The Washington bee., 1889-08-17
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE ARBITRARY ACTION OF THE
SCHOOL BOARD CONDEMNED-THE
METROPOLITAN CHURCH CROWDED
THE COMMISSIONERS REQUESTED |
TO ACT.
The handsome edifce, the Metro
politan Church, was crowded on last |
Tuesday evening with a class of the
best and most influential citizens of
this city. The occasion was meet
ing called to protest against the
action Of the school trustees in ap-
pointing teachers to positions in
preference to the Normal school
graduates and contrary to the legal
opinion of Attorney Riddle and the
order of the District Commissioners.
Mr.. W. A. Stewart called the meet
ing to order and requested the call
to be read by Mr.. Clark. After
which, on motion of w. Calvin
Chase, Col. M. M. Holland was
elected chairman, and on motion of
James Myers, Mr.. Clark was elect
ed secretary. Mr.. Stewart than
moved for the appointment of
committee on resolutions, which
was carried, and the chair appoint
ed the following committee w. A.
Stewart, w. Calvin Chase, Thomas
II. Clark, Garter A. Stewart, Sr.,
and James Myers. The committee
retired, and, after some discussion,
the following preambles and resolu-
tion were reported:
"Whereas, In order to produce a healthy
administration OF the affairs OF our public
schools, it is necessary that the men selected
to fill the office nf trustees should have an
intelligent understanding of the laws relating
to educational matters in this District and
wholesome respect for the same.
Aud, whereas, the present board of trustees
in the management of our schools have evil
denced that they neither have an intelligent
understanding of the laws nor q wholesome
respect for the same.
And whereas in order to protect our schools
and furnish our children the Invaluable bene-
fits that would accrue to them by reason Of an
intelligent and conscientious supervision of
the schools and a rigid enforcement of the
wholesome laws clothing them and wise
priations made for their development and
growth, we believe it absolutely necessary to
make a radical change In the personnel of the
present school board: Therefore be 1t
Resolved, That we earnestly urge upon the
District commissioners the necessity for re.
organization OF the school board and the Sc
lection in place of the incumbentS of men who
have an intelligent comprehension of the
school laws and the need of the schools and
who Will exercise patriotic and unseltish
enforcement of the same; that We give our un
n "a
commissioners respecting the preference that
| should be given normal graduates; that the
ignoring of this order by trustees is sufficient
reason of itself for the reconstruction of the
board.
t'Tnat committee OF seven be appointed by
this meeting, of which the chairman of the
meeting shall be one, to wait on the commits
sioners and express 10 them the voice OF the
people in mass meeting assembled in relation
to this all important subject of the education
of our children"
Mr.. j. W. Cromwell was the first
speaker, and said that he favored
the adoption of the resolution with
the exception of the word, "misap.
propriated the funds" After dis
cussing the subject at length, he
finally agreed to withdraw his OBJ
lection, after the matter had been
fully explained to him. Mr.. Chase
thought the report should be adopt,
ed. That the history of the colOred
school trustees for the last twelve
years, with few exceptions had
a dark history, so dark was that
history that it would
make this audience blush to
relate the circumstances.
1t has been asked, said he, wheth-
er there is anything else connected
with the history of the present
board of school trustees other than
the disregard of the order of the
commissioners and the opinion of
the Attorney. Not long ago, said
he, one OF our normal school grad
yates was dropped without judge
or jury, and simply because she was
SO unfortunate as not to have poll
tical or other influence to keep
her in position. 1t was no doubt on
account of her mother being wash
er woman. Is this all? No!
At this junction Mr.. w. q. Smith
rose to point of order, to the at
feet that the speaker was indulging
in personalities by naming those
normal school graduates or teachers
who had been dismissed without
cause. Mr.. Chase in reply said that
the question had been asked by Mr..
Cromwell and that he wanted to
show by facts that the colored trus-
tees had been guilty of other acts
as gross as the one under discus.
sion. The question is, did the col
ored trustees disregard the laws, if
so, they have defed the commits.
sioners and should be removed.
Mr.. w. r. Laws made a most
eloquent speech which elected the
widest applause and enthuslam.
He said: don't want any dis
elimination against teachers whose
mothers have worked in the wash.
tub to support them while studying
and whose fathers have pushed
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