National Republican., 1876-08-10
TEE HovEY FACTION VICTORIOUS.
John z. Thompson Not Confirmed
of Alexander T Stewart


School Trustees was held last evening for the
discussion of the report concerning the pSin-
cipalsbip of the Fourth district. Present,
Trustees Brown, Brooks, (secretary,3 Champ
lin, Curtis, (pres!dent,) DERRICK, Dyer, French,
Kovey, johnson, Lloyd, Mitchell, Mofratt,
| Packard, Randolph, Ryder and ReyburD.
Mr.. Packard presented the following; which
| was adopted:
ReSOlued, That the teachers eff the public
schools of the District of Columbia be, and
they are hereby, requested to meet the trustees,
superintendents and principals on Saturday,
| the ID Of September, as followe: The teachers
| of white schools of Georgetown at the Curtis
building, at $50 q. m; the teachers of the
county schools at the Franklin building, at
10 a.. m; the teachers of the white
schools of Washington; First district at the
Franklin building at II a. m; Second district
at the Seaton building at IL m; Third district
at the Wallach building at 80 p. m; FeRrth
district at the Jefferson building at p. m;
the teachers Of the colored schools of Wash
ington and Georgetown at the Sumner build
ing at p. IN.
And the secretary is hereby instructed to
give public notice in the newspapers on the
22d and'23d instant to that effect, and that
the rule adopted by the board for the opening
of the pubic schools last year shall be con-
formed to fer the present year.
DR.. Detrick offered a resolution that the
committee on property be instructed to pro-
cure furniture and provide suitable room for
the advanced Female Grammar school.
Adopted.
Mr.. Reyburn offered resolution that the
committee on property, with the concurrence
of the Commissioners, procure furniture for
three school rooms in the First district, Zone
Primary AMI two Secondary Referred to the
committee on property
THE TuOsPsoy CASE
The board then proceeded to consider the
pending report.
Trustee Hovey opened the discussion. Speak
ing of statement made by himself before the
committee to the effect that Mr.. John E.
Thompson, accompanied by ex-Trustee Nc
Clellsnd, had visited a newspaper office for the
purpose of having dispatch sent off regard
ing his own case, he (Mr. IL said that he
would take that back, as he had learned since
upon inquiring that Mr.. T. had visited the
office and talked of his own case, and offered
to return the next evening with Mr.. McClel-
land.
Mr.. Hovey took the opportunity also of
speaking of attacks on members Of the board
in the Star, holding Mr.. c. S. Noyes response
BILE for them, as the writer, and control over
the board, that he claimed that gentleman
(Mr. Noyes) assumed. He didn't know what
food their Crsar had fed upon, that he had
grown so great. Mr.. Hovey referred to a set
of examination questions, which were prepared
by himself, and had printed and reprinted as a
rejection upon himself. He read the ques-
tions to show that they were legitimate and
proper. The speaker contin ned at length with
his personal explanation, reading and answer
ing articles, and asserting that articles had
been written by ex-trustee Geo. F. McClelland.
Objection was made to his proceeding
further, and he desisted.
The regular consideration of the report un-
der the motion of Mr.. Ryder, to adopt the re-
suit, was then taken up. Mr. Lloyd obtained
the floor, and the rules were suspended to allow
him what time be required to speak In favor of
the adoption of the minority report
Mr.. Lloyd, after speaking of the animus that
had been exhibited in opposition to Mr.. j. E.
Thompson, claimed that under the rules of the
board Mr.. Thompson, supervising principal,
was simply the assistant of Superintendent j.
o. Wilson. Mr.. Wilson had never spoken to
Mr.. Thompson in regard to bad management,
as it would have been his duty to do in case
Mr.. Thompson was in fault. He considered
that the teachers under Mr.. Thompson, all of
whom had asked for his retention, were the
hest judges Of his qualifications, and all ad- |
mitted his ability as a teacher.
