Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-08-02
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The Case OF PPfRctDa1 IhOm Ds<

yey, Lloyd, and Moffat-at the Franklin
bnildine, resumed the hearing OF the case of
MI LON ,a,, f. rSan 70 principal Of the
from the list Of teachers. There were quite
a number OF gentlemen present, including
parents OF the fourth district aud other citi-
zens who have known Mr.. Thorn pson during
his extended and successful career as Q
Mr.. Hovey again acted "a pro,ecutinq
attorney, and showed so much bitterness
ana animus as to elicit much remark In the
Considerable discussion first took place on
the point whether certain rules adopted by
the sub boards In 1872 in re gard TO the super
vision OF school buildings, were made ope-
board and principal of that district; Mr..
Champlin taking one side in the contro-
versy, and Mr.. Thompson and Mr.. Lloyd the
Mfr. B. r. Packard, (trustee,) was placed
upon the stand by Mr.. Hovey, and testified
that be had a conversation with Mr.. Thomp
SON about the Il tn inst. as to school matters.
1t had been brought TO his attention that
| there was q rumor that some unpleasant
| ness of a business character had Ia ken place
between Mr.. Thompson and himself. He ad-
dress(i note TO Mr.. Thompson, stating that
| such a rumor was afioat, and asked for an
expression OF bis feelings on the Inject.
About q week after Mr.. Thompson callei ON
him and made verbal denial that any such
feeling existed, and they then spoke OF the
matter now in hand, when Mr.. Thompson
made some not very complimentary remarks
as TO Mr.. Champlin. He was about TO real
the remarks from manuscript, when
MI. Lloyd objected to the witness proceed
ing, and asked If this had any bearing upou
the question of the care of property. This
was private conversation, and he could
not see what bearing IL had on the case.
Mr.. Rovey claimed that it was discount
eous after having granted Mr.. Packard the
privilege OF giving his testimony for the
committee now TO withdraw the privilege.
Mr.. Lloyd moved that Mr. PACKARD be not
allowed to relate private conversation
unless il had bearing on the question at
lssue-the care of school property.
Mr.. Mofatt asked If the evidence had a
bearing on that point.
Mr.. Hovey said 1t hid no bearing on the
point, but the committee having granted
Mr.. Packard the privilege OF giving his tes-
timony now they should heer him.
After discussion, the motion to postpone
the evidence of Mr.. Packard was aioptei.
Mr.. Randolph, the chairman, here stated
that the committee hs1 decide to visit the
buildings, and they were now ready to hear
Mr.. thompson.
Mr.. j. II. Thompson, principal OF the fourth
district school, was sworn, and after reading
from the rules as TO the duty OF the superin-
of teacher to the board, he asked the super
intendent If he had ever so reported him.
Mr.. Wilson replied that ne had never made
report as TO Mr.. Thompson for any cause
Mr.. Thompson also read from the rules the
duties OF the sub-boards as 10 reporting
teachers who may be Incompetent or un-
worthy of the positions, and asked Mr..
Lloyd If he had ever had occasion to report
him.
Mr.. Lloyd answered that he never had done
so, nor did he ever have any occasion. In
his Judgment Mr.. Thompson was success
as principal.
Mr.. ChampIin replied that he never re-
ported Mr.. Thompson, for IL would have
only made trouble, and 1t would have been
hot for all concerned.
Mr.. Thompson said that he had discharged
all his duties conscientiously, and had been
led to believe that all concerned were salts
ned with his administration of the affairs
h0 unf1lH wi "a fI,o
tendent to visit the schools he would reply
that he was satisfied that everything was
going on well. About six weeks after the re-
appointed, and for some reason he refused
70 have any intercourse with him (witness.)
de did not know what reason Champlin had
for this course, but ii left him but one trus-
tee to go TO for advice. In regard to the sps-
cifc matter under examination, the condi-
ton OF the building, he bad asked the inspec-
tiCn OF the buildings, and the committed on
property had made report thereon. That
report he endorsed except SO far as 1t init
mated that he had not been frequent In his
inspections. Before the building was COM
pleted he had objected to the location OF the
closets-12 in number-beiDg placed two
hundred feet from the building, aud from
this fact ii was exceedingly difficult TO
detect the boys in any delinquency. They
(the closeIs) became in bad condition, and |
were not sufficient for the pupils; and the
winter they froZe up, and the boys, in at |
tempting 10 turn on the water, broke them. |
III
suggestion, inspected them, and caused a |
trough to be put in. This was not a failure,
but stronger force of water is required. II |
the janitor was present more during the day |
there could be more oversight over the clo.;-
cts. The janitor hes other business-as con- |
stable and collector. He was appointed a |
Jefferson building was erected, aod also act.
ed as messenger, and when the building was |
completed he was regularly appointed the |
janitor. So far as remaining about the |
wQtch. COnll no q
other business. Mr.. Parker hal been very |
useful looking after truants, recovering lost |
Mr.. Lloyd.-From to IL and 1 to ne is |
and collector.
Mr.. Thompson continued his statement |
saying that the very report now being used |
as On indictment against him he procured.
He explained that in the Greenleaf building |
home to their meals and there being no play
ground the pupils were allowed to take their |
lunches in the halls. and dropping paper, |
called on Jackson, the janitor, in reference |
TO IL, and he (J.) had secured II and the walls
were blackened. BE had also requested the |
their dinners in the building, and monitors |
were appointed. In both the Greenleaf and |
Potomac buildings the water closets were |
inadequate. There were three seats and a |
urinal for 40 pupils at each, which was not |
sufficient. In regard to Mr.. Detrick's testl- |
mony as TO the closets he would state that he |
ALuc WltucssJ Ia CdllcU tuo dtIcutlOu Oh Dr.
Keene, OF the Board of Health, TO them, and |
he declared them In bad condition.
AS 10 the condition of the male grammar
school room he would say that q public |
meeting Of debating society was held there |
every Friday night, and for the past three or
four years on every Monday morning there
were complaints by his pupils sometimes
doZen) that their books were out of place |
and there was tobacco juice On the floor. For |
the pun pose OF ascertainiag whether this !
state OF affairs was not caused by the de- !
batting society he had suggested that they |
take:snother room, the large hall for instance,
but he was oven uled. He had observed |
on the desks the prints of heel tacks made by |
the boys standing on them to light the gas. |
He had called the attention OF Mr.. Cham
pin to the name of one OF the boys of the |
debating society written on a desk. Mr. |
Champlin replied, "YouI boys do lust as
bod" So he received no aid from him. To |
cltnch the matter as TO Parker's refusal To |
scrub the floors he called his attention TO the |
condition OF the floors In the presence of
Mr.: Champln who said, lyon had better |
look to your own school," Witness then
went in bis school and found two boys chew |
ing, one belonging to the debating society
one of the BOYS charged that tobacco fuica |