The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-05
Why a Teacher in the
AlViSO School Lost
His Position.
Politics Stepped In to Defeat
the Expressed Will of
...> the People.
Tardy Action Taken by the County
Board of Education to ght
Wrong.
Special Dispatch to THE CALL

Special Dispatch to THE CALI.
SAN JOSE, Dec. NO more pernicious |
result OF the gang rule" in Santa Clara !
County can be imagined than is exempli- /
fed in what has come to be known as the |
SuzZalo case which has been under con-
sideration of the County Board of Educa- |
ton for three months past, ana in which
an informal decision was reached to-day.
a. h. SuZBalo, former teacher at Alviso,
was charged with unpro essional conduct
by Miles Hollister one of the school trus-
tees. At its session to-day the board,
while taking no formal action, informed
.Suzzalo that the three members present
had come 20 the conclusion that the
charges were not sustained, and that his
certificate would not be revoked.
Is generally admitted by the friends
OF Suzzale that if THE CALL had not been
engaged in the crusade against the
hoodIers and corruptionists of this county,
Suzzalo would have been made victim
to the vengeance of the "gang" for hav-
ing AIRED to assert his rights as a free Cit
izen of the United States.
incidentally this affair, which created
general revolt a Alviso, shows how thor
ougn is the organization of the gang"
and how this octopus of corruption has a
tentacIe encircling every public depart
mcnt. Last December Suzzslo incurred
the enmity of the Rea ring by nominal
ing H. 6. SQuier Tor president of the
Normal School Alumni Association.
SquIer is persona non grata, owing to his
persistent opposition to the gangsters.
He is now principal in one of the public
schools in the county.
SuZzalo at this time was in charge of the
public school at Alviso.- His term expired
st the end OF last July. Previous 10 the
nominating incident Trustee Hollister,
who is also Postmaster at Alviso, had
promised SuZzalo the school for another
year. Instead, however, Fred Bishop was
elected 10 take charge of the school. This
was Iookei upon as a direct blow at SUI
u 10 for political reasons The people
took up the battle in his behalf ana pre-
sented a. petition for his reten ton, and,
though three-fOurths OF the parents of the
school children in AlYiso had their names
attached to this document, it was ignored
Shortly afterWard the people, in their
inclination over the INJUSTICE that had
been done the former educator of their
children, organized a private school and
withdrew their boys and girls from the
regular public institution. In order to
maintain what came 10 be known as the
Peoples school entertainments were given
rom time TO time, and at one OF these |
SUzZalo was asked TO take part, being on
the-pTogramme for some romarks. In the
course of these he naturally alluded to the
peculiar situation that had been forced
upon the citizens, by which they were vir-
tuaily compelled to pay twice to obtain
the education of their children. He al
+luted to Trustee HOLSTER as a hypocrite.
- 1t was for the use of this term that Hol-
lister preferred the charge of unprofes-
sIonal conduct against SuZzalo- Full tes-
timony was taken before the County Board
of Education, consisting OF H. NJ. Bland,
president Miss Cornelia Farley. Z. Z.
Brownell, w. w. Petit, and L. J. Chip
man, County Superintendent of Schools
and ex-officio secretary of The board. Since
the taking OF The testimony and the hear
Ing Of arguments several weeks have
elapsed. To-day was set for the final dis
position OF the matter. There were pres
ent at the meeting Messrs. Bland, Brown
ell and Chapman.
After some desultory discussion, Chip.
man moved that it was the sense of the
board that the charges against Suzzalo
had been not sustained. Brow1ell sec
onded the motion, but after getting a
hint from the chairman, tackled on a
rider to the effect that the conduct of
SUzZalU had been unwise. Chapman re-
fused to accept this amend ment, and
Suzzalo, who was present, protested
against it. He said that in his opinion it
was not within the province of the board
TO censure. Either he was guilty of the
charge preferred or he was not, and ii was
simply this question which the board had
to decide. He challenged its right 10
control his actions or words as a private
citizen. .Brownell refused to withdraw
his amendment, and, as Chapman refused
to accept it or second it, Brownell with
drew his second from Chipman's original
motion.
In the course of the discussion which
this procedure invited all The mem bers
declared 1t 10 be their intention to acquit
SuzZalo on The charges and to permit him
10 retain his certificate.
SuzzaIo, who is a bright young man, not
much over 20 years OF age pleade ed to have
the issue decided to-day, as some very i'm
portant matters concerning his future
would be injuriously affected if the de-
cision was again postponed. Brownell and
Bland were opposed TO deciding unless q
full board was present. Chapman then
called attention 10 the TACT thai one mem
her of the board at least had been kept
away by being informed by President
Bland that the SuzZalo affair would not
be taken up to-day.
Bland explained that he had so in.
formed Petit, because il would have been
announcement for PeJtit 10 be present
When Bland was asked whether Pettit's
convenience was of greater i'm portance
than the clearing away a cloud from a
mans reputation, he admitted that it was
not.
After some further discussion the affair
was left in statu quo, to be taken up a
some future nesting to be called by Presl-
dent Bland.
a an indication of how the people fee
a Alylso it may be stated that the enroll
ment at the private school is forty-tnree
while that OF the regular public institu-
tion is thirteen.
CARMELO MN PUMP ED OUT.
.,.--.-. - N E,-..o..,,. FS.1d,, Tn Eteo;,,