Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-16
DROPS HODGSON CASE
BOARD OF EDUCATION DECLINES
TO CONSIDER IT.
Brought to Attention by Gen. BoyntoB
Majority Votes Against Fur
Their Publicity.

The case of Reginald Hodgson. a pupil
in the second year, Western High School.
was called to the attention of the board
OF education at its meeting last night by
Gen II. V. Boynton, president OF the
board. Young Hodgson had been suspend
ed by direction of the principal OF the
Western High School for what was
garded as an insult to the President of the
United States In publicly writing on the
school blackboard as an Illustration of the
meaning of the word 'debased," the SEN
tence, Roosevelt debased himself by eat
ing with niger"
When the case was reported TO the d.
rector of the high schools he revoked the
order of suspension and directed the rein
statement of young Hodgson in his class.
The directors action was sustained by the
superintendent of public schools and the
matter was not brought to the attention
of the board of education until It was pre-
sented by General Boynton at last nights
meeting.
General Boynton said the publicity given
to the case in this city and through dis
patches sent widely over the country had
put the board of education in a very awk-
ward position. 1t had been represented
throughout the country that a pupil in the
high school at the national capital had
perpetrated a gross and vulgar insult to
the President of the United States as well
as TO a large class of citizens of the Dis
trict. and that the matter had been allowed
TO pass with no further punishment than
TO forbid the boys appearing with the ca
dets In the inaugural procession.
Gen. Boypton's Views.
In Gen. Boynton's opinion. as sta..s
the board of education should NOT no
placed in the position before the country
OF allowing a boy in the high schools of
the capital supported by the nation to so
grossly insult the President without
proper notice being taken by the board
OF education He informed the board thai
these press dispatches and editorials had
placed the responsibility upon the board
oil education. the superintendent of schools
ana the director of high schools and
added that 1t was q matter that should
have been settled promptly by proper
punishment by the regular discipline of
the school BY that course such publicity
as has now obtained would have been
avoided So long as the mater has come
to the attention of the public and through
these publications for the first time to
the board OF education, he said that the
board. In proper respect for itself. ought
not to fail to take notice of the affair
Result of Discussion.
This statement led to n long discussion
in which a majority of the board favored
dropping the matter without further no
tice. The proposition to refer the matter
to the high school committee for report
was then refused and the proposition by
the president of the board to refer the
matter to a special committee was also
refused: and, upon the suggestion of Mr.
E. Southland Parker. who voted with the
ma jority, the matter was dropped. The
reasons for dropping the matter seemed
to be based upon the idea that to take
action would cause unpleasant notoriety.