The San Francisco call., 1898-06-12

of Education is engaged in conducting & series of star-chamber meetings. This clandestfne way of conducting business is the result of the great wave of public disapproval of the boards action that has swept over the city in the past ten days. Since the Trustees failed to re- elect Professor L. R, Smith to the faculty of the High School and dis charged Mrs. A. B. Clement, the As sistant City Superintendent, the people have been possessed of a desire to see the workings of the board. In this they have been unsuccessful There was no regular meeting on Monday night and an adjournment was taken until Thurs day night, but no session was held at that time. Yesterday afternoon the board held a meeting without any call or other notification and elected the Kindergarten teachers for the year.
 Undoubtedly the reason for holding unannounced meetings is to avoid hay ing any one present At the last public meeting the High School students turned out 300 strong and protested against the dismissal of Professor Smith. It is the fear of a repetition of this outpouring of students, together with the attendance of a large number of citizens who are aroused over the recent actions of the board, that has caused the School Trustees to hold these secret sessions.
 The San Jose Womans Club has risen in arms over the dismissal of Mrs. Clement, who has served the city faith fully and efficiently as Assistant City Superintendent for the past six years. In that time not one word has been said against Mrs. Clement and c7ly words of praise have been mentioned in con- nection with her work. But notWith- standing this. the Board of Education has dropped her and placed Miss Irene Hankenson of Gilroy in the position. Miss Hankenson has taught for several years at Gtlroy, but has had no ex- perience in the work she will meet in the superintendent's office. Her ap- pointment was obtained through Boss" Req.
 At the last meeting of the Woman's 8 Club resolutions deprecating the action of the Board in dismissing Mrs. Clem- ent and asking that she ce reinstated were adopted, and yesterday these reso- lutiOns were presented to the Board of Education No action was taken on them, and they were ordered filed. The resolutions are as follows:
 @ Whereas, The Woman's Club of e @ San Jose was organized for the en- e @ couragement and advancement not o o only of educational interests but @ @ of all objects that make TOT better e @ social and intellectual conditions; @ e and @ e Whereas. The Woman's Club is (.
 @ not a corporation, but is pledged to e e stand for right and justice and the e @ best interests of society, whether e o the matters considered may affect e @ club members or not; and o @ Whereas, The administration of @ O our public school affairs in a man. e @ ner consistent with justice and O @ right and with the maintenance of @ O high standard of efficiency in our @ @ public schools comes properly e @ within the scope of the Woman's @ @ Club; and 0 e Whereas. Mrs. A. B. Clement, 0 e who has filled the position of As e O sistaut City Superintendent for six @ @ years, has proved herself most em- e O inently qualified by long experi- @ O ence, faithful and untiring service @ @ and exceptional natural ability for @ @ the duties of this responsible posi- o e tion; and @ @ Whereas, The recent action of o @ the San Jose Board of Education e @ in failing to re-elect Mrs. Clement @ O to the position that she has filled @ @ so acceptably and putting a new 0 e official in the place tends to weak @ @ en tho efficiency of our school, @ @ works a cruel injustice to & faith @ e full official and is in direct violation e e of the principle of civil service re- @ o form which is supposed to govern o e public office holding; and @ @ Whereas, While the new ap- @ @ pointee may be and doubtless Is @ @ most worthy lady, against whom @ @ we are making no complaint, yet O @ there Is no valid reason for sub @ O 1ecting the schools to the loss of e O long tried and capable officer and @ O filling her place with one who must @ O acquire experience in this impor- @ O tant department at the expense of o o the school department. Therefore e o be 1t Q @ Resolved, That the San Jose Co @ Woman's Club respectfully and O @ most earnestly petitions the San @ @ Jose Board of Education that in @ O the best interests of our schools @ @ as well as in the cause of right @ @ and in justice to faithful and ef- @ @ f1cient officer, against whom there o Co has been no charge whatever, 1t o @ reconsider its action whereby Mrs. e @ Clement was dropped from the po- o 0 sition she has filled so satisfacto- o e rily and reappoint her to the office @ @ of Assistant City School Superin- @ @ tendent. @
 These resolutions are indorsea by the 115 members of the Woman's Club, in- cluding the most prominent and in fiuential ladies of the city, ct the board paid no more attent' to the resolutions than if they were nothing but a Chinese wash ticket that had in some unknown manner drifted into the Trustees room.
 The officers of the Woman's Club are: President, Mrs. s. A. Jones; secre+ " Mrs. L. Callisch; corresponding secre- tary, Mrs. F. L. Foster; treasurer. Mrs. J. Schoenheit; auditor, Mrs. A. P. Mur- gotten. Board of directors: Mrs. E. O. Smith. Mrs Mitchell Phillips, Mrs. J. Schoenheit, Mrs. s. A. Jones, Mrs. A. P. Murgotten. Mrs. N. T. Riddle. Mrs. F. L. Foster and Mrs. L. Callisch.
 These and other members are strong in their denunciation of the boards &C., tion. They say merit should be recog- nized and kept in the School Depart,