The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-05
A CLASS UPRISING.
Discomfort Manifested in the
COgswell School.
The Board of Education Forced to Decide
Upon Request to Replace Mr.. Heng-
stler in Ills Former Position.

Sabn when he called the board to order,
and he asked whether any member had
anything to say.
Director Harvey, Chairman of the Finance
Committee, responded at once by reading
the following:
l arise 10 announce the death OF David Stern,
late City and County Auditor. Mr. Stern has
Deen long resident OF this city and county aud
State during which time lie has gained the es-
TEEN OF his fellow-cliiZens both In private and
public life. He has been member of the School
BOARD Tor long time, during which Time he has
acted as Chairman OF the Finance Committee
therel and recently has held tile position of City
and County Auditor, h0norably TO himself and
win the approval and credit OF his fellow
citizens. had occasion OF late TO meet him on
matters concerning the welfare OF the Public
school Department and obtained from him very
valuable information, which had tendency 10
meet again on the same subject-mattcr, but
GtaIn had taken him from u.s. and his loss we
deeply depl0re.
Without any further remarks, / move, Mr.
ffesldent, that this board now adjourn out of
respect 10 his memory, and that as many mem
DetS thefeoI as can conveniently attend his iu-
neral De requested TO do so.
Superintendent SWEET added to Mr.. Har-
ney's remarks his testimonial to the worth
of Mr.. Stern and the universally high es-
TEEN in which he was held. mo man ever
left the Board of Education" said he,
one in the department than Mr.. Stern, and
no one ever proved better friend to the
teachers or to the cause of education" IL
vas privilege to him to he in position
where he could beStow this slight token Of
respect.
IN TIE SUPERINTENDENT OFFICE.
AS the board adjourned the President re-
marked that the members were requested to
meet in the Superintendent uf1ice upstairs;
rod IN
matters in executive session.
The board adjourned and all fled out. but
when the meeting convened again the rather
unusual spectacle was presented OF we'll
hlied gallery, and still more unusual, the
great majority of them ies-apparently
mothers and their daughters. 1t seemed odd
that such interest should be taken in the
consideration OF a set Of dry rules and regu-
latiOns.
8 Up in the offices of the department how
ever, the scene changed. The rooms were
crowded with what proved upon inquiry to
be the senior class of the Cogswell Mission
High School and their parents. They had
assembled, SO they appeared very willing to
explain, to support Il petition that l.. u.
Hengstler, now at the head of the language
department of that school. be permitted TO
continue in charge of their class to the
close of the term, now only about two or
three months.
The news came out that on Saturday the
Classification Committee had made a change
in the Cogswell School by putting Charles
Noble, an assistant in the High School, in
charge OF the senior class, and taking that
class entirely out of Mr.. Hengstler's charge.
PLACED UNDER DISADVANTAGE.
Mr.. Hengstler. so the pupils all testified,
had very much endeared himself to them
by unusual attention and kindness, and they
all felt that, without saying word against
the competency of Mr.. Noble, it was greatly
TO their disadvantage to be placed under an
entirely different course of discipline when
SO near the close of the school year.
The most competent teacher in the world
could not know the exact standing of large
class, and in ascertainng it be must con-
sumo month or more. Such condition OF
things could not be otherwise than disastrous.
to their class work and standing
This was what caused such a large at
tendance, and it was this petition that the
board considered in executive session. The
doors of the Superintendents Office were
closed on the members for more than an
hour before they emerged. and Chairman
Brooks of the Classification Committee In
Yited the petitioners 10 speak.
Mr.. Perkins was the first to respond He
simply stated the case as already outlined.
and asked the board to replace Mr.. Heng-
stler until the close of the present school.
a change now is just like changing physi-
elan when patient IS nearly cured, and, as
unwise and unjust thing to do.
REGARDED AS a NECESSITY.
Mr.. Brooks replied that the change had
been regarded as an urgent necessity and
was made in the belief that the best inter
ests of the school were being subserved.
The other teacher who has been placed
there, Mr.. Murphy, met with such disap-
prevail that be was Kissed by the members
of the middle class. Such conduct, he
thought, was instigated by Mr.. Hengstler,
and he regarded it as display of insubor-
dination that the board would not tolerate.
Several members of the class testified that
the senior class had nothing TO do with that
affair, and so far as aware neither did Mr..
HeDgstler. They never had known him to
manifest such disposition.
Director Hyde said it looked as if Mr..
Hengstler was going to be tried and con-
victed by the board without hearing or
representation. He did not think that just,
and would see that his rights were protected.
He therefore would act as his attorney and
ascertain what acts OF INSTRUMENTATION lie
had been guilty of.
Further remarks were heard from Charles
Swasey and Charles Ashton, both parents,
and several of the pupils, but not a word
was spoken against Mr.. Hengstler; indeed,
nothing but his highest praise was sounded.
NO GRAVE CRIME DISCOVERED.
Hyde finally said to the committee that he
could not discover any grave crime COM
mitted by Mr. Hengstler, and proposed that
the wish Of the pupils and parents be
granted.
Brooks hesitated. He declared that it had
been decided to put Mr.. Noble back in the
High School because the pupils there are
clamoring for him as loudly as those in the
Cogswell are for Hengstler. They had
made the change because they thought
mathematician was wanted III the Cogswell
School. They had given them the best one
in San Francisco.
Hyde still insisted that so simple request
be granted without any further ado, as 1t
was late and the large asSenblage anxious
to go home satisfied.
Still Brooks objected, and was sustained
by Sabln He said they would take it I'M
der consideration in committee
DO IL now, then" spoke up one of the
parents, land we'll wait"
'All right" responded Brooks, and the
committee retired again.
The pupils were in earnest about the mat
ter, declaring that they would not return 10
school on Monday if the change was not
made. They could gain nothing by putting
in two months more under a strange teacher.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT MADE.
1t took the committee another balf-hour
to decide, and finally Brooks announced
that the desired cnange would be made, and
DIR. HenSsller would be put in charge of the
senior class to-day, which announcement
was greeted with hearty 0utburst Of APP
plause.
The following pupils of the senior class,
most OF whom were present, asked for the
change without a dissenting voice:
James Fitzpatrick. Martin Flaherty, George
Cameron, james Cameron, MyrOn Hall, Alfred
Herrick. Elmer Alexander, Miss katherine Ad-
ans, Miss Evangeline Adams, Miss Belle Croali,
Miss Pauline Mccullough. John Mcdonald.
george hammerer, Arthur Jones, James CroS-
set, Theodore Durranl, Harvey Litcomb,
George R0ph, George klesser William n.
Swasey, Oliver Goodell, Miss Martha Brodersen,
Miss Ella Monlell, Miss Alice Perkins, Miss
Marion hershaw. Miss Mabel Spaulding. Miss
Belle McCuag, Miss Lillian Ashton, Miss Maud
Dnrant Miss Viva Macarthur, Miss Nellie
Sturgis, Miss Nellie Partridge. Miss Rebecca
Citron, Miss Daisy de Luy, Miss Mary Hewitt
and Miss Dele Howard
Mr.. Noble will return to-day to the Boys
High School.