The Washington times., 1906-08-31
COlOred Instructors Were
Named on the Recon-
mendatiOn Of Asst.
Supt. Montgomery.
MATTER THRESHED
BY DR.. CHANCELLOR
Found That Applicants With
"PoOr" Average Preferred
to Those With Good"
Records.

An unusual state of affairs rela-
tive to the recent reappointment Of
class teachers by superintendent
Chancellor has come 10 the notice
of the Board Of Education, and
upon subsequent developments cir
cumstances may arise that wiz
cause CONSERVATION among the
newly appointed eoiored teachers.
The members Of the Board Of Edu-
cation are much Perturbed at the
turn of affairs, and as yet it is prob
Iematic as to what course that body
VIII pursue in Strengthening out the
matter.
DR.. Chancellor has discovered,
much to his dismay, that he has
unconsciously indorsed teachers
whose averages were far below the
standard required of teachers be-
fore they are eligible for reappoint-
ment. This discovery was made
several days ago. and was immedi-
ately called TO the attention Of the
membe-s of ue board 1t was
found that in the list OF eIigibles
submitted to DR.. Chancellor by AS
sistant Superintendent DR.. Winfield
Scott Montgomery, who has com
plete supervision over the colored
division. there were names OF nu-
merous teachers who were not
quite up TO the standard required
in the public schools Of the District.
Investigation Follows.
This discovery led 70 a searching IN
vestigati0n. which, il IS understood, sub
sequeutIv disclosed the fact that there
were recommended for reappOintmeut p
number OF cOlOred teachers that did not
have the required average.
When DR.. Chancellor assumed control
OF the administrative powers OF the
Board Of Education Ee Instructed each
. of the SuperiuJendents OF the different
divisions 20 compile list Of eligible
B teachers for rrapp0intment- The super
intendeut made It clear that under no
[ consideration should a teacher be rec
commended who did not come ND 10 the
requirement of rules. which means that
.
marked good or better would be con-
sidered for reappoiutment Dr. Mont
gOmery, as head Of the col0red system,
was Instructed TO compile a list OF col
Dred teachers who We're eligible under
these conditions for reinstatement AS
slsIant Superintendent Hughes, who
[ looked after the interests OF white teach
/ ers, was instructed 10 do likewise.
List Accepted by Board.
A few days prior TO the last meeting
I of the board, the two assistant superin-
/ tendeDts handed their lists 70 Superin-
/ Jeudent Chancellor. who thought that
each OF his assistants haC followed out
| his instructions. The list was sub
mitted 20 the board Of confirm alton.
I Without going over the list Of 1,4i5
names which DR.. Chancellor had indOrs-
I ed for TeapOinJmeuJ the board took IL
for granted that each of the specified
/ teachers was well qualified for reap
/ DOintment-
In going over the iisU carefully. one
I Of the members Of the board Ch9nCed
/ 10 observe the name Of a cOlored teach
er whom he believed to be unqualified
for reappOintment. He confded his be-
lief 10 DT. Chancellor. who informed
the member that the names had been
selected by the assistant supeTintend-
ents. and that so Tar as he was aware,
each of the designated teacers was fully
qualified t0s erVc. This information did
ont satisfy the member. He requested
that DR. Chancellor look up the record
of the teaCeT in question. and ascertain
positively If his record were good or
over. This was done. and much 20
Dr. Chancellor s surprise. IL was dlscOv-
cred that the mans average was far
below that required for reappOintment
a systematic investigation Of the en-
tire list of teachers began which he had
passed upon. His investigation revealed
the fact that not only one teacher had
been wrongly recommended. but that
probably half dozen or more had been
likewise reinstated.