He claimed that, owing to the locality of the |
water-closetS and the frequent absence of the !
janitcr, it was impossible to place any Obs.ruc-
tion to damage by vicious boys, as Mr.. ThQH6>
sons duties would not permit him t9>keep a
personal watch upon the wsteTciosets. The
report of the committee or property last ye
in regard to the Erelshed condition of the
water closetswas inspired by Mr. Thompson,
Wh@&iesired that proper accommodations might
Re provided. Mr.. Lloyd spoke of the disagree
ment that had existed between Mr.. Champlin
and MIR. Thompson for almost two years.
Mr.. Champlin objected to this, as no dis
agreement had existed between himself AMI
MIR. Thompson for that length of time, and he
did not wish Statpmpnts made rfliDsr
himself that were not true.
Mr.. LLOYD wished Mr.. Champlin to state If |
he accused him (Mr. L!oyd) of stating things |
urt.ue. He attributed the condition of the
b'sckhoards to the interference of Mr.. Champ
lin two years ago, when he prevented Mr. |
Plowman from repairing the bIackboards. He |
argued that the report of the committee on |
property and the statements of others showed |
that Mr.. Thompson had been very careful of |
the school furniture. Mr.. Thompson's deci- |
sions in cases Of discipline had never been ap- |
pealcd from by parents Of pupils. Mr.. Lloyd |
read a statement from Mr.. E. II. Thompson |
regarding the written examinations. The |
statement explained the course taken in hav-
ing each teacher mark their own papers by |
stating that Mrs. Martin had disagreed with
his marking in a certain case, and at her re- |
guest il had been agreed to allow each teacher
to mark his or her own papers. l. explained
the high average obtained in the Male Gram
mar school by stating that that school had to
answer only the eighth-gra3e questions.
MIR. Lloyd then proceeded. He argued in
regard to the tobacco spittle that all the evi-
denCe in that connection went 20 show that
tobacco chewing was interdicted in the school.
One boy said he had seen Mr.. T. take quid
OF tobacco from his mouth, but no one said |
that they had ever seen him put tobacco in
his mouth. The fact testified to that one of |
the witnesses had seen the boys have boxes
in their desks to spit il showed conclusiyely |
that tobacco chewing was not allowed in the
school, and that the tobacco chewers adroitly |
tried to escape Mr.. T.'s notice. He read, in
this connection the affidavit of ex-Trustee
Stevenson, relating an interview with Mr..
Nolan, member OF the Jefferson debating
society, wherein he, (Nr. Nolan) stated that
the members OF the society we're in the habit
OF chewing tobacco and splitting on the floor.
In refuting the testimony to the effect that
Mr.. I. had called pupils GLARS" he called at
tention to the statement signed by thirty of
Mr. Thompsons pupils to the effect that they
had never heard him Mr.. 7. use such Ian
guage. He read from the minority report the
sections regarding the testimony concerning |
Mr. Ihompson's personal habits, and held
that Mr.. L. had never been reproYed or spoken
to in any manner concerning his habits during
the twenty-seyen years that he has taught in
the city. He read a statement from the Off
GERS of Mr.. Thompson's building association
to the effect chat Mr.. T.'s duties as secretary
of the association had never intruded upon his
school duties, and that he Mr.. T. had ever
refused to transact business connected with
the associations during school hours. Mr..
Lloyd read the letters from ten gentlemen out
OF nineteen, who had signed a petition circu-
lated BY Messrs. Cowie and At Lee, asking for
Mr.. Ihompson's removal, and who afterwards |
wished their nam:s Withdrawn from the petit
tion on the ground that they had signed it uu-
der misapprehension.
He claimed that ouly seven names besides
those of the two originators were left on the
petition as resist Of three days hunt. Mr..
Lloyd read the letter from ex-Trustee Hol-
mead, testifying to Mr.. It's high qualifca-
tions as teacher. In conclusion he asked
Mr.. Thompson's reappointment, as the desire
OF the great majority of the residents of his
district. He had taught there for twenty
seven years, and If he was not a proper man
they would have long since found him out.
Out of the thousands only seven had asked for
his removal. He considered that it was for
the best interest of the public schools that Mr..
Thompson should be confirmed.
MINORITY REPORT REJECTED.