Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-27


cadets Of the Eastern by Principal Swartz-
ell. left the school building in the morn
ing after tie drill and refused to return to
their desks when commanded to do so by
The principal.
Action Of the Board.
This action preoipitated a situation which
quickly brought the feeling against Mr..
Swartzell to focus. The subsequent pro-
ceedings fresh in the public mind The
upshot Of the matter was that a committee
of the board of education Investigated the
circumstances of the breach of discipline
and reported that the principal had acted
In a manner calling for Endorsement and
support. This report was adopted by the
board. which likewise passed resolution
TO the effect that Mr.. Swartzell, whose
scholarship and character We're praised.
was not reaSsigned to duty at the Eastern,
but was 20 be transferred in the autumn
10 a position of equal grade. This action
was TeCDnsidered at Il special meeting of
the board, and Mr.. Swartzell has been re-
assigned 10 the Eastern High School for
the ensuing school year.
Such. in brief. is the case TO 5,te. But
the affair has ramlfed until there are sew
eral collateral issues. all of which have
served 20 becioud temporarily the fact that
the original sentiment on the part of some
residents of Capitol Hill-whO assert that
they represent the majority in this matter
against Mr.. SwartzelI remains unchanged,
by the happenings of the past two months.
So vague have been the public expressions
or TINS sentiment and so confusing have
been the rapid changes in the case that
plain statement OF the attitude of those resi-
dents of East Washington who are today
taking steps for the removal of Mr. Swartz-
ell from the Eastern principalship has
been deemed desirable i'm the interest Of
clear understanding of the situatio For
this purpose Il Star reporter last evening
sought an interview with Mrs. $. F. Par
sons Of 21o LIST street southeast. who, as
one OF those whose children attend the
Eastern High School has been forced un-
willingly into the front OF the firing line.
Mrs Parsons deprecated her selection as
the spokesman of those who stand with her
IN this campaign. but consented to make the
following explanation OF the reasons why
the Capitol I'm people are seeking the sub
stitution of another principal at Eastern
for Mr.. Swartzell:
No Specific Charges Yet Filed.
There are now on file before the board
OF education" said Mrs Parsons, in an
swer to a question. mo charges against
Mr.. Swartzell so far as we are aware.
There were no charges against him when
the board voted to remove him from East
erH Ia another position. Perhaps If our
case had then been formulated the situa-
ton would be different today. But
matter OF fact it Is very difficult to state
our objections to Mr.. Swsrtzell in terms OF
specific charges There is no accusation to
be brought against him as a teacher or as
man. against his scholarship or his NOR
ais. He is. indeed. in those respects above
TeproaCh- The whole case resolves itself
10 question of temperament. We con-
tend. and are prepared TO prove. that he
~ temperamentdlly untitled to manage
young boys and girls being incapa citated
by his infrmities OF disposition from taxi
Ing charge OF their discipline. This Is not
we want the people OF Washington to url-
derstand. a case Of merely not liking Mr.
SWartzeu II Is not modern instance of
=" I do not love thee DR. Fell:
The why 1 cannot tell;
Bot this alone | know fun we'll:
do not love thee. DR.. Fell
"Is that were all that could he said
against Mr.. SwartZeH our position would
be worse than weak II would be con-
tempuble. But 1t is a far more serious
situation Mr.. Swartzelrs temperament
has led him Into actions that are positively
Objectionable. demorali2ing to school disci-
pine; Indeed, II has resulted In the COM
mission OF many overt acts which form a
distinct basis for valid complaint against
him.
Widespread Sentiment.
1T IS a significant fact easily demon
strated. that this feeling pervades all parts
OF East Washington, the entire area of the
Eastern High Schools jurisdiction The
people here on the hill have a common
grievance. 1t IS not ueighborhood af-
fair, nor the work of a small clique or fac
lion. II Is not the result. either of the
talk Of friends. On the contrary, so wide
spread is the feeling against Mr. Swartzell
IN this part OF the city that men and wOm-
en- who before were entire strangers have
come together now 10 exchange experiences
and compare notes. aud il Is literally i'm
possible to go anywhere in this part OF
town and not hear the subject discussed
with infinite variations Of the same theme
which may be reduced broadly to this form
of concrete expression, that the parents
of East Washington are unwilling to send
their children to a school presided over by
man whom they cannot respect and
whose influence over the pupils Is harmful
1T is asked: In what way Is Mr. Swart-
zell's influence harmful? In various ways
in little ways, In big ways. The children
are under his supervision at peculiarly
impressionable age. They are in the forma-
tive period. They are sensitive and diifi-
cult and the least friction, If long con-
tlnued. is harmful to them. And there is
little else than friction in the Eastern High
School from the beginning to the end of the
school year
Before I proceed to specify and cite
typical cases let me note the important
fact that this is not a fight for broader
athletic spirit or for the encoura cement of
the military organization at the Eastern
We do not care especially for either of those
elements. They can and will take care of
themselves provided the school Is placed
and kept on a sound basis. II Is proper to
say here that this effort to secure a read
1ustment at Eastern is being made chiefly
by the parents of children who did not take
part in the unfortunate affair In May. which
has been styled an INSTRUMENTATION and
which has been repudiated and condemned
by all. further fact OF Importance is that
while there were thirty-eight names of pu-
pills signed to the round robin asking for
Mr.. SwartzelFS removal. the parents of only
three of those boys have taken conspicuous
parts IN the movement that has since de-
veloped. Furthermore. OF the eleven boys