The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-10
MORAL STANDARD
IN THE SCHOOLS
Citizens Demand 1t Shall
BE Kept High.
COMMISSIONERS ARE SCORED
Impersonal Charges Preferred by E. B
Stocking, of the Mount Pleasant
Association.

Z. z. Stocking last night made a
strong speech in the meeting Of the
Mount Pleasant Citizens Association In
support of a higher standard Of morals
In the public schools of the District.
As result of the speech. the associa-
tiOn appointed a committee consisting
or three members of the body. with
A 3. Chatfield as chairman to in
vestigate the condition of things as af-
fected by the charges referred to IN
Mr.. Stockings address.
MY charge" said the speaker. lis
that there are rumOrs and gossip which
are in effect demoralizing. I make no
statement as to their truthfulness.
simply say they exist and are demon
allZing. and are sufficient grounds for
the dismissal Of any person connected
with our schools whose indiscreuon has
caused such rumors and gossip. There
fore. ia a moral question OF such impor-
tance, we should refuse TO indorse or to
submit to any decision of public officers
in charge Of our school when such de-
cisiOn Is based on the rules Of criminal
law.
The Commissioners and the Board Of
Education seriously and fatally mis-
judge the intelligence and morality Of
the people of the District of Columbia
if they think they can smother and over
come the immoral tendency Of gossip
running rampant OF the streets and
among the pupils OF our schools without
removing Che cause of such gossip
Need Radical Change
IF the Commissioners ard Board of
Education think the political serfs of
this Siberia OF America can be forced
to submit to such a supervision Of the
affairs Of the public schools. the period
has arrived for them TO experience q
sudden and radical change of mind AM
heart, for just as sure as the sun viii
rise tomorrow so viii the indignant and
inSulted moral and CHRISTIAN people OF
the nations Capital rise in their power
ard force these irresponsible autocrauc
public servants to act as the occasion
REQUIRES, and il they TAIL 70 do so with
reasonable promptness, then, Just as
sure as the sun viii set on the NOR
row. so sure will those servants forfeit
forever the respect and confidence, not
only Of the people Of the District or
Columbia but will bring down upon
their heads the righteous condenla-
ton OF the entire nation
Mr. Stocking said that II was the duty
of parents 10 see 70 Il that the stand
ard of morality observed BY those IN
charge OF the schools be as high as pos
sihle. fIe insisted that gossip, su57
piciOn. and rumor OF lmpropriety anu
indiscreuon on the part Of any teacher
are Of themselves ample ground for
dismissal
No Specific Charges.
The speaker did not enter into any
specific charges of wrongdoing. but
gave the unmistakable impression by
his every sentence that something was
radically wrong somewhere, and that
the time had come for something to be
done. At the next meeting the commit
tee appointed as a result of the denuncia-
ton of the conditions in the schools viii
report 90 the association The result Of
its inquiries.
Judge J. c. Pritchard was elected an
honorary member of the association last
night
Resolutions were adopted approving
the proposed extension Of the Old Do
rninion and Great Fats Railway into
TIE District, recommending favorable
action by Congress on the bill now pend
Ing FOR the extension Of Euclid Street
10 Erie Street, and thanking Represen-
tattve BurketC for his recent speech on
District affairs before the House