Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-03-12

From 7.30 until nearly IL last Friday
night tho teachers committee of tho
Board of Education sat investigating
tine charges made against Principal
Berlin of the High School by DIR. Crum-
baugh. Prof. Berlin and his counsel,
s. Redmond Smith, an ex-member OF
the board, were present, as we're also
DIR. Crumbaugh and his counsel, Levi
q. Bird. In addition to members Of
the board and Superintendent Harlan,
there were also many spectators in the
room. Testimony on both sides closed
and the case went to the committee.
The question as to whether DIR.
Crumbaugh could act with the COM
mittee in the event of him testifying,
which was brought up at the last pub
lie hearing, was again taken up. Mr..
Smith protested and claimed that it
would not be right to allow him to do
so. Mr.. Bird thought he had a perfect
right to do so, and the committee
finally decided to offer no protest.
Accordingly DIR. Crumbaugh was
sworn by Notary Public Monaghan,
and in reply to questions asked by Mr..
Bird stated that he was member of
the High School committee during a
part of 1894 and also in 1893, and that
previous 10 the latter year, when he
was made chairman, he visited the
school only once or twice; the other
members of the committee after he was
made chairman, were DIR. Palmer and
John II. Hartman, who have only visited
the school occasionally, usually on
special invitation from him; they have
not been there more than half dozen
times, while he has been visiting the
school on an average Of four times a
week. His personal relations with
Prof Berlin were with few exceptions,
very pleasant; witness has been treat
ing patient in Prof Berlin's family;
he had no feeling against Prof. Berlin.
The complaint had boon based on what
he had seen and heard.
As TO incompetency, the witness
stated, he had judged from the results
more than from the methods The re-
suits in examinations had not, he
thought, been up to the standard: in
the matter of methods witness did not
deem himself competent to judge eX-
jcept in the sciences. The fact that
certain amount Of laboratory work was
left out of the instruction was deemed
grave remissness. lie had spoken to
Principal Berlin about the laboratory
work, and when the question was
raised the reply was lack of time. He
had learned that tho principal was en-
gagged with recitations three periods
out of the soven constituting day,
and that the remaining four we're used
in doing the supervising and clerical
work in the school. Witness had sug-
geated pressing some of the boys
into service to assist with the labora-
tory work, as some of the other prin-
cipals had done. The cost of the out
fit in the laboratory was, to his best
knowledge, between 500 and 81, COO.
The witness believed that the curricu-
lum called for experiments to be made
in the laboratory in connection with
the study of chemistry. He knew of
no one else employed by the board to
assist with the work in the laboratory.
II was the duty of the principal.
With regard to incumpetency, the
witness stated that he had received
complaints from teachers and boys who
had attended the school, and on the
strength of those complaints and from
what he saw he made the charges.
Complaints concerning unreliability,
the witness stated, were received from
teachers and scholars also, and after
receiving those complaints he thought
it his duty to investigate. lie investi-
gated and to his bost knowledge and
belief thought the complaints were
true and they were what he was stand
ing by throughout.
The doctor was cross examined by
Mr.. Smith, and in the course of the
cross. examination he stated that he
had seldom attended recitations and
never heard whole recitation through,
neither had he been present at any Of
the examinations. lie did not deem ii
his duty TO familiariZu himself with
the metEods of instruction pursued by
Prof. Berlin. The laboratory was never
occupied by a class during his visits
to the school. He did not know how
much time the principal consumed IN
visiting the several rooms, and could
not state positively what period wal
selected for chemistry instruction. liz
acknowledged having oomplimenred the
scholars, or the principal, ON the ap'
pearance and marching of the scholars.
Upon receiving complaints from teach
ers he had sought Prof. Berlin and en-.
deavored either to verify them or have
them contradicted. Some complaints
were substantiated others were not.
The High School committee hat
drafted rules, which had been pre-
sented to Prof. Berlin in writing ant
he had never refused 10 obey. He
acknowledged having employed de
tective, but denied that the detective
was there for the purpose of shadowinl
the principal. He had employed thu
detective by the advice and with th'
consent of the president of the board
He admitted having closeted boy b,
the name Of Parks on one occasion
with the detective, but said he hat
introduced the boy TO the detective
and the examination of him was for tn
purpose of obtaining information con
corning alleged erookedness at ,th
school. Ho considered it perfectl
proper although he had not cousulte,
Prof Berlin. lie believed Mr.. Berli
was cognizant of the presence of tn
detective, as no had talked with Mr.
Berlin on one occasion about the in
vestigation.
Tho witness acknowledged that i
employing the detective that he ha
done so without the authority of tn
teachers committee, Or the board q
any regulation of the board. but he di
not know whether it was in complianc
with the requirements of the charter G
not.
Mr.. Smith asked the witness if b
had not, while a member of th
teachers committee, made q motion
appoint man named Mcgowan, a resi-