
fngton and Gsorgetoto1a, d. C.:
to the report OF your committee appointed to in
Vestigate the charges against R. NJ. Mckee,
district.
The committee say they "fnd from the testimony
that the conversation alleged by Mrs. Springer to
substantially correct I" that up to the time the
suspension notice of Eddie Bates was handed
to her nothing had occurred to cause any misun-
Outstanding between the parties. Mrs. Springer,
labOring under the impression that pupil could
be withdrawn from school at any time, was
prompted to make sharp reply to Mr.. McKee's
circumstances Whereupon an acrimonious COLO
guy ensued, which, in the judgment Of your COM
cerDed, eliminating in Mr.. McKee's saying,
You will please leave the ROOM In q manner
which was disCOurteOus to Mrs: Springer. The
some allowance made for Mr.. McKee's manner,
seeing that he was interrupted during the hours
devoted exclusively to hearing recitations, and
that public notice was cOnsplcuousIy posted on
the bulletin bo1rd in the passage giving the
hours devoted to receiving complaints"
There are three statements Ia the extract
quoted directly at variance with the testimony
given before the committee. The first is that
MRS Springer was prompted to make sharp
reply" sc. The committee do not state what the
sharp reply was, but by reference to the eommu-
nieation presented to the board 1t will be seen
that, in reply to Mr.. McKee's remarks, "With.
draw him IRON schOol2 She can do no such thing!"
Mrs. Springer said: ~ only asked for inforuls-
tion." In response 10 this, Mr.. Mckee said
well, you got It, didn't your Then came
have had in their minds as the "sharp reply,h
~ ask courtesy, sir" The second statement is,
mat Sn b 10 S S1SGGg sngsd which was
The boys who testified before the committee
were closely questioned In regard to the lady,s
fed that she seemed to be very much embsf.
fassedi few thought she manifested excitement,
but not one Of them stated that she said anything
pbifVrn testimony was that she was perfectly
iady.llke during the whole time. Il e exceed.
ibEly difficult 70 comprehend how the committee
SR AsT Ss fsS's Ssd. F' Is x Ss s sh s
third statement 4, that public notice was con.
pfIlaEs sitihE the hours devoted % resolving
eempfAiHts," During the investigation paper
was examined ard made the suhleet Of
eeEsIpERABLE COMMENT,
which vas declared 70 be Q copy Of certain rulsg
adopted hE the suPeflhteHdehts OF the several
ssfhs Tsssss .esshsr VI; VIII 's sthsf nsssF
IN which they we're Interested, TheqgssleH was
sssSd Lars these rules Rssssd anywhere about
know what they afef" The answer was given By
member OF the committee, Mr., French, hthsy
are boII they are only for the guidance OF tsAsa'
hut the report makes two admissions, which
have aA awkward appearance, and VIII claim
fhs COMMITTEES Ind teacher, WhiIs on duty in
his school, guilty Of disIespeet 70 Q LADY, then
declare him sTsusISls i9T y esssu;S q they
room at that time, They add 10 the insult and
rebuke the lady for calling at the school room,
ss e % s %
board that had the lady seen and examined the
rules, which Mr.. French said were not posted
been justified IN proceeding 70 the school.room
and making her request for the reason that the
object q her VISIT was not 70 make complaint
and hat Of her brother. She mentioned no other
subject but the subject Of her eIrand. She said
aiIude 70 II. The only references she Intended to
make tot (and that was 0 very remote one) was to
state that her mother had requested her 70 say
that nsne lMrs: Hates) would withdraw Eddie
But this she had forgotten. She had shown no
books and hat Mr.. Mckee directed the sTspspsIOS
notice Of her brother TO be handed 10 her. This
recalled to her mind her mothers request, which
Zig uhuO huOWut h5 CONTAMINATION.
The pretended interruption OF which Mr.. Mckee
complained, and for which the committee think
some allowance should be made, was caused by
this, an act Of his own entirely foreign TO the OBJ
ject Of Mrs. Springer's visit. His excuse there
fore, becomes part Of his offence; for he not only
insuited the lAdy, but provided cause for doing
so. This seems TO have been an afterthought and
pretext and It Is singular that the committee
should have overlooked fact 50 prominent in
ssss 70 1ns %s had
We do not presume that your board intend, by
It's treatment Of this case to say that lady
reasonable request without being met by the
teacher with an order to 'lesve the room, II you
please d" and when the facts arc reported to you,
the insulted parties shall be rebuked for not
calmly submitting TO the indignity, and charged,
indirectly, with giving undue publicity to the cir
The public have right to demand that its ser.
wants shall behave with becoming courtesy to
those who necessarily have business with them.
