The sun., 1896-02-05
MR.. RIDENOUR DISMISSED
M a I0T6 OF - TO - OF fHH
BROOKJYN BOARD OF led UUA TION.

-
strong Protest Aesisst the Reerd's Ae-
ticn, and Threatens 60 Take Turshey
Legal Proceedings to Secure Restoration.
Tho Brooklyn Board OF Education considered
again yesterday the scandal involving PRINCIPAL
William Il. Ridenour OF Public School No. - In
Even street, and by vote Of - to 10 ordered
his dismissal. The decision Justice 0ayror Of
the Supreme Court handed down last week de-
nying the application Of Mr.. Ridenour for aa
Injunction to prevent his dismissal withou4
public trial on the ground that he wes war
veteran. cleared the way for the opponents Of Nhe
accused principal in the Board TO take prcmpt
action. Justice aaynor hold that the Board q
Education was State institution, and oonse.
qucntly that Mr.. Ridenour could not claim shs.
protection of tho Veterans law.
The trouble in Public School No. ~ has bsss
pending since last summer. Just before ths
vacation charges seriously rejecting on the
conduct OF Principal Ridenour toward soms
teachers and pupils were submitted to the local
committee Of the school, and he was suspended
pending an investigation. In September there
was n private investigation before tho Teacherne
Committee. and by a unanimous vote of that
body the charges were pronounced unfounded,
and Mr.. Ridenour resumed his place at tho head
of the school.
The report OF the Teachers COMMITTEES was
not approved by the Board. and the scandal was
TeNNcu. All Whb Huuo u IOrCo mn
Ridenour to resign, and 1t was asserted that hs
had actually written out his resignation, but
was induced to suppress 1t on the advice Of his
friends In the Board. The next step was the
application Of Mr. Ridenour for the Injunction.
1t was fully understood that an effort would
be made to dismiss Mr.. Ridenour at the first
opportunity, and when tho members of the
Board assembled yesterday at tho regular
monthly meeting each was served with notice
and a
war veteran, under chapter 7l6 OF the Laws Of
lss4. to a public trial inssmToh as his moral
up on the motion Of H. w. Maxwell to have the
whoie minute in the case of MIR. Ridenour re-
President swnnstrom at once eurrendere the
gayel and. taxing the floor. made sharp ar.
Ridenour, for impugning the integrity Of the
courts While not directly outlining the charges
against Mr.. Ridenour. he indicated them by
lit is desirable to encourage pupils in thei,
studies. but no principal should do 30 by hug
in S se
schools; Ws must Sc @ that hands are kept OF
Of the school is kept as pure and untainted ~
washing action OF the Teachers Committee that
the charges 1t was called upon to investigate
Principal Ridenour.
Mr.. Bouck. the former President OF tho Board,
spoke in defence Of Mr. Ridenour. in whose Der.
feet innocence he declared his belief. 1t is clean
he said, that the ideas on which the charges
were based had beon put into tho heads Of the
between the friends and opponents of Mr..
RIdenour followed, the former contending that
as matter Of fair play. he should have o trial
The discussion was abruptly stopped By Mr.
Max Brill. who moved the previous question,
and then offered resolution calling for tho i'm.
mediate dismissal OF Mr.. Rldenour. Tho resolu.
tion was adopted by vote of "a to 12. -Four OF
the five women members Of the Board we're
present, and three of theni Mrs. Pettingill, Miss
Perry and Miss Pettngill. voted In the afhrna-
said that. while she did not feel that MI. Ride:
nour was innocent, she did not think he should
he dismissed without trial. which, In her opdn.
on. should be a private one.
Some OF the twelve Nom bers who voted In
the negative explained that they did not wish 70
threatened by voting for summary dismissal,
and others desired it to be understood that theiS
votes should not be interpreted as indicating
their belief in either Mr. Ridenour's guilt or In
| nocence.
Lawyer Mirabeau L. Towns. on Learning 6k
| the action of the Board, declared that grosq
| injustice had been done to Mr.. Ridenour, and
| that an appeal would be at once taken from
Justice Gaynor's decision and injunction pro.
ceedings instituted to restore him to his place.
"is public trial, and we will finally secure II
Mr.. Ridenour is n man OF unblemished char
founded"
Mr.. Ridenour has been q teacher for twenty
hve years. and for the past nine years has a Hes9 @
been the principal OF a school In WestchestA1
county before he went to Brooklyn.