Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-04
OPPOSITION vO|CiG
Requests for Mr.. Swartzell's
Retirement.
VIEWS OF. CITIZENS
DEMAND CHANGE IN EASTERN
HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALSHIP.
Board of Education Advised Of the At
titude of Patrons of the
School.
VIEWS OF CITIZEN

while Mr. Swartzell Is to be esteemed as a
teacher. his peculiariues of disposition are
such that If he is retained In his present
position the Eastern High School will be
ruined"
The executive committee of the East
Washington Citizens Association held a
special meeting last night to again consider
the trouble at the Eastern High School.
While the members of the committee, all
of whom were present, freely discussed the
problem, a unanimous sentiment prevailed
that the very existence of the school is
jeopardized II Mr.. Swartzell remains. The
committee expressed no wish to dictate"
to the board of education. but stated that
difficulties of administration at the East
| ern so long antedate the alleged military
| INSTRUMENTATION of the last weeks of the
| session that the members ''emphd tically re-
| quest that Mr. Swartzell be no longer re-
| tanned as principal of the Eastern High
| School
Text of the Resolutions.
The committees conclusions are as fol-
| lows:
THE executive committee of the East
Washington Citizens Association. acting
. for the association IN recess. feel called
upon to make TO the board of education
and to the people of the District of Column
| Ola the following statement.
THE very great decrease in attendance
| at the Eastern High School has been for
considerable time subject of considera-
ton by this committee, and several months
| ago we appointed a special subcommittee
to make a quiet investigation. After this
| Investigation had been in progress for some
| weeks, acts of INSTRUMENTATION the part
! of some pupils of the school occurred, and
| were published and discussed in the city
| papers, and action thereupon was taken
| by the board of education.
Some days after that action of the
board our subcommittee submitted two re-
| ports. one dealing generally with the East
ern High School and the other approving
the action of the board of education in de-
Gliding to transfer Mr. Swartzell from the
principalship of that school to some other
position. We laid the aforementioned re-
port over for future consideration and
adopted the other one and sent copy to
the board of education.
"A great public controversy then arose
out of the determination of people in the
northwest quarter of the city that Mr..
SwartZell should not be assigned to the
principalship of the Central High School,
as 1t was reported that he would be. The
result of this controversy. as publicly stat
| ed, was that the board OF education recon-
sidered its action in reference TO the trans
fer of Mr.. Swartzell. and that he was to
be retained as principal of the Eastern
High School
''Thereupon we held another meeting:
with a full attendance, and calmly and
| TeCOnSlQereQ the Wn0le SUBJECT,
and as result reiterated plainly our for
mer resolution In favor of the transfer
of Mr.. SwartZell from the Eastern High
School, while at the same time We studi-
ously refrained from saying anything
against him. and this action was communi-
caied promptly to the board of education.
Since then the controversy has so in
creased and been made so public in the city
papers that justice seems to demand this
further statement.
The welfare of the Eastern High School
Is of very great Importance to members of
our association as parents and as citizens
and property owners in east Washington.
The trouble is not, as has been represented,
mainly with reference to athletics We
differamong ourselves in opinions as to
the relative importance of athletic and
military exercises In the public schools. We
esteem Mr.. Swartzell as able teacher
and conscientious man, but long and care
full investigation has shown that his
peculiarities of disposition are such that If
he is retained in that position the ruin of
the Eastern High School must. in all prob
ability, follow. The acts of inSubordnat ton
on the part of pupils we emphatically con-
denim, but we realize that there has been
much and long-continued provocation. We
disclaim any purpose or wish to dictate
In any manner to the board of educa ton, or
70 infringe in any degree upon the rights
or duties of that board but we also have
Fights and duties, in pursuance of which
We now emphaucauy request that Mr..
swartzell be no longer retained as principal
Resolved, That the foregoing be trans
United without delay to the District Com
nissioners. the board of education and the
public press"
This was signed by Thomas w. Smith,
chairman; NJ l. Weller. a. ]. Sperry B.
Nv Clark, J. W. Babson. +. l. Nottingham
w. Mosby Williams, executive committee.
Expresses Confidence in Board.
In regard to the general conditions which
fonfront the school. Commissioner Mac
Farland said today:
THE board of education will undoubtedly
gave the communication of the East Wash
ngton Citizens Association the full con-
liberation which 1t deserves l feel conf
Dent that the action of the board will be
|rdicious and just AS the law creating the
beard of education, the District of Column
pia appropriation act of June 6, 1900 places
N that board the power to employ and re-
Prove all teachers. officers and other en-
Pioyes connected with the public schools,
md also gives the board complete jurisdic-
ION over all administrative matters con-
lected with the public schools neither the
commissioners nor anyone else except the
board OF education, can decide this ques-
ion.
AS have stated before, 1 do not volun-
Ger advice TO the board of education about
UGH matters, but the board is aware that
am ready to give advice whenever / am
Rsked for 1t by the board or any member
II. Let me remind you that the members
pr the board are j. HoldSworth Gordon DR.
Richard ktngsman. E. Southard Parker.
President Charles w. Needham James F.
Bundy and Mrs. ]. r. Francis all of whom
have, am sure, the confidence of the COM
nunity and are known for their deep per-
Feral Interest in the Welfare of the public
schools"
Petition Will Receive Attention.
The president of the board of education.
dr. J. Holdworth Gordon, said this morn
ing:
''The memorial of the East Washington
Citizens Association has not reached the
board yet. All know Is what has been
Ptated In the papers. To questions asked
ne whether the action of the association
will necessitate the meeting of the school
board. / have said no call for such meet
ng has been issued and l know of none in
contemplation.
TT would be impossible for me to say
with many members of the board absent
rom the city. what the action of the
BOARD may be. When a petition signed by
fuch gentlemen as compose the executive
committee of the East Washington AS
Fociation is made to the board it is nat
~ fIar, 81 .@,.