Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-03-05

w Tue bUNFu III tiuuthtiOn-ftInesSD
Questioned by Levi q. Bird, the Counsel
for the Complainant.
The teachers commi ttee of the Board
Of Education Thursday resumed the
investigation Of alleged misconduct at
the High School In addition to the
members of the committee there wero
present Principal Berlin, Sunerintend.
emit Harlan, Dir. Crumbaugb. Notary
Monaghan, DIR. Shortlidge, l.. ii.
Morrow, M. ID. Crossan. DR.. james III.
Morgan, Christian Frederick and DR..
Swithip Chandler. DIR. Crumbaugh
appeared as complainant, and not as a
member of the committee.
The first move was made by DIR.
( Crumbaugh, who asked permission TO
Introduce counsel, which was
granted when the doctor assured
the members that the attorney had
been employed at his personal expense.
Levi @. Bird was brought in, but when
he made HIS appearance there was
difference Of opinion as to whether it
would be tho best thing to do to admit
counsel and Mr. Bird Withdrew. Mr..
Colye then made motion that the
hearing proceed without counsel. The
motion was lost and Mr. Bird was
again brought into the room, after
which Chairman Pyle read an outline
OF the charges, which wore to tho effect
that an assault had been committed at
the school on a young girl by boy,
the names of both being unknown to the
committee. Mr.. Pyle stated to tho
other members that unless the little
girl be brought forward there would,
in his opinion. be no case, but il the
members should be convinced that A,
III. Berlin il incompetent to govern the
school they must say SO by their YER
dict
The charges against Mr.. Berlin,
which had been made by DR.. Crum-
baugh, wore read. They were as fol
lows: Unreliability and incompetency
as instructor, as disciplinarian, as
organizer, as executive.
Eugene N. Marks, a young man who
attended the school until last june
was brought into the room and sworn
by Notary Monaghan. He stated that
on one occasion he was promoted with
out passing the necessary examination
Tho information was in the form of
replies to questions asked by Mr.. Bird
Miss Hare, teacher, was scheduled
as the next witness, but DIR. Crum-
haugh stated that the women-there
being several of hem-positively re.
fused to testify for publication, but
Mr. Pyle used his persuasive powers
and Miss Hare consented to come into
the room and testify. She was ques-
toned by Mr. Bird. She said she
thought Mr.. Berlin changed his mind
very often, which made it rather un-
pleasant for the other teachers. He
had not treated her as well as he might
have done. She refused to answer
the question as to his reliability. She
said she had heard the scholars laugh
about his actions. Mr.. Berlin cross
questioned the witness He asked for
definite Information concerning his for.
getfulness. She cited case, which
occurred Thursday, when there was a
Misunderstanding over sending bov
home, an Infectious disease having
broken out at his home. There was
Va cross fire between Mr.. Berlin and the
witness, Mr.. Berlin denying that he
had erred in the instance cited.
The next witness was Miss Craig,
another teacher at the school. She
said that she had heard that Mr. Berlin
had criticised some of her conduct. He
had, she understood, accused her of
being dilatory in making out pro
gramme. She accused him of talking
to other teachers about the matter
which he denisd. She said she thought
however, that he had tried to do his
duty.
John Neary, who formerly attended
the school, told of matters relating
to work in the laboratory and CON
sidered Mr.. Berlin incompetent. He
thought Latin was not taught at the
school AS it should have been.
David Mcintyre, another young man,
corroborated Neary IN the main, adding
that Prof. Berlin's way of teaching
algebra was unsatisfactory, in his
opinion.
Miss Pyle. High School teacher
thought that Mr. Berlin was not reli
able and did not properly support the
teachers in maintaining order. She
did not believe in his method of dis.
cipline.
Arthur Potion, drawing instructor at
the school, considered Mr.. Berlin un.
reliable and stated that his methods
were unsatisfactory. At the conclusion
of the examination of Mr.. Pelton the
meeting adjourned until Friday even
ing,
Investigation continued Friday. Be
sides the members of the committee,
therewere present several other members
Of the board, Superintendent Harlan,
Notary Monaghan. Levi g. Bird,
Dr. Crumbaugh's counsel; DR..
james II. Morgan, an ex-member Of
the board; DIR. Swithin Chandler,
and several spectators.
The first witness called was Mrs
Lafayette Marks, whose son, Eugene
NJ, had testified on Thursday night.
Mrs. Marks stated that she thought
her son had not been treated justly by
Prof. Berlin.
John Whitehead, an instructor in
the manual training department, cou
sidered Prof. Berlin unreliable in the
matter OF sending classes to their
rooms.
Victor Butcher, who graduated IL
1891, stated that he did not find the
principal reliable while he attended
the school, as ON one or two occasions
Prof. Berlin would start something
and drop III; he would undertake some
thing and not finish it. Mr.. Berlin's
experiments in chemistry were not,
he thought, as thorough as they
might have been.
Harry Muhlhauseu, who graduated
last year, stated that in some cases
Mr.. Berlin's instructions were not
satisfactory. Experiments were moi
made in chemistry as often as the
witness thought WAS necessary. He
believed that Mr.. Berlin would occas
,ionally forget TO carry out mattera thai