The Washington times., 1905-07-19
The Real Issue Ignored.

The Board of Education met last
night to take decisive action in the
Swartzell-E Eastern High School con-
troversy. Instead of taking such
action it merely corrected an incon-
sistency in its own course and ad-
journed, The large question of Mr.
SwsrtzelPs fitness for the post he now
occupies was not only not handled
firmly. but was altogether ignored.
The inconsistency corrected was
this
The board directed its committee
on high schools to investigate the re-
cent disorder of the cadet company
OF the Eastern High School. That
committee submitted a report on that
disorder-and on no other subject
sustaining in all its aspects the course
adopted by Mr.. Swartzell. Thereupon
the board approved the report and
on no stated ground ordered Mr..
SwaTtzelI's transfer from the Eastern
High School TO some other assign
ment of equal rank. AS no such post
could be found the transfer was not
made. And now the board rsseinds
the order for The transfer and by di-
recting that Mr.. Swartzen remain al
the Eastern High School conforms its
course with its approval of a report
favorable TO Mr. SwartzeH.
go
certification to the public that the
board has disposed of the broad in
preston that Mr. Swartzen is unfit
ted for the post OF principal. IA unz
derstanding is that the board has as
sured Mr. Swartzen that this large
question could not come before il ex-
cept in the form of definite charges.
As no such charges have been made
the board-from last nights showing,
at least-seems to feel itself Justified
IN taking no further action.
Formal charges, as the board con-
strues that phrase, must come from
citizens not members of the board. In
other words, unless some outsider IN
dertakes 10 prcYe the contrary the
board will regard Mr.. SwartzelPs
claim on the office of principal as clear
ly established Yet there is no out
slider with half as much responsibility
for the welfare of our public schools
as the members of the Board of Educa-
tion. They have assumed the obliga-
tion Of maintaining those schools for
the advantage Of the whole commun-.
ity; and. whether formal charges be
in existence or not. they rest under
the continuous obligation of main
tanning capable officials, and capable
officials only, in charge of the schools.
1t is by no means established that
Mr. SwartzeH is not capable. But
there is abundant ground to say that
a reasonable doubt has arisen as to
his executive capacity and that Doubt
has been voiced by interests which
the Board of Education is bound to
recognize.
This doubt may not warrant
the removal of Mr.. Swartzen from
his post It is ardently to be hoped
1t viii not. But unquestionabIv
It requires investigation-an in
vestigation that ought to be more
sought by Mr.. swartzell than by any,
one else.
The news account of this contro-
versy in other columns discloses the
remarkable fact that Mr.. swartzell
has all along been fully appreciatiye
of his personal interet in such an in
vestigation. and has twice asked in
writing for precisely this kind of an
inquiry This disclosure makes the
action of the board inscrutable in
deed.
Last nights course was evidently
adopted by the board in the hope that
the controversy would simmer down.
The developments of this morning al
ready prove that the hope was -un-
founded. Every interest would have
been better served had the board met
the real issue without fiinching.