Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-14
HIGH SCHOOL INQUIRY
DIVISION APPARENT IN EAST
WASHINGTON ASSOCIATION.
Mr.. Nottingham Defends Principal
Swartzell in Testimony Before
Board Of Education.


Association became apparent at the investi-
CATION last night by the board OF education
Of the affairs Of the Eastern High School.
e. I. Nottingham, chairman Of the school
committee of the East Washington Asso-
citation. who Is said to have made per-
sonal and thorough investigation Of the
charges against Mr. Swartzell. extending
over several weeks, when asked whether
the principal should be retained. replied In
the affirmative. This action of Mr.. Noting
ham is considered particularly significant
when 1t is remembered that the association.
of which he is presumably the best qualified
member to speak on educational matters,
has, in opposition to his views, repeatedly
requested the removal of Mr.. Swartzell.
Mr.. Nottingham said that there was
merely lack of tact charged against the
by people when the other fellow fails TO
agree with them. 1t was pointed out that
the business mems committee had found
many OF the charges baseless and absurd;
and had sustained the principal in many of
his decisions. The mere assertion of lack
of tact. started by the disaffected pupils,
who had resented measures of discipline,
Mr. Nottingham derided. He said no charge
or faVorit1sm could be maintained; he him
self had made fruitless effort to find a
trace of it. Mr.. Swartzell is being perse-
cuted, he said, by those whose wrongs are
purely imaginary. Not opposed to athlet-
les. the principal had proba bly, won the an
tagonsm Of those who cannot see the wis
dom of subordinating such contests to
scholarship.
Asked by member of the board whether
he thought the people of Capitol Hill were
In favor of Mr.. SwartzelFs retention he re-
pned that any calculations of the percentage
OF those faVoring the principal were mere
guesswork The petitions, however he add
ed, started by two pupils of the school had
received only 200 signatures and had not
been presented.
Views of Witnesses.
Seated about the long library table were
the various witnesses summoned by Mr.
Swartzell. There through the evening, until
IL o'clock, as after another was ad-
mitted into the secret session of the board
discussion as to- Mr.. Swartzells wrongs
waxed strong. Roy Hilton said:
Mr.. SwartZell has always treated the pu-
pills of the school with perfect fairness and
the so-called revolution is merely the rebel
lion of few. 1t is the athletic crowd and
their parents who have caused the trouble"
Another said: Mr.. Swartzell has been
made the subject of outrageous persecu-
ton. What man or woman will care to take
charge of the Eastern High School now?
No teacher is safe from the attacks of the
undisciplined If Mr.. Swartzell is not sus-
tanned. 1t Is disgrace to the school sys-
tenn that the board has entered upon the in
vestigation.'
Another said: TT is only a question of
time when the faculty will be attacked
Every pupil will feel encouraged to wreak
his spite upon any teacher who fails to per-
nit him to do he pleases. If Mr.. SWart-
zell has to go more will follow"
"A decision in the case will probably be
reached said an official of the board, to
morrow or Saturday. Tonight additional
witnesses for Mr.. SWartZell have been sum
moned They are E. o. Schneider. Henry
Schneider, Mrs. Daniel Birtwell John F.
Cash, Herman Gauss. B. Bryan. S. E. Stone
braker and Richard A. Pyles
Mr.. Luckett who opposes Mr.. Swartzell,
has been called by the board.
Concerted Action Probable.
There is a rumor that a concerted action
will be made by pupils and teachers to Sc
cure the retention of Mr.. Swartzell.
Mr.. Fred G. Coldren, who has been ex-
pected to testify for the committee of the
Business Mems Association, Of which he
was the chairman. again failed to appear
Albert l. Shulteis, secretary of the COM
mittee. reiterated the resolutions submit
ted to the board. Mr.. James F. Oyster,
president of the association, was at the
office. but not before the board. He left
word that Chairman Coldren was detained
In the country.
Unanimous Sentiment of Members.
Mr.. Thomas w. Smith, president of the
East Washington Citizens Association.
when asked today concerning the action Of
Mr.. Nottingham before the board of edu-
cation last night, said
The resolutions which our association
sent the board of education were based
upon the unanimous sentiment of the mem
bers. l think If the papers are examined
Mr. Nottingham's name will be found
among those Of the other members of the
executive committee. Two full meetings
were held at the home of Mr.. Babson and
there was a complete discussion of the
difficulty at the Eastern High School. No
part of the question, as far as We could
judge, omitted
Mr.. Nottingham on both occasions paid
a high tribute to the character and at
tainments of Mr.. Swartzell, concerning
which l suppose there is no dispute. Ger
tainly when summoned before the board of
educatio Mr.. Michael Weller and l had
no less to say for Mr. SwartZell than was
said at meetings by Mr.. Nottingham,
but when I, to be certain, asked him
whether, even in view of these considera-
lions, the principal should be retained at
the Eastern, Mr.. Nottingham said No
LAS to the propriety of keeping Mr..
Swartzell at the Eastern there no dis
senting voice, and the resolutions to that
effect were signed by every member of the
committee. / do not know why Mr.. Not
tingham put his name to that document IT,
as / a told, he now urges Mr.. Swartzelrs
retention