Los Angeles herald., 1891-03-28
PROFESSOR HANNA.
HE MAKES A STATEMENT ABOUT
HIS COLLEGE.
The Trouble Grew From the Manual
Training school-The Teachers Struck
and Demanded Their Pay-The School
Now Doing Well.

The HERALD recently printed some
matter relative to disagreements be-
tween the teachers of Hanna college and
Prof. Hanna. In reference to the mat
ter Prof. Hanna yesterday made the fol-
lowing statement at the request of many
friends:
"The Los Angeles college was opened
September, 1886. It's growth was rapid.
In 1887 company was organized and
the building now occupied by the school
erected. Unfortunately, just before its
completion, the contractor failed, there
by causing lengthy litigation which is
still in the courts. I had put all the
money could raise into this building,
going into debt and giving my stock as
security therefor. The litigation, how
ever, destroyed the value of the stock
and left me to provide for this indebted
ness in the best way I could. / would
have had no difficulty IN caring for it
had it not been for the sudden collapse
Of the "boom" in our city. This affected
our college to very great extent, re-
ducing our attendance to number that
barely paid the running expenses.
II, however, worked away trying
every plan could to increase our num-
Der and put the school on paying
basis. At the opening of this. the third
year of this discouraging work, came
to the conclusion that, owing to the
depression of the times and to the large
and constantly increasing competition of
similar schools throughout Southern
California, it would be necessary for me
to make some change or addition to our
school in order to save it from bank
ruptcy. After some three months
decided that the thing to do was to add
to our school department of manual
training. at that time met with Pro-
fessor G. 9. Swafford, gentleman of
many years experience in this work,
gentleman who stands high in educa- i
tional circles wherever known. In look
ing over our building he found it finely
adapted for the purpose. I made most
favorable arrangements with him to
introduce the work, he taking his
chances for pay in the success of the
undertaking. The apparatus, costing
about $3.50, was provided for in great
part by friend Of the institution.
II introduced Professor Swafford to
the teachers and informed them OF the
proposed addition to our school.
Professor Swafford explained the nature
Of the manual training school to them.
He showed that it's methods were wholly
consistent with the work of the college
and adaptable to the course of young
ladies' school. The next day1 received
a written communication from them OBJ
jecting to the introduction Of this de-
>orkvr
explained to them fully my financial
sity to do something in order that the
was to help me to pay to them their
salaries. I asked their cooperation on
that ground, and on the further ground
that the starting this school was pub
lie benefacti0n. sl-.-..~
"The manual training school was
opened, classes were organized. The
work soon outgrew Professor Swafford's
ability to care for all the classes. These
teachers were not employed their full
time two especially, were, owing to
changes not necessary to mention, teach
ing only half time. Iasked one of these
to take two classes from the manual
training department, on the same sub
jects that she was teaching in the morn
ing, she having nothing to do in the
afternoon. She refused to do 80. OF
course, asked her resignation / could
not pay her for full work and hire an
other teacher besides.
"That same day l was informed by
the lady principal that if insisted on
this teachers taking these classes they
would all resign. did insist, and next
day, in the middle of the afternoon,
they deserted the school, leaving the
students in the class rooms and school
halls, with no one in charge. was
asked to 60 into the reception room by
found there two gentlemen whom they
called in for witnesses. In moment
the teachers came in and in the presence
of the witnesses demanded their money,
on the receipt of which they would
hand in their designations. 1t was
thoroughly organized strike taking me
on two points where they thought was
the weakest, my inability to pay them
and my supposed inability to run the
school without them.
''I took charge of the school, the
teachers leaving the building. They
afterwards came back and insisted on
retaining their old places, but expressed
no willingness in any way to withdraw
their opposition to my request, i. e.,
that some of their spare time should be
devoted to teaching classes in the
manual training department. Had they
done so, Ishould have been glad to have
settled all difficulties.
"On Monday morning opened the
school with new corps of teachers of
known ability, and our school is doing
as good work as ever today.
''Four of the faculty, of course not
including Professor Swafford, were most
thoroughly opposed to the action of the
other seven, and have upheld my ac-
tions in the whole matter, though some
are as heavy losers as any of the seven.
II had not at any time asked the
resignation of the teachers; on the con-
trary, it was the last thing I desired.
When the lady principal threatened me
with the resignation of the seven teach
ers, should insist on one of their num-
ber taking a manual training class,
did say that if that was their feeling, it
would be better for them to resign.
II make these statements simply be-
cause the article that has gone abroad
is wholly misleading 1t is duty l
owe to the college for which l have
given the devoted labors of the last six
years."