Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-06-20
ME-. BIRNEY EXPLAINS.
The Trustee Of the Second Division
Gives His Views ON school Affairs.

4
! HIS DIFFERENCES WITH SUPERVISING PRIN-
| CIPAL GAGE-wHAT HE SAYS ABOUT THE
"BLACK LIsT''-wHY HE WILL DROP SIX
| TEACHERS &C.
| To STAR reporter who saw Mr.. Birney,
trustee of the second school division, yester-
day. Mr. Birney gave the following interview:
| R--Have you seen the newspaper. articles
about "the Birney-Gage fight"
| B.-fes. l saw the one in the Post Of the
| 18th, while was travelling, and those of the
| Republican and THE STAR after I got home.
They all abound in statements which, to put it
mildly, are not accurate.
| R--Whose statements do you mean? Mr..
| Cages.
| b don't think Mr.. Gage has made any
! statements l could object to. / learn from the
editor of the Post that Mr.. Gage refused to be
interviewed and called on him to ask that
| no publication should be made on the subject.
1t IS other parties who have deep interest at
stake In driving me from the board and who
succeeded in doing SO two years ago. In the
newspaper articles they are concealed under
the convenient phrase sit is stated" not one of
them putting his name to the rumors gathered
up for publication. Mr. Cages personal friends
have too readily adopted these rumors.
lste''
B.-That made by my enemies not by
me. began to hear of it soon after Mr. viii
sons resignation about the time Gen Charles
T.. Hovey was laying the foundation, as he sup
posed, OF an eN-trustee school board, to ma mage
school affairs and bring back to office the ex-
superintendent. The runor was started among
TIE teachers In my division that was about to
make sweeping removals. 1t soon took the
shape OF summary removals of all teachers of
s ,ore t naS bWeITe years standing Its next
niack list of teachers to be decapitated; and
the number on the list was variously stated at
II, Is, 30, 20 and 46. Some of the best teachers
division hpt
among the doomed; and l have reason to
believe that some of them were much disturbed
slons. adopted different methods writing
notes to some teachers, speaking to others, and
assuring others, through the principals of build
rags, OF the falsity of the reports. Towards the
close OF the school year, thought | had effect
lively disposed of .'the black list" devised to
prejudice the teachers against me. Now its
ghost turns up in the newspaper paragraphs
under lit is stated" enlisted against me 1or the
war.
E.-Did you ever make out or exhibit to apy
one "a black list for removals?
B.-Never. A trustee has no power to ''re-
move Il teacher. He may suspend one. sus-
pended nobody. 1t WIS not necessary, it being
better, IN my opinion, for the schools not to
OF the year
Rid you ever exhibit to any one list of
persons you intended not TO renominate for the
B.-No. The only fact out of which such a
statement could grow, is that. last Monday
morning, MIR. Gage was notified by me, in
Writing, tnit nVe certifcated and one acting
teacher would not be put in nomination for
next year; and ! gave him their names. was
expecting 10 he absent in Pennsylvania sew
eral days and thought it only considerable to
inform the parties interes ted, SO that they
might have time to make other arrange
R-Why did you not notify Mr.. Gage at an
earlier datec
b had not made out my nominations be-
fore. 1t Is customary for each trustee to hand
in his nominations in time Ior the last meeting
In June, anu Mr.. LovejOy, chairman of the
mi ffkaas
be sent To each trustee, asking that the nomi-
nations should be sent in before the 23d in
compliance with this request i made out my
nominations, and notified Mr.. Gage at once of
the names omitted.
IBID you omit more or fewer persons than
you had intended? 1t is stated that your list of
persons to be dropped had been large, and you
reduced it.
B-The truth is just the contrary. had in
tended to omit flee only; did omit ssr. The
one who was not a professional teacher had
made a brave effort during the lew months of
her service to Keep good school, displaying
intelligence and determination. For special
reasons sympathized deeply with her. 1t was
painful to me To omit her nomination: but, after
thought and consultation with judicious per
sons intelligent in school matters, acted as l
thought duty req uired.
R-Why did you drop any?
b-Becaiise the first duty Of q trustee is to
The schools, to the children and their parents.
to make good schools by choosing com petent
teachers anu by refusing to rencminate those
VINO are incompetent from any cause. He is
not CHOSEN 10 pension worthy teachers who are
worn out \ trustee who renominates every
body ruins the schools, but has an easy time of
1t; he is popular. i trustee who has the pluck
to refuse to renominate the ncompetent has
Tray, Blanch and Sweetheart swapping at
his heels; but he makes good schools. The
sons claim that an automatic machine
might be invented to drop the incompetent and
keeP m the the competent But 1t has not been in
vented; Tor some time to come human tudg-
ment must be relied on. The civil service act
protects no one from removal ambassadors
members of the cabinet ana chiefs of divisions
may be recalled or dismissed: preachers NAV
be dismissed bv their congregations and law
yers by their clients. Teachers more secure
ord Is made up by supervising principals super
intendents, trustees, parents and the pub
r he Instead OF abusing the power to
refuse denomination, trustees have gone
to the extreme of indulgence. 1 know
OF no place in system of graded
schools in which an incompetent teacher does
not do incaculable harm. 1t takes years Of
good subsequent teaching to straighten out the
Kinks ana snaris she has made in one year. l
am not ambitious to remain a trustee: but so
long as L do L want it distinctly understood
that every competent teacher shall have my
support against any and all influences, but that
the incompetent will do well to seek employ
ment elsewhere. In every shall be care
fui 20 do no injustice. The five dropped have
had 1O9 years aggregate of school service, or
an average OF nearly twenty-five years; and
L have considered their cases, in the light of
records, inspection and reputation Tor three
years. In dropping them incur serious enmi-
ties. | regret this, but can do no other BY
dropping some good teachers for the benefit Of
Applicants. l might have made influential
friends; but To me good teacher, with or with
out friends, is sacred.
ibid Mr.. Gage oppose the dropping of the
names or refuse to bear the onus of It?
Bile uld nothing of the kind. The fact Is,
the supervising principal has nothing 10 do
with the onusi and l never thought OF asking
MIN 10 bear what was my burden. He proba-
oily notified the parties. All the talk about this
Ohus Is, presume, tor Buncone, or to '.whoop
up the public by dramatic situation.
R-DId u fight grow out OF this between
you ana Mr Gage ON ali points in school man.
a9emcnt?
B.-No. saw Mr. Gage Monday and haven't
seen seen nm since There has been no possibility
OF dissension between US on that subject
Nv ell. what are the relations between you
and Mr. Gageo
Bin al our personal intercourse we have
potD, believe, acted Us gentlemen, entertain
ing respect Tor each other. Mr. Gage is schol-
army man oi culture and good address. esteem
Inn hlghiy as Il supervising principal. In his
choice OF teachers 10 ill vacancies before | be-
came trustee lie exhibited excellent Judgment
In his inspections OF schools believe him to
be Impartial and Judicious. There Is no man
Ill the corps would prefer to him as superyIs-
ing principal II IL We're not for one thing.
NV hat Is that?
B.-He Was, and presume il, a warm friend
OF The late superintendent. ii the friends OF Mr.
wilson were not working ior his reappointmcnt
getting up deinonstGa; ionS for him ut normal
eoIhencements. testimonials newspaper arti-
should not reckon Mir. Cages attachment as q
matter 10 interfere at ali with my relation to
him. But IL Il hoped by the Wilson party to
piucA MS reinstatement and the removal of Mr.
fo~ell, me new superintendent out of the COM
Jig political changes in the District Now I
mot tn h.a ~,