Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-07
MISS RUSSELL'S SIDE
Her Story Of the Girls Re
form School.
GOES INTO DETAILS
CLAIMS SHE HAS BEEN MISREP-
RESENTED.
Tells Of Her Work and Of Having Run
the Institution Without
Trouble.

reform school, an interview concerning
which appeared in Thursdays evenings
Star, my name was used in a way not al
together pleasing to me, and it has been
used previously in connection with state
ments not wholly truthful. This is prob
ably unintentional and 1 have preferred to
let the matter go unchallenged. as am now
out of school work, and supposed that in
time my name would cease to appear in
connection with the disorder and disturb
ances which have occurred there. for which
have In no wise been responsible and
which I used my best endeavor to avoid.
and later to Quell.'
This statement was made to Star re-
porter by Miss Florence v. Russell. Con-
tinuing. she said:
LAS my name Is persistently used in this
connection every time the girls reform
school is mentioned in the press. 1t appears
to me that have right now to set myself
straight before the public, which it seems to
me has had rather One-sded and wrong
sided statement of my connection with this
institution.
Il have been connected with this school
in the capacity of teacher for over nine
years, and l might say almost from it's in
ception. During those nine years 1 have
seen forty-two teachers come and go, and
have worked under three superintendent.
During those years the personnel Of the
pOdfQ OF trustees mas changed many times,
there remaining upon it but one Of the
original members, the president OF the
board During all these years and the many
changes indicated, my record as an employe
in the institution shows that have never
been reported to the board for an infrac-
ton of rules. and have never in any man
ner been disciplined or even censured by
the board Of trustees. My record also shows
that during these nine years l have filled,
first and last, almost every position in the
institution but that Of fireman and engi-
neer.
Let me enumerate some of the positions
have filled, the duties 1 have performed.
have for several years superintendent the
farm work. This consisted Of clearing ten
acres Of ground for a pasture lot, cutting
trees in the woods for fire wood and to
build summer house, planting corn, pota-
toes and the various vegetables used in the
institution, whitewashing fences and out
buildings, wedding the ground where the
crops were sowed and planted, putting out
all the ornamental shrubbery and flowers
and caring for them throughout the sum-
mer season. and doing whatever else was
necessary outside.
"While superintending all this work, which
is only a part Of the duties assigned the
girls confined in the institution, had under
my sole charge squads OF twenty-five girls
at time. taking out an average OF two
relays a day During all the years that the
superintendency of this work was assigned
to me not a single inmate Of the fnstitu-
ton ever ran away while in my charge nor
01Q one ever make any dlleHpt. " IuIA
away.
Managed the Girls.
st think. in justice to myself. may state
that the superintendent of the institution.
Miss Amy ]. Rule. placed me in charge Of
the girls who were doing this outdoor work
because, as she stated. was able TO man
age them without trouble or friction: they
obeyed my orders implicitly; 1 could get
90 hon nfh ar
employee in the institution and they never
tried to away when with me. or
course. II must be understood that If they
had been disposed to break with me and
run away there was nothing in the world
to hinder them, for we were outside the
walls at work on the farm. and was
alone with them. with nothing to defend
myself with.
Coming to the indoor work. I have su-
perintended the cooking and baking. filling
the matron's position, acted as laundry
teacher. superintended the chamber work.
acted sewing teacher. school teacher and
was acting superintendent at various times.
1t was not fnfrequently the case that
filled two and three of these positions the
same time when those regularly assigned
to these duties were i'll or away on leave.
reaching sometimes into weeks and months.
"Ad interim l served the institution as
organist. l have been the organist ever
since / entered the institution. l have
taught the girls all their songs, have train
ed them to speak their pieces. trained
them in marching. arranged all of their en-
tertainments and prepared and snoerin-
tended the decorations on all gaia occa-
sions go
I'm referring to these varied and multi
tudinous duties do so in no spirit OF ego
tism The former superintendent OF the
institution reside in the city at the present
time and have on more than one occasion
vouched for the services / have rendered
during this nearly one decade, long out
STAYING every one else ever employed there.
nine and OF the SerV-
Ices indica ted, which are all part OF the
history of the school, new suoerintend-
emit, after about two weeks in the lnstltu-
ton, demanded my resignation for incom-
petency,' as stated in The Star OF Thurs
day evening. The reason assigned by the
Superintendent, Mrs Burrows. at the time
she demanded my resignation was that /
had failed to support her In her admins
tration of the affairs Of the institution.
Letters Of Commendation.
Returning again to the charge OF incom-
potency and the further charge Of nom
support Of the institution management, let
me show you the letters received by me
from the president Of the board Of trustees
and members Of the executive committee at
the time my enforced resignation was ten
dered.''
The letters follow:
February g. 1905.
Miss Florence v. Russell.
211 A street southeast. Washington, DC.
MY dear Miss Russell: beg to inform
you that the board of trustees, at Its meet
ing held February "a. 1905, accepted your
resignation. to take effect March Is. 1905.
I'm conveying this information to you. !
cannot let the opportunity pass without re-
ferring to your long and faithful services of
nearly ten years at the Reform School for
Girls. Your services have been a very ma
terial aid in building up and maintaining
the school, and your great experience has
only added to the value of these services.
L
am, Every respectfully,
''CHAPIN BROWN,
President Board Of Trustees"
March %. 1905.
"This letter certifies to the ability. fdel-
ity. judgment and patience of Miss Florence
V. Russell. who has been a teacher in the
Reform School for Girls Of the District OF
Columbia for the last nine years. AS chair
man of the executive committee of the
board of trustees Of that institution. l have
had abundant opportunity to know her
qualities Particularly has this been the
case when she has acted for months at
time as superintendent.
81. WESLEY BOVEE,
Member of Board of Trustees.
|. "Girls Reform School of the District of