Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-01
SMART TELLS CASE
Action of the Board Of Edu.-
cation.
He GOES TO CENTRAL
PROF. WILSON TO HAVE CHARGE
OF EASTERN.
Result of the Troubles at That School
subcommittee Report Sustain
ed the Principal.
He GOES TO CENTRAL

The board of education at its session last
evening directed transfer of Mr.. NJ. F. F.
Swartzell, principal of the Eastern High
School, to the Central High School.
AS indicated in The Star of yesterday,
the report of the committee a complete
vindication of Principal SwartzeT This
committee, composed of Messrs. J. Holds
worth Gordon. James F. Bundy and E
Southland Parker, submitted its report to
the board of education last evening, and
while the report was adopted, the board
went further and ordered the transfer as
above indicated. This committee took UP
for inquiry those things which developed
with the trouble attending the celebration
of the students upon winning the COMPETE
tive drill. The board discusses each phase
of the matter, and says 1t can find nothing
In the course pursued by the principal TO
give the slightest excuse for the conduct of
the pupils"
In conclusion 1t says:
In our connection with the schools of
THIS District there has never come under
our notice such evidence Of an utter dis
regard OF authority nor greater degree
of INSTRUMENTATION or violation of school
rules than were exhibited in the demon
STATIONS referred to, and we think that
the board should express it's strongest
condemnation Of what has taken place. If
we are to tolerate such action on the part
OF the pupils of the public schools no mat
ter by whom they may be supported nor
by whom such action may be justified, we
might just well close our doors at once,
as the schools, instead of being models of
decorum and discipline. would become
nothing but scenes of disorder, insubordi-
nation and disregard of legal authority"
Afternoon Conference.
Yesterday afternoon shortly before
o'clock conference was held at the
Franklin School building Superintendent
Stuart had summoned several of the High
School principals to be present and it is
understood Mr.. Swartzell was included
When all had assembled it is stated the
superintendent said he had been dele
gated by the board of education to submit a
list of such changes in the personnel of the
high school principals which in his judg-
meut seemed expedent. He is quoted as
having stated that he thought 1t might be
advisable to transfer Mr.. Swartzell to the
Central High School in place of Mr.. Will
son. who would take charge of the Eastern
High School. Such a procedure was COM
bated by several of those present 1t was
stated among other things, so 1t is said,
that 1t would be manifest!y unfair to Mr..
Swartzell to transfer him at this time,
especially when the subject matter upon
which the transfer was considered had
never been fully Investigated. 1t also
developed at the meeting that Mr.. Swart-
zell had written letter to the board of
education when the announcement of the
committee to investigate the trouble was
made asking that the inquiry be full and
complete, and begging the privilege of pre-
senting witnesses.
This letter was never answered, It is
said, and the investigation was confined in
large part to the reading of Director
Hughes report in which he recommends
that the recalcitrant students be denied
diplomas of graduation. The students were
graduated, and then the principal sus-
tanned.
Action of the Board.
Last night at 8 o'clock the school board
met. The report of It's subcommittee was
presented and read. 1t only related to af-
fairs dating from the annual drill. How
ever, shown above, it fully sustained
Principal Swartzell and severely scored The
boys who had broken the rules Mr.. E.
Southland Parker spoke at some length
upon the high scholarship maintained ct
Eastern under Mr.. SwartZell, and DIR.
kingsman, 1t is said, told of the feeling
that prevailed in the eastern section of the
city against Mr.. Swartzell. The discussion
took wide range, and at length 1t was
decided to be for the best interests of all
concerned to transfer Mr.. SwartZell to Cen
trail, and send Prof. Wilson to Eastern.
Then it was suggested that 1T might be
well and only fair to Mr.. Swartzell to give
him opportunity to be heard. Accord
ingly. he was sent for, and asked permits
sion to bring friend. This was construed
to mean he desired to be represented by
counsel, and his request promptly refused.
Mr.. SwartZell arrived at the meeting al
1890 pm, and did not leave until after
midnight. He was given an opportunity to
be heard, and at once proceeded to discuss
the situation, and protested against his
transfer.
The committee which made the investiga-
tion he was informed had given him
clean bill, and he thought 1t would be man.
ifestly unfair to transfer him to another
school For a had hQen
cipal at Eastern, and during that period
had worked with all his strength for the
success of the school, and 1t would be most
unknd to transfer him while the air was
full of charges
The several members of the board were
prompt to enter strong sentiments as to
mis- ability and integrity, but as one of
them remarked, SO ii is stated THE board
Is in dilemma upon this subject, and your
transfer will be more in the nature of pol
Icy than reprimand.
Several members of the board spoke earn
eStly against a prolonged investigation
which would only result in creating more
feeling and be deplorable to school inter
ests. They thought it the best solution of
the matter and had about decided upon
the transfer. Mr.. Swartzcll. 1t is under
stood, entered his protest against the pro-
posed action, and took the Judgment of the
board under adViSement.
The Resolution.
When he had gone the board passed the
following resolution:
Resolved That the board of education
desire to bear testimony to the high per-
sonal character of Prof. NJ F. F. Swart-
zell, principal of the Eastern High School,
and to bear testimony to his integrity and
ability as teacher
Resolved That the board recognize that
there exists among many of the reputa BILE
patrons OF the Eastern High School a feel
ing OF opposition to the principal the ex-
ecut1ve officer of the school, and while the
board believes that this feeling has grown
out of misunderstanding in reference TO
the action of the principal and his conduct
! OF the school, this opposition has resulted
in such public agitation that 1t seems i'm
probable that any further Investigation or
vndication of the principal would allay the
feeling which exists, and that continu-
ance of this agitation will result in serious
in.pairment of the administration of the
public schools:
Therefore, Mr.. NJ F. F. Swartzell is here
by relieved from the principalship OF the