New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-15
MR. JASPER AS PEACEMAKER.
NE INVESTIGATES THE CAUSES OF THE
REVOLT IN SCHOOL NO. 81.
r,,z, PRINCIPAL. DEFIED BY THE PUPILS AND A
TEACHER OF THE GRADUATING CLASS
TRUSTEES TO TAKE ACTION.

rrIF. \
TEACHER OF THE GRADUATING CLASS
TRUSTEES TO TAKE ACTION.
When the pupils of Grammar School No. 81. at
No $40 West Forty-fourth-st., assembled for the
,nening exercises yesterday morning, besides the
,rincjpal Martin II. Ray, and the other teach
,rs John Jasper the Superintendent of Schools,
mas present and occupied a seat upon the plat
farm Mr. Jasper appeared In the part of
reacamqker for the members of the highest class
f,rtv-one in number-whO are preparing to en-
,or the College Of the City Of NewYOrk, have
,r more than a week been in open rebellion
AGAINST Mr. Ray and from all that can be learned
II appears that DR.. William II. Nammack, their
teacher. has been the leader Of the young rebels.
The trouble arose over schoolbooks. when about
two weeks ago the class. then numbering thirty
members. was asked by the principal to return
their Reed and Keogg's Grammars.' This
seems to have been perfectly fair request as
nov, textbooks Browns Institutes of Gram
mar" had been given to them in place of the o!d
hooks The boys, however, were inclined to re-
lain both grammars. and their inclination de-
veoped into a stubborn determination when Dr.
Nammacll came II their aid. saying. Don't DO
A POLICEMAN CALLED IN.
On Thursday of last week Principal Ray caused
Me rebellion to break out into an open warfare
by bringing policeman into the classroom ana
ordering him to arrest Alexander Gloster, one OF
the boys who had persistently refused to return
his old grammar. The policeman took the culprit
10 the street where he released him, ana young
r;ioster a few minutes later walked triumphahtIy
into the classroom and took his seat, to the eNi-
dent delight of his classmates and teacher
The next day eleven boys who had just been
promoted to the college class asked 'he PIi"-
cipal for more books. such as the thirty othe'
boys had He refused to supply them' leel"s
that his authority had been so far dehed 'ha'
he must in justice to himself. refuse all re-
ruests from, the class until the existing dill
rulties had been settled The eleven boys be-
came angry at this. and sent protest 10 the
Board of Education.
One of the class went so FAR as 10 sehu ~
tba nrincipal a note which declared in the
nost positive terms that it was the wish Oh 'ne
class that he Oir Ray) keep out of their class
room.
This is the history of the trouble in brief and
,,is Il was that caused Superintendent Jasper
TO leave his office at the hall of the Board OF
Education Yesterday and 10 spend the entiie
morning at the school In the effort TO put Gown
the rebellion by UNFOLDING the authority OF 'ie
principal of the school
SUPERINTENDENT JAsPER'S ADDRESS.
After the regular opening exercises Mr. Jas
Der arose and addressed the entire school lie
told the pupils that Mr.. Ray had absolute au-
thoritv in his school. and must be obeyed i'm
plicitly. He further gave the school to uhuer-
stand that every teacher subordinate in
authority to the principal, Ind that no inter-
ference on the part of any teacher would be
tolerated under any circumstances. Mr.. Jasper
himself was the principal Of the schooi from
1865 TO 1872 and he told the pupils that ne was
thoroughly astonished that he found II na Seo
sarv for him 10 come to his Old school, where
ne had been the principal for seven years, 10
Investigate such serious charges or insupoIuilia-
ton on the part Of the pupils and teacher:
After the classes had formed sepHrateiy MT.
Jasper had a private conference WIN MI: M ~,
and DIR. Nammack in which the latter stoui Ivy
denied Mr. RAYS and the boys story 10 the
efrec; that the teacher had played prominent
part in the rebellion. II was also SAID that Dr'
Nammack had called Nh Ray eur IN 'he
presence OF the class. but there seems 10 De
little founda ton for this report according 70 yes
terdays investigation.
MIR. Jasrer then went before the class and adj
dressed the boys in the severest terms Upon
putting the question to the class he found that
all of the boys-the eleven new ones Included
had been supplied with the new grammdrs, ana
that all Of them had taken the old books to their
homes where they woul1 be safe from seizure
Mr.. Jasper ordered the boys to appear on Mon,
day morning at o'clock. each With his Ola
grammar, and to return the same to their
teacher.
A BOY ADMITS WRITING THE LETTER
He then called for the boy TO stand who had
written the offensive letter to Mr.. Ray. request
Ing him TO keep out Of the classroom. After hes
itating g. moment, bright boy. about thirteen
years old arose and acknowledged his quit.
After considerable close questioning by the
superintendent and Mr.. Ray. the boy acknoWl-
edged that h, had written the letter in school
hours at his desk and II Is significant that the
BOYS desk is in the front row ana Directly IN
front of Dr. Nammacks seat upon the platform.
Mr. Jasper told a Tribune reporter Yesterday
afternoon that the matter would be referred 10
the school trustees Of the Twenty-second Waii
who would inves,igate further and report ID the
Board of Education. He said that MI Ray MADE
a great mistake when he caused the arrest oi
Young Gloster There has been considerable
friction between DR. Nammack ana MI. Kay
Tor three years and this is only the elimination
of other less serious outbreaks
Mr. RAY has been teaching for the last tilrt!
wears and has been principal OF Grammar ochooi
No 81 for four years. DIR. Nammack asplfes 10
several positions. He is at presen mt WORKING %
secure the appointment Of assistant superb,
tendent and on several occasions has eXpresseu
his desire 10 become the Professor OF Greek IN
the College Of the City Of New-York II, las
also made known his willingness TO accept the
professorship of botany at the Normal College