Ladies at least should not be subjected to insult
with impunlty by public school teachers. and
then rebuked for complaining Of It.
Very respectfully, r. W. BATES,
WASHINGTON, March 9, 1876.
Mr.. Hart moved that the report be accepted
and forwarded to the District Commissioners
The monthly reports of teachers were received
Mr.. Lloyd, from the committee on music, made
report, which was placed on hle.
Applications for positions as teachers were re-
ceiyed from A. Isabel Milford and Miss Emma
RESIGNATION AND PROMOTION.
Mr.. French presented the resignation of Miss
Lizzie A. Scott, to take effect March /.
He also nominated Miss Emma s. Lawrence az
acting teacher o: Primary school, No. /, Third
March !. Confirmed.
Mr.. johnson submitted applications for posi-.
Cartwright, Lena E swan, Matilda A. WSeelsr :
Elizabeth Morton, Anna j. Evans, NJ. A. Lou
don, Hattie E, Stewart and E. z. Thomas. Re.
feTred TO superintendent.
Mr.. Champlin, from the committee on accounts,
submitted several bills, which were approved.
EXAMINATION AND PRIZES.
Mr.. French, from the committee on examina.
tlOn and prizes, to whom was referred request
duct the examinations Of the county schools dur.
ing the month Of April, reported Q resolution
granting such authority, which was adopted.
RENTED soHoo1+Roons.
Mr.. Lloyd, from the committee 70 which was re.
isffed The order Of the District Commissioners Of
ssSSS pSfpsls :abtsd sSs Si isSbE Ei'n' ''r
Your e9fnmltfes, TO which wasrsfeffed the tssS.
ss 81 BsS SYi s Sa s - tss ss ~
Columbia, has hAd The same thdef consideration,
and respectfully submit the following tepefIl
body sll l6s pisnlsss rented fsT ishSei purposes
sdspIEllsa Ihd saFteahdlhEs d sisk Tented room
iepfslehIlhE ihe ,lsh6el aIIIIlal 10 whleh iIs6
Feb# on bHlldiBg 10 leeated, which accounts are
| hefeHHte annexed, and % which attention ID re-
EBeetfHjly invited II Will be seen thai there are
eight basement fbeEHg tented, principally In
churches, net eHe OF which ls Pfefided With cay
| means Of ventilation other thaA doors aHd wiz
deVeI HlaBy are peeFiy lighted, and Rll are mere
OF less DAMP ID some OF them chs daHPHal5 on
the walls ID Visible 70 the eye II Il aRehleHsble
NhsLhsI .sheslllE sbtSlRsd 81 sIpsRss % health
NaSlA, no iulflslsnt on suitable aesommed atoms
e. % Pilylss o. water closets aTe provided 70
have been usually constructed 81 lie public 81
| Psnlel nor ere lhe grounds on Whieh these out,
houses are located feauFely ineioSed, TO sIeiuds
eutHdeIs from thslT unauthorized use and de-
| faeement,
Again, these rented rooms not having been
constructed substantally, and being old, are con
stAnty getting out OF repair, requiring large an
| nuel 0Itlay 70 make them habitahie and not IN.
ffeguently the schools are dismissed for several
days In the midst Of the school year while these
| Indispensable repairs are being made, Hence II
will be leen that In order 10 adapt rented rooms,
not built expressly for school purposes, the public
authorities Rre compelled 70 expend large sums
| ofmoney In the adoption Of the rooms TO the use
required, the building Of suitable outhouSeG and
/ fencing and In keeping the premises In repair.
When this 10 done they are ill.ntLed and unsuita.
bic for school puTposei without means OF yontlla-
tion and injuflous 10 the health or teschar0 and
pupilB-mlSorable apologies for schoolrooms.
n will be observed that the annual rent now
being paid for school-roomg 10 nearly els, 900,
AaA a 49, ..-NN.- a.