The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-06
OF Nepotism and FavOritism Against
Members of the HenriCO Board.
ASK FOR BOARD OF REFERENCE
To Hear the Charges-Rev. joel Tuck
er One of Miss Gooawins support
ers-Patrons Sign Petition.
County superintendent tus-
sell Refuses TO Tell Reasons
for Making Transfer.

win from Falrm0unt High School TO am
other school I'm the county they stirred up
a hornets nest among the patrons ot 'he
school. and the difficulty Of it all is that
like Banquos ghost 1T Will not down.
The Board is disposed to stand by IT'S ace
tlon and Miss Goodwin's friends are eqn-
ally determined to fight the proposed
change to the last ditch.
Miss Goodwin was seen yesterday az
her home in Fairmount by a Times re-
porter. She is a very attractive young
indy and very retiring in ner ndhn,''
and seems 10 regret very much ln' CIT.
agreeable publicity the case has atld'H'"'
She is not disposed, however 10 auiith-
der what she considers her rghls' ana
right or wrong she is we'll backed hy lhe
patrons Of the school whose children
She has taught for several years.
ASKED TO EXCHANGE.
Miss Goodwin says the change was dc
cided on by the Board while she was at
tending the Summer School or Methods.
Tho FIRST she knew of it was when she
returned. She had been unable To ascer-
tain any reason for the transfer.
Miss Goodwin says some time ago she
was approached by Miss Schcrmcrhorn
She responded that she preferred not to
make a change. "Then." says Miss Good
win. Miss Schermerhorn said She would
take my school any way"
Miss Goodwin says she regarded the
remark as q jest at the time DO was ut-
tered. but that Miss Schcrmcrhorn has
since been appointed one of the new
teachers.
Miss Goodwin says Miss Schcrmerhorn
IS a niece of Dr. Smith one of the mcm-
bors of the Board. and on this Is based
the charge OF nepotism which will be
made before e board Of reference. The
petition for this board will be fled with
the State Superintendent DR.. Southall.
I'm few days. The board Will consist OF
the county superintendent aud two trus-
tees from another county.
The petition has been signed by n
large number Of the patrons of the
school Some of the siguers. says Miss
Goodwin, are patrons who have had fault
10 find because their children were not
advanced as rapidly as they hoped for
but that all bad feeling had been amica-
bly, adjusted
MIR. TUCKER INTERESTED.
one Of the patrons of the Fairmognt
High School who has interested himself
especially I'm the case SIS the Rev. Joel r.
Tucker, pastor Of East End Baptist
church. Mr. Tucker said yesterday that
the School Board had spent thousands
Of dollars in am effort TO make the high
school at Fairmont equal 20 the one IN
Richmond.
owing TO the management of the
School Board he said "the school is
quite inferior to IT'S possibilities. with the
same expenditure"
Miss Goodwin was the only post-gradu-
ate Of the Richmond High school OF whom
Mr. Tucker knew who had taught at the
Fairmount High School Several have
applied. ne says. and have been rejected
while graduates. and even those who had
not graduated. had been accepted.
IL had been stated that the city of Rich
mond would not appoint as teacher any
one who had not been graduated from
It's own schools. and that the county pro-
posed 90 retaliate by excluding graduates
Of the Richmond schools from the county
schools. Mr.. Tucker said he would agree
20 such a policy when the same material
could be found I'm the county as IN the
city. But he said Miss Goodwin Is n
resident Of the county. and IL there Is
retaliation Il should be such as 20 deal
out even justice TO an. Residents OF the
city had been and were being appointed
% these positions who did not have Miss
Goodwins qualifications. She has q first
class certificate issued TO her by Superln-
tendent Fox. Of Richmond. on a certih-
cate from County superintendent Fus-
sell. stating that she had givfn general
satisfaction.
THREE NEW TEACHERS
Three new teachers were appointed 10
Fairmouut High School recently They
were Misses Schrmsrhorn Dickinson and
Haw. II IS stated by Mr. Tucker that
Miss Dickenson's name does not appear
in the list Of graduates from The High
School. and that Misses Haw and scher-
merhorn are graduates. but not post
graduates.
Mr. Tucker says ty-Superintendent
Fussel declines 10 give any reason Tor
the transfer Of Miss Goodwin from Fair
mount. and that when pre- sssed for rea-
son said that the trustees had secrets
which they proposed 10 keep TO them
selves.
Mr.. Tucker says all three Of the new
appolntees are from Richmond He says
NJ. RUSSELL told him that Miss Schermer-
horn was appointed sn his recommenda-
ton and that he would be responsible for
the appointment.
Mr.. Tucker says his interest IN the mat
ter Is that OF a patron OF the school. lie
had made A proposition 10 Mr.. Russell
that state4sperintendent southall be made
referee in the matter, and II the trustees
had any secret reason for the transfer Il
might be communicated 10 Dr. Southah
in confidence and his decision would be
satisfactory. The proposition was not en-
tertained. says Mr.. Tucker
THE CHARGES
Mr.. Tucker says DR.. Smith. one OF the
trustees and the ,uncle OF Miss Schermer-
horn. told him that he Or. Smith had
mode out the entire list OF teacher for the
district Mr.. Tucker says that charges will
be preferred against Or. Smith OF viola
ton of paragraph 60 Of the regulations Of
the State Board OF Education, which
reads
''School officers are cautioned against
nepotism or favoritism Of any form In
the employment Of teachers. as we'll as in
all other official acts.
Mr.. Tucker charges also that the prin-