The evening times., 1900-07-09

The failure of the new Board Of Educa-
tion to reappoint Isaac Fairbrother as Su-
pervising Principal of the Fourth Division
Of public schools. a position which he has
held eighteen years. has stirred the
friends Of the pedagogue in the southwest
section to emphatic protest. and an indig-
nation meeting has been called for tonight.
TO be held In the Fifth Baptist Church. ID
Street near Four-and-a half Street. south
west. at which the sentiment OF his sup
porters viii find expression. Commission
er Mcfarland has been requested to be
present
Mr. Fairbrother has been connected
with the schools OF the Fourth Division for
-tHenty-four years. and has been super-
Nising principal for eighteen years. AS an
educator his record has been sipRularly
free from criticism, and no complaint has
ever been entered against him during the
term Of his service in the public schools.
The superseding OF Mr. Fairbrother by
Dr. II NJ. johnson as supervising princl-
pal came as great surprise. No pre-
vious intimatiOn had been given to him by
the board that such action was to be taken
and he was entirely unaware that he was
not acceptable to the board in the position
tkat he cad held for so many years. The
attitude Of the board toward him had been
apparently indicative Of their sense OF his
usefulness.
He lately applied for vacation leave and
no hint at the time was given him that a
vacation OF a permanent character was
contemplated He was also invited to con
Ter with the board at the meeting held
last Saturday. and was given with the 9th
or supervising principals Of the public
schools the printed lists for their consii-
Grafton and reply Nothing in this sus--
gested to Mr.. Fairbrother that his removal
was contemplated
Ihe appointment Of DR.. H NJ Johnson
to the position of Supervising PRINCIPAL OF
the schools of the Fourth Division leaves
the Residents OF the Southwest without
representation among the appointees OF the
BOARD, and this question will be discuss
ed at the meeting tonight and an explana-
tlOn OF their action will be demanded from
the members Of the Board OF Education
The assistant superintendent for the
coFored schools, DR.. W s Montgomery Is
native Of Mississippi In the sos he
went TO Vermont where he entered one OF
the academies Of the state. He was gradu-
ated from Dartmouth College in 1878. and
received his degree Of Doctor Of Medicine
from Howard University
Dr. Montgomery has been connected
with the public schools OF the District OF
Columbia for eighteen years. II 1852 he
WIS appointed supervising principal Of the
old Eighth Division. which has since been
sub-dlyided into the present Tenth aud
Eleventh divisions. In 1896 be was ap-
pointed principal of colCred high schools
and IN 1899 lie succeeded his brother as
Supervising Principal OF the Eighth Di-
vision. from which position he has Just
been elevated TO Assistant Superintendent.
OF the Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Divis-
ions
committee of citizens called upoa
Commissioner Macfarland this morning
and rendered him an invitation 10 be pres
ent at the meeting tonight. He explained
20 his callers that he would De obliged 10
decline the invitation on the ground that
it would not b. proper for him to take
part in the proposed demonstration against
the action Of TIE Board or Education Hs
told the committee that he thought ths
Board should be sustained. because be had
confidence in the men composing IL and
felt that ;hey had acted for the best in
terests OF the residents OF the Fourth Dis
trct.
After the departure OF the committee Mr.
MacfaTland authorized 4 statement in
which he heartily commend i the appoint
ments made by the Board OF Education gu
saturday He thought they had shown
commendable diligence In making the ap-
Doin.uents so promptly and good judgment
In tlIcir selections. especially in the pro-
motiyn Of Mr. Stuart. Mrs. Meyers and
Mr.. Montgomery This recognition OF mer-
I in our own educators he thought would be
very encouraging and stimulating to the
others ami would crafty the natural desire
TO have the appointments confined to our
own people. Continuing Mr.. Macfarland
said:
'As to the change in the Office Of Su
peryising Principal of the Fourth District
which is reported 10 be criticised I know
nothing personally but l assume that the
board has shown in this as in the other
cases equal Justice and wisdom II must
be remembered that the act OF Congress
provides that the Board Of Education shall
have power to employ and remove all
teachers. officers. and other employees con-
nected with the public schools and neither
the Commissioners nor any other official
authority can review its action There
fore. It would be plainly improper for me
as Commissioner TO attend a mestir.g called
for the purpose of criticising the aston OF
the board and hence when invi I'd this
morning by representatives OF those who
called the meeting for tonight felt obliged
to decline. although l always glad to
meet the citizens Of the District Oh proper
occasion.
There can be nothing in the suggestion
that the Board of Education is not thor
oughly representative OF the District ard
every section OF IL.
i do not see how more representative
board could have been secured. and il has
been generally approved in that as in ey-
cry other respect by the community. 1t
was not designated to be a sectional board.
ma6o up OF delegates OF sections. but
ope Representatives Of the entire District.
az IL is to have administrative control OF
the entire school system and to act as a
urit IN the performance Of its duties"
Where Ere You Go,
The Sporty Boy Scent cigar
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