National Republican., 1876-08-09
MIR. M'KEE NOT CONFIRMED
The Thompson Fight Not Settled
COMMITTEE DIVIDED IN his CASE
OTHER CHANGES AMONG THE TEACHERS

The regular monthly meeting OF the school
board was held at the Franklin School build
ing last evening. There was a 1ullooard pres
ent.
A number of applications and communica-
tions were received. 4 communication from
Auditor Vinson stated that the total cost of
the Abbott School building was $25, III so.
The nominations of Kate NJ. Blundon, acting
teacher Female Primary, No. S, Fifth district;
Milton C. Dent, assistant in Male Grammar
school, Fifth district; Sarah H Allen, Primary,
No. l, Fourth district; Amanda Whitemore,
Secondary, No. 2, Fourth district, were con-
frmed.
TIE COUNTY DIFFICULTY.
Trustee Packard, from the committee on
teachers of the county schools, submitted a re-
port in the case of f. Lugenbeel, who COM
planned of having been removed for personal
motives. The report sustained the nomination
of j. NJ. Shipper in the place of Lugenbeel,
and denied in detail the charge brought against
the sub board by the latter. The report was
laid over for discussion.
Trustee Detrick from the committee on
textbooks, submitted lengthy course of study
for the ensuing year, being substantially the
same as that of last year. The report was
adopted.
THE TEACHERSHIPS.
Trustee Randolph, from the committee on
teachers, submitted report in relation to con-
tested tcacEerships, as follows: The committee
as to the nominations of Henry n. Copp and
K. NJ. Mckee, OF the First district, report tha:
having fully considered the evidence in rela-
tion TO the past school record of Mr.. Mckee
and the credentials presented by Mr.. CopD,
they have determined to recommend the CON
hrmatiOn of Henry \. COpD.
In the case of Mrs. hewitt report that after
careful consideration they recommend the
nomination of Miss Helen j. Day as principal
of the Female Grammar school of the First
district.
The committee in the case of the nomina-
tion of Mrs. hewitt, of the first Female Inter
mediate, of Eugene d. Harrington, and of Ed
ward A. Paul as assistant Male Grammar rec
CmmcHd their confirmation.
The committee further reported as follows:
THE THOMPSON CASE.
AUGUST S, 1915.
the nomination of John E. Thompson as super
yising principal Of the Fourth district was re-
teTred TO the committee on teachers.
A full toariDg of the case has been had, ex-
tending through four Trotracted sessions of
the committee, during which twenty eight wit
nesscs were examined and a large mass OF
documentary evidence filed. The objections
of the Fourth district, to the reappOintment of
Mr.. Thompson, and which led TO the reference
of the case to this committee, were read.
The letter contains the reasons for Mr..
Champlins opposition to Mr.. Thompson
The demand of Mr.. Thompson for a thor
Ough investigation led the committee not TO
confne the inquiry strictly to the points pre-
fented by Mr.. c. in his papers, but to admit
all evidence offered, pro and con, affecting Mr..
Thompson's official and personal status. Nor
was the hearing of testimony in his behalf
closed until, in response to the question of the
chairman, he said that he had nothing further
to offer.
The committee, after due consideration of
all the facts, have failed to reach unanimous
conclusion. In the judgment of the majority
of the committee the nomination of John Z.
Thompson should not be confirmed, and they
go recommended.
The undersigned, constituting two of said
majority, submit the following statement of
the principal facts of the case and their con-
clusioDs therein
l. CARE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL PROPERTY.
The coT Tmittee, after hearing the evidence
offered as 10 the con iilion OF ths furniture and
appurenances Of the male department of the
Jefferson building, made personal inspection
of the same. The school furniture of the ten
boys schools in this building was all new four
years ago, with the exception of Mr.. Thomp-
sons ard one other set, both of which, how
ever, were put in good repair at that zine.
The present condition OF this furniture shows |
that i Las had very bad usage, and ;-iihhout |
going into details il may suffice to say that its
condition contrasts very unfavorably with that |
OF tie furniture in the male departments of |
SeatOn, Waliach and Franklin buildings, which |
may tie taken as representatives of the three.
other school districts of this city. Aud this |
ccT~~arison is the more daDsgruS when the |
relative Icccth Of time the furniture in these |
several buildings has been in use is taken into |
account. The undersigned, upon the close of |
the hearing Of the case, visited the above build
irgs in order to assure themselves Of tie f4ctS |
by a personal examination. |
The conclusion which the present INITIATED |
condition of this furniture conpels US to is that
such a result proves thai The standard of good |
order, neatnesf and care required by the rules |
OF this tolIl, and generally upheld in the |
other distric's. has not been properly enforced |
here, and that 4 sufficiently yiSilant supervision
has not been maintained by the supervising |
principal over he vicious and destructive hab- |
its of boys under his care. For the improper |
location defective construction AMI iral.yIziv !
Recommendations Of the water-closets the prin- |
cipal cannot be held responsible, and that such ]
a nuisance should be suffered to remain In its |
present condition rejects no credit upon the |
local trustees. Still, the effects of Indecent |
violence here go plainly apparent, and which |
have all been wrought within two years, again |
compel the conclusion that the principal has |
failed to properly restrain the gross imprOpre- |
ties of boys of these schools while on or about |
the premises. And from the evidence had upon |
the hearing are led TO infer that this failure
results more from want OF tact, plan and man
agement than from inattention or negligence.
Il appears from the evidence that Mr.. |
Thompson was placed i'll general charge of the
Jefferson building Immediately upon its occu-
pancy, four years ago; that copy of printed |
regulations adopted by the sub-board of that |
district Gone Of which regulations specifically |
assigns to the principal Of the Male Grammar
school the general care of the building) was
officially delivered to Mr.. Thompson.
This was in pursuance of a well-established
practice in the public schools throughout the
city before the creation of the office of super
vising principal, of entrusting to the sole or
principal male teacher in buildings containing
a number of schools, chiefly taught by young
ladies, the general care and supervision of
the property, especially of the outdoor appur-
tenaDces.
Mr.. Thompson's responsibility for the gene
raj care OF said building dates, therefore, from
the time the school first commenced In it. the
fact that Mr.. 7. has not been properly sus-
tained by discordant sub-board during the
past year, nor had the most efficient services
of a janitor, should not change the verdict of
jury on the count of official responsibility;
but it might, were there are no other counts,
induce the judge to mitigate the severity ofthe
sentence.
2. WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS.
Tie evidence relating to the annual written
examination of Mr.. ThOmpson's school in June
last shows that the sealed packets containing
the questions were opened by the principal Cor
his SOM III advance OF the time designated on
said packets in writing by the superintendent;
that the pupils communicated with each other
while the examination was in progress;
that the method of revising the
work by an exchange of papers
by the teachers Of the Male and Fe-
male Grammar schools, as directed by the su-
perintendent,w was changed during the progress
Of The examination without authority from
the sUperin, n,endent. This change was sug-
gested by Mrs Martin, OF the Female Gram
mar school, because she thought Mr. z.
Thompson, the assistant, was not satisfied
with her marking: that by too liberal mark
ing the average percentage Of Mr.. Thompsou's
school was raised at least ten per cent on his