Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-01-30
CHARGES AaAINsr miss KsUss.


excellent water.
CHARGES 4GAINsT MISS EHUSEs
Prominent ColOred CiIizcns Making
an investigation of the Howard
SchOOI.
The assertions made two weeks ago by
officials of the Board of Education that it
has been found necessary to go outside
OF the city in order to obtain the services
of competent colorsd teachers for the
colored schools in the city, has at length
developed INTO very serious quarrel, in
which the leading GO cred citizsns Of
| Wilmington are already involved.
| Investigations have been going on, one
result Of which is that opinion among
the ccl9red people seems TO be drifting
around the idea that Misc Kruse, prin-
cipsl OF the Howard School, is to be
blamed for the present condemnable edu-
cstienal condition existing. Its charged
that despite the establishment of the
high school courae ct the Howard School,
Mas KruHe has persistently discouraged
her pupils to complete the graduating
course here by which Wilmington would
! be enabled to furnish its colored schools
4 with co!ored teachers, and in accord with
this policy has provided them with posi-
tions down State, where the more rigid
scholastic requirements are not called
for, if indeed any OF all, In order to
qualify as teachers.
The Del1were ItDiiiqht OF last week
appeara with list of these half-gradu.
ated girls whom Mics Kruse is charged
with "disoourRging" and afterwards
"assisting" to easy positicns outside OF
the city.
As opposed to the above Miss KruHe
has at all times been held in tue highest
professional esteem by the authorities OF
the Board Of Education including Presi-
dsnt Baird and City Superintendent
Harlan. The charges are supply surpris-
ing to everyone. Yet those conducting
tbs unofficial investigation profess no
feelings of personal warfare against Miss
KruBe, stating that what has been 8scer-
tained and also the investigation itself 10
geuuin, and logical result fron the
peculiar charges against the ooored
people as instituted originally.
1t IS not definitely stated as yet whether
the accusations include charges of scho
lastic ineiiciency or merely on Miss
|, Kyuse's part IN unwillingness to aid her
pupils in graduating in the high school
course.
Miss Kruss was seen at the Howard
. School this morning by GAzETTE rep
resentRtiva. She said 'Ths members
! If the only high school class we ever
!, had, which included Mabel Colwell, Glenn
entlns and Jane Fountain, Bessie Sadlcr
and others did not take interest In their
studies. Hitherto tho grammar grade
graduates had been obtaining positions
as teachers in the city schools without
! L.. Nd thau,. firls
D probably thought they would gain the
posiii MS without studying hard under
: the new arrangements. This probably
Q unoonsciously added in their Gilatorinesu
or Discrimination for additional study,
When the high school examinations came
' IA they failed in their markings and
" fGiled badly. Then they did not come
back in the fall. l said nor did anything
7 to prevent their coming back, and wal
disappointed in their action.
Meanwhile we needed junior teacher
in the primary department II was de
cided to hold an examination for candi
/, dates for the position. The girls who hnt
0 not returned In the fall were allowed 4
enter the examination. They did no
reach 65 per cent. The highest was 81
The record can be seen in MIR. Harlan
!. office. Then we got girl who came from
Q outside She was examined by MIR. Harlsi
q and passed with All average between z
ia and "a. She was placed 0, teacher.
in The IA colored girls who have gradu
% ated here from tha grammar. department
"a and from among whom We might nafur
% ally look for candidates for teachers pos
i,ions have the following records. Fou
IA are too young according to board rule
lr 10 teach; two are ID, one is ii and one
y 16 years old. Ono OF these is telchin
N in Maryland, as her parents need tn
a pecunlary aid. One is at school in Phil
adelphia. One ia with me continuin
ir her grammar school studies as review
Of The fourth ia IN poor health, which az
IL dualtfies her from teaching. or the othe
III 10 i've are now teaching in this city, y
as the remaining five one IL teaching dow
lie state; another is disqualified for reason
he which the Board OF Education has mad
sn itself thoroughly cognizSnt of by ofiicif
ID investigation. And lastly the remainin
a. three are st their homes"
Il. OF these last Miss Kruse has endeAyore
40 TO help them as much as possible, hs
al. offsred them books, aud hRs alec ctfsTe
D. TO coach them OF her own home priyatel
al for the teachers examinations. One
TO the three is over 81 yeara of ago, wLin
fact excludes her from her public sohoo
es Miss Kruge holds Tho highest certihea
81 Of any colored EeRcher in the city, thu
an Of pormRuent certificate. She is Il
n. only holder OF anch among the colore
ra teachers in Wilmington. She is the prii
nd cipal Of the largest school in Wilmingto
he under charge of one principal. She go
mir erna 534 pupils.