The San Francisco call., 1899-07-17

State Normal School TO investigate the
character of Principal McNaughton has
completed its labors and to-day filed its
report with Miss Elizabeth Blaisdel, sec
retary Of the Board Of Normal School
Trustees. The report will come up before
the trustees at their meeting next
Wednesday.
The committee states that everything
bears out the charges made, and suggests
that McNaughtOu resign. Guilty or inno-
cent his presence Will be detrimental to
the school. A synopsis Of the report fol-
lows:
To the Honorable Board OF Trustees OF the
state Normal School at san Jose-Respected
Sirs: The undersigned committee of the Alumni
Association Of the State Normal School at San
Jose respectfully submits TO your honorable
body the following petition:
Al the last annual session Of the Alumni
Association held on June p. 1899, the attention
of the association directed to certain
charges hereinafter set forth purporting to have
been made by certain citizens OF Council Bluffs,
Iowa, against Professor James McNaughton,
who was on June >, 1899 elected principal Of
the Normal School at San Jose.
Prior to the meeting Of the Alumni Associa-
tiOn the charges referred to had been given
considerable currency through a circular pur-
appeared in the Iowa Normal Monthly Of the
date Of December 1890, one Of which circulars
tached
The nature of the charges. as will be evident
from q perusal Of them made It the duty of
the Alumni Association TO its best and
fsirest efforts to arrive at the truth respecting
the same. and. If founded on malice and
unwarranted, to aid in the vindication of the
principal OF our school. To have evaded the
matter at such a juncture the association
deemed would have been little less than cow
ardice. 1t considered desirable by the
association to appoint a committee TO gather
such information as was obtainable concern
ing the charges and ascertain their truth or
falsity
tion that has confronted the Alumni Associa-
tion. but in view OF the serious menace TO the
good Of our school contained in the
charges directed against its principal no other
path seemed open in the line Of duty. Reluct-
antly we have entered upon our work; we have
cndeavored to faithfully perform the same, and
We trust the report make Will reflect
primarily a sincere interest in the Normal
School and its welfare, and this without in
Justice to any one.
hen follows in the report an extended
statement to the effect that Professor
MCNaughton has allowed a published
statement to go unCorrected to the effect
that he is a graduate of the University
of Michigan. a copy of a letter is ap
pended from Marion c. Goodrich, assist
ant registrar Of that university, to the
effect that no such person as James Nc
Naughton ever graduated there.
: copy of the charges, that have al
ready been published, is given in full.
They allege incOmpetency, immortality and
usury against Professor McNaughton, and
are signed by William Groenweg, James
Mcneil, William McCrany. S. B. Wads
=
D. =. Daily and @. A. Holmes.
It is stated that the charges
were spread upon the minutes of the
School Board of Council Bluffs prior to
October 16 1890, when Professor Nc
Naughton handed in a written resignation
and the same was accepted by the board.
The report continues as follows, after
censuring Professor McNaughtOn for con-
cealing all knowledge of the charges in
question from the Normal School Trus-
tees prior TO his election:
We are OF the opinion that the results of our
thus far confirm US in the follow
F.rst-if Professor McNaughton claims to be
graduate Of Michigan University, such claim
Is not verified by the registrar. II, on the other
hand. he did not desire to make any such
claim. he should have corrected that published
secondNwhen Professor McNaughton was
City Superintendent of Schools at Council
BluTs, Ia. the charges referred to herein were
made against him by eight reputable citizens
Of that city, filed with the School Board and
spread upon the minutes of that body as
Third-Said charges have never been investi-
gated by competent tribunal or court.
Fourth-We deem 1t impossible a. this late
date and at such distance from Council Bluffs
to absolutely determine the truth falsity of
Fifth-We consider that Professor Nc
NaughtOn was deTeHCt in not demanding a full
Investigate Of the charges made against him
before some board competent tribunal in
Council Bluffs, and at a time when the con-
troversy arose or within a reasonable time
Sixth-Whether or not Mr.. McNaughton is
guilty Of these charges. the fact still remains
that he resigned his position in face of them;
that although his accusers were wealthy men,
he never brought suit against any of them for
damages, OF took any other active steps TO
secure a retractiOn Of the same.
Seventh-That this controversy concerning the
character and competency Of Professor Nc
Naughton cannot fail but be detrimental 10 the
welfare of the Normal School Of San Jose
should Professor McNaughton remain in charge
, Eightih--That il---3 Professor McNaughton should
at least that these charges were outstanding
against him. for the reason that II IS evident
lightly treated or contemptuously, waved
aside when the selection Of the State Normal
School is being made.
Ninth-That the reason for the dismissal Of
Professor McNaughton from the Superintend-
fact that the charges hereinbefore set forth
were made against him. We are unable In the
face Of the affidavit Of s. r. Johnson of San
Jose and the statements Of those whose letters
we present, TO give credence to the assertion
that Professor McNaughton's dismissal was
due 10 his opposition TO the liquor element
We are no more willing TO believe that Lucius
Wells, John Schoentgen and Senator Groen-
veg were or are champions OF the liquor
element than we are to believe the same of
Professor McNaughton.
We are of the opinion that there is nothing
Council Bluffs controversy in endeavoring 10
bolster up his position by an appeal 10 tho
matter think. only tends TO cloud the mind
and divert attention from the real matter at
The conclusion the committee Of the Alumni
Association has reached, and which we deem
Is Bubstantiated by the foregoing report is
that in the best interests Of the Normal School
of San Jose Professor McNaughton should re-
sign the position to which he has been elected.
II. he claims. he is innocent of these charges
he Is unfortunate and his position would de-
serve our earnest sympathy. Yet his misfor-
tune, II such il be- should not be visited upon
the schools Of California, and we submit that
Professor McNaughton, in the exercise of the
instincts OF teacher, will see that lasting
injury Will result 10 the Normal School at San
Jose should the principalship remain with one
whose character has been impeached in the
past and is still impeached through the evil
dence submitted with this report.
Respectfully submitted JOHN ]. JURY,
ELI WRIGHT,
FRANK CARLL
Normal Alumni Association Investigating Com
mittee.
Then follows in the report number Of
letters and afhdavits supporting its state
ments from the following persons: Maui
rice G. Goodrich. assistant registrar Uni
versity of Michigan; William Groenweg
OF Council Bluffs, J. NJ. Reynolds of San
jose, afddayft; S. r. Johnson of San Jose,
AFFIDAVIT; Mrs. S. r. Morrish of San Jose
AFFIDAVIT; John Schoentgen of Council
Bluffs. The exhibits in the report close
with an extended affidavit Of Lucius
Wells. He states that after Professor
McNaughton had been in the position of
superintendent of the city schools of
Council Bluffs for six years the daily at
tendance Of the High School was be-
tween forty and fifty. During the school
do :