Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-06-11

The evidence, he holu, was SO contra
dictory as to raise reasonable doubt
as to whether any violence whatever
had been used in maintaining the dis
cipline OF tho school. 10 my mind"
he continued, 'tan outrage has been
committed against these three teachers.
Their character has been assailed. and
falsely, too and publicly proclaimed
all over the country. They stand to-
day three as true, devoted and loyal
teachers as can bo found in any place,
care not where. And as to their
standing in this community, l defy
any person to show me when any one
of them ever made use Of such language
as made use Of by one of the parties
making these charges. insist that
these teachers have perfect right to de-
mand public apology from the party
making these charges, and shall insist
that the apology be given as much pub
licity as were tho charges, particularly
30, Mr.. Presideht, whom we consider that
one of the parties making these charges
was herself bnce school teacher, in
our public sehools, and we'll knew of
all the littlb pettyrrtriais and annoy
ances to WHICH teacher ia subjected,
and should, d,bave been the first person
to have Insisted on maintaining the
discipline Sf the school. am free 10
say, Mr.. Hesident, that ! truly believe
such an Apology will be forthcoming,
particularly so when we consider that
The part making these charges is
woman u more than the average intel
ligence hnd education, and woman
who ha9always taken an active inter
est in the government OF our public
schools.
"In tegard to the second charge as
made BY one of the parties in reference
to favbritism at No. "a School, can
only sdy that your committee positively
tleniet it. So far it has been our aim
to col tscientious.y enforce the rules of
Discipline as laid out by the board
without regard to the wealth or social
standing of any of the scholars.
"What | have said, Mr.. President,
applies not only to these three teachers,
butlto every teacher in the city, with
equal force. We have in the employ of
tho board to-day about $50 noble and
faithful women as can be found in any
community, who are devoting their time
and energy toward the cause of educa-
tibn in our midst. To my mind, a
school teacher stands side by side with
tie mother in the training of child,
ahd should at all times be supported
and sustained by the mother in their
Efforts to properly rear and educate the
youth of this city.
! Mr.. Baynard made a similar address,
lin which he said he thought tho report
of the committee did not sufficiently
vindicate the Teachers. Tho serious
nature of the charges, he contended,
not only had bad effect on tho three
teachers, but also tho teachers Of all
the schools He asked the board to
take some action that would appeal Ia
the citizens and show them exactly
bow the case stood. The trouble hat
caused disorder and insubor 1ination in
tho schools all over the city to such an
extent that it will take months to over
come it.
DIR. Shortlidge held that an apology
is due the board from those whc
brought the charges Tho report oi
| the committee did not 90 far enough.
| lie concluded his remarks by saying
that tho people demand further actor
than the more adoption of tho report.
Whom tho motion adopting the report
WAS called for, on motion of Mr.. Nor
row, an aye and nay vote was taken.
Tho result was that tho report waT
adopted unanimously, the following
members being prosent: Nessrs. Bald
win, Baynard, Botts. BfiluIy, Carter,
Coyle, Crossan, Crumbaugh, Finley
Frederick, Frick, Hartman, Huey
korsoy, Leitch, Morrow, Palmor, Pyle
Shortlidge, Turner, Ross, Mechanic
and President Baird.
After tho adoption of the report, oil
motion of DIR. Shortlidgo, it was do
cided to postpone further action on tn,
matter for two weeks.
But thoro was still another matter Il
be considered, and that was paymen
of tho attorneys who had defended tn
teachers. In bringing up this matte
Mr.. Baynard said: "Through i'll judget
parental Indignation, an action wa
taken that had it not hoon properly de
Tended would have resulted in genera
decentralization Of our whole publ
school system by aifording grounds fo
tho charge that discipline of ou
schools was for the government of chill
dren of the masses of humble citizen
and not for the children of tho favore
few." At the conclusion of his re
marks no made motion that ATTORNEY
S. Redmond Smith and Peter L
Cooper, Jr., each be allowed 800 fo
services that have been rendered an
which may be rendered in case 9
further action. The motion was unani
mously adopted.
As a parting shot for the time bein
Mr.. Morrow invited the members {
the board to visit No. "a School an
make an investigation Of its conditio
and management,
Ex-Mayor Harrington and Willar
Hall Porter were present as friends {
Judge Ball for the purpose of explain
ing his absence in Case anything shout
be said about it, but as there wa
nothing said they left after the matte
had been disposed of.
Pending final action of tho boar
Mr.. Morrow has suspended Ethel Ba
from tho school.
GENERAL BUSINESS OF THE BOARD.
DIR. Shurtlidgo indirectly charge
ono of the molnhors of the board, whoI
no did not namo, with violating til
rules Of the board by furnishing mi
work for No. IL School, hut as n
names were mentioned, no action wa
taken.
, The report of tho committee q
teachers, which was read, recommends
] the rcappointment for next year of a
of the teachers who arc serving in Ii
schools at present, excepting Misst
Jennie Morrison and Dorothy Welct
who are substituting, recommendin
! that thoy continue as long as the
, services are needed; that Maggie
Ellis be made fourth assistant
, School No 1G. instoad of first assistaI
: and that the three teachers next beo
hor each be promoted ono place; thi
, the salary OF the principal Of No.