Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-08-09
1HE SCHOOL BOARD.
The Raid Iron The Teachers,
The Ce;se OF Principal Thorn psou.

X.
pected that the cases Of Messrs Mckee,
thompson, and other teachers would be dis
posed OF, and that other important matters
would be acted on there was quite q large
ceedings. f-0
A communication was received nom the
the total cost of the obott building three
story nine room building at the intersection
ofNew York avenue, 9Th and l. streets north
west to be s25 ,711.50; filed.
Mr.. Key burn presented testimonials as to
The character Of Miss Oliphant, teacher,
which was referred. A communication was
received from the publishers OF the Eclectic
series OF Biographies and referred, as also
one from r. ID. o. Smith In relation to water
closets.
The nomination OF Kate M. Blundon, act
Ing teacher female primary, No. 8, nth
district; Milton G. Dent, assistant in male
grammar school. fifth district, made by Mr.
Mofiatt; and Sarah III. Allen, primary No. 1,
fourth district, A ma nda Whitemore, second
ary No p fourth district male by Mr.
Lloyd, were confirmed.
Mr.. Packard, from the committee on
teachers, made report in the case OF Mr..
Lugenbeel, who the committee dropped as
teacher of cO.Ored school in the county,
recommending the appointment OF j. NJ.
skipper TO the place. The report states that
the c. Dge is made solely on the ground that
cOlored teachers. when they could be had,
should he placed in charge OF cOlOred schools
Tie report was during the latter part of
the meeting adopted.
Nh. Derrick, from the committee on text
hooks, submitted a report on the course OF
studies, making no material cnange from
last year, and IL was adopted.
Mr.. Randolph, from the committee on
teachers, made report as TO the nomina-
tiOrs OF MIR. Mckee and Mr.. COpp, "that
havtI g fully considered the evidence in rela
ticD 10 the past school record of Mr.. Mckee
and the credentials presented by Mr.. Copp,
icy have determined TO recommend the
confirmation of Henry y, COpp."
Also, mat after careful cons deratiOn they
bad concluded to recommend Inc appoint
Ilent Of Miss Helen j. Day as principal OF
The female grammar school, first district,
In place of Mrs. hewitt.
Aiso, recommending the appointment of
Mrs. hewitt To the first female intermediate
school, Eugene ID. Harrington to male in
teTmediate school and Edward n. Paul as
sisiant IN the male grammar school.
THE CASE OF PRINCIPAL THOMPSON.
Mr.. RardOlph, from the committee on
teachers, su bmitted "A report in the case OF
Mr.. Thompson, as follows:
At the meeting of the board June &c, 1876,
The nomination of John +. Thompson as
supervisor & principal Of the fourth district
was referred TO the committee on teachers.
y full hearing of the case has been had,
extending through four protracted sessions
Witnesses were examined and a large mass
OF documentary evidence filed. The Oojec-
lions of Mr.. Champlin, as member OF the
sub board of the fourth district, to the reap
poiDtmeDt OF Mr.. Thompson, and which led
TO the reference of the case to this COM
mittee, were read.
The letter contains the reasons for Mr..
ChampliD's opposition TO Mr.. Thompson
The demand OF Mr. Thompson for a thor
ough investigation led the committee not TO
cOnfine the inquiry strictly to the points pre-
sented by Mr.. c. in his papers, but TO admit
all evidence offered, pro and con, affecting
MI ThOmpsOD's official and personal status.
Nor was the hearing of testimony in his
behalf closed until, in response to the Ques-
ton Of the chairman, he said that he had
nothing further 10 offer.
The committee, after due consideration OF
all The facts, have failed to reach a uuani-
nous conclusion. In the judgment OF the
majority OF tie committee the nomination
OF John Z. Thompson should not be con-
filmed, aud they so recommend.
The undersigned. constituting two OF said
majority, submit Inc following statement Of
the principal facts OF The case ana their con-
illusions u eTeiD:
Gore Of P,fJlic School Property.
The committee, after hearing the evidence
offered AS 10 the condition OF the furniture
ana appurtenances OF the maze department
OF the Jefferson building, made d personal
inspection OF the same. Inc school 1urli-
tune OF the ten boys schools in this building
was I'll new four years ago, with the eXcep-
ton Of Mr.. ThompsOn's and one other set,
both Of which, however, were put Ia good re-
pair at that time.
The present condition Of this furniture
Slows that II has had very pad usage, and
without going into details 1t may suffice to
say that its condition contrasts very IN
favoTably with that OF the furniture in the
male departments OF Seaton, Wallach and
Franklin buildings, which may be taken as
reIrst ertatiyeS of the three other school
districts of ibis city. And this comparison
is the more damaging when the relative
icf 9Th Oftime the furniture in these several
buildings has been in use IS taken into ac-
count. The undersi gnod. DpOu the close OF
iEe hearing Of the case, visited the above
hullOipLS ia order 10 assure themselves vi
tie facts by personal examination.
The conclusion which the present mutt
lo'st CO. clifton of tins furniture com pels Us
% IS that such result proves that toe
standard Of gOUo order, reatneSs and care
TeCUired by me rules NJ tuiS board, and gen
orally upheld in the other districts, has not
been properly enforced here, and that a suffi-
GENTLY vigilant supervision mas not been
maintained by the supervising principal
over the vicious and destructive habits OF
boys under his care. For the improper loca-
ton, defective construction and Inadequate
accommodations of the water closets the
principal cannot be held responsible, and
That such nuisance should be suffered TO
remain In Its present condition reflects no
credit upon the local trustees. Still, the
effects OF the indecent violence here so plain
ly apparent, and which have all been
wrought within two years, again compel the
conclusion that the principal has failed TO
properly restrain the gross imprOprieties of
boys of these schools while on or about the
premises. And from the evidence had upon
the hearing we are led TO infer that this fail
ure results more from want OF tact, plan and
mana cement than from inattention or negli-
gence.
1t appears from the evidence that Mr..
the Jefferson building Immediately upon its
occupancy, four years ago; that q copy of
printed regulations adopted by the sub
board OF that district Zone OF which regula-
tions specifically assigns TO the principal of
The male grammar school the general care
Of the butldipg) was officially delivered TO
Mr.. Thompson.
This was In pursuance OF a we'll estab-
Hshed practice in the public schools through
out the city before the creation OF the office
Of supervising principal, OF entrusting TO
q a HOY In. h.-NrI
IN IS containing a number of schools chiefly
taught by young ladies, the general care
al supervision of the property, especially
OF the out door sppurteDaI ces.
MIR. TbompsOn's TespODSi biiity for the
sen eTal care of said building dates, there
fore, from the time the school first COM
menced In IL. The fact that Mr.. T. has not
been properly sustained by a discordant sub
board during the past year, nor bad the
most efficient services OF a janftOr, should
rot change the verdict Of q Jury on the count
Of CftCttl ISSpOCsibility, but II II ight, were
there are 70 other counts, induce the Judge
10 mitigate TIE severity OF the sentence.
2.-Frit,eH ETO1HnOtjons
Tie evidence relating to the annual writ
ten examination Of Mr.. ThOmpsou's scnool
IL Jure last shows that the sealed packets
containing the questions were opened by the
principal (Or hts sony IN advance OF the time
designated on said packets in writing by
the superir teDdeGt; that the pupils cOmmu-
vi oh NJ uhf baa