Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-30
CASE TO BE RE0PENED
MCKINLEY SCHOOL TROUBLE
AGAIN BEFORE THE BOARD.
Protests Against Retention Of Prin-
cipal Gardner Presented Last Night
Other Business Matters.


cation at its next meeting. as indicated by
statement OF the president of the board
at the meeting last evening that, In conse-
Quence of the protest of parents against the
tabling OF the superintendent recon-
mendation for Mr., Gardner to be deposed
the matter will have due consideration
The statement Of the president was made
In consequences of an oral protest by Mr.
John B. Mccarthy for parents and Mr.
Harold b. Marston for a member of the
alumni.
Mr.. Mccarthy said with respect to the
postponing of decision in regard to the
charges OF the teachers In the school
against Mr.. Gardner that he did not repre-
sent any anti-Gardner faction. but parents
VINO insisted upon the adoption of the re-
port OF Superintendent Stuart; that Mr..
Gardner should be removed and some one
else appointed to take charge of the school.
1t was well known, he said. that the super
intendent has repudiated Mr.. Gardner, and
1t is not fair that he should be allowed to
stay there any longer in view of the report
or the superintendent and the action OF
the larger part of the faculty, who lacked
confidence In Mr.. Gardner and who under
the circumstances would not be expected to
cooperate with him, 1t mattered not how
much they desired to do So
Demand for Action.
I'VE want action and decision" he said.
There has already been too much post
ponement, delay and endeavor to escape re-
sponsiblity. 1t will not do to engage In
such tactics any longer.
The great majority of the patrons of
the school, he insisted with some warmth,
feel that this entire school year has been
failure The boys and girls have suffered
from It, and the people who pay the bills
think that there should be an end to this
state of things, and the sooner the better.
There is more uncertainty and indecision
there since the last meeting of the board
than ever. and 1t is growing worse day by
day. 1t is an injury to all concerned; is
costly and unfair to all interests. 1t is not
fair to Mr. Gardner to allow him to remain
at the school without the Endorsements of
his superior, the superintendent CO the
schools and the majority of the faculty
there, who are paid to teach classes instead
OF spending their time In defending them
selves from absurd charges and inter-
ferences.
80 far he said only those who IA
vored the permanent retention of Mr.. Gard
ner had appeared before the board. The
other parents were willing to allow matters
to run themselves, having every confidence
In the ability and judgment of Superinten-
dent Stuart. They had a general idea, as
the developments proved, that the great
mass of testimony taken would show that
the charges were substantiated in every
essential particular. Indeed they were
urged by the teachers to keep away from
the board on the theory that the testimony
that had been taken would demonstrate
that the principal was not the proper person
to perform the duties for which he was
employed.
II am sure" he continued, chat all par
ents agree that there should be some final
action and that 1t is injurious to the school
to further delay postpone action The
interests involved are important and are
deserving of the fullest consideration"
Mr.. Mccarthy said he spoke spontane-
ously, and that, had there been any or
ganized efforts, hundreds of parents would
protest against Mr. Gardeners retention.
Spoke as Graduate.
Mr.. H. B. Marston said that he is a
graduate of the school of the class of
1903, the first to be graduated from the
Mckinley building, and that he expressed
the opinion of many of the alumni when
he said that Mr.. Gardner had had great
chance to make a wonderful and practi
cally useful school in the Mckinley, but
that he had failed absolutely. Informed.
as he was, he said, by the president of the
board that the case may be reopened, he
begged the board, in the interest of the
pupils, to take immediate action by sup
porting the recommendation of the prin-
cipal.
Mr.. Marston said he as well as other
alumni knew of conditions in the school
with which the board is still probably not
acquainted, or no such delay could have
been allowed. With respect to the appoint
ment of Mr.. Grant, whom the superinten-
dent has recommended as principal for the
school, Mr.. Marston said that while he him
self had not always been on good terms
with Mr.. Grant, he knew him to be a good
man, capable and an executive such as the
school needs. In conclusion he again re-
quested the board to reopen the case.
Being assured by the president that what
had been said woald be considered, and the
motion to adjourn being put the board
closed the session.
Several others spoke to members in favor
OF Immediate action and Mrs. Francis said
that as for herself she had voted Mo- on
the tabling motion, believing that the SUI
perintendent should have been sustained,
but as she had done so 1t was not possible
for her to move that the matter be reopen
ed. She told DR.. Kingman and Mrs. West
that it was their opportunity.
Other Business Considered.
Previous to the statements by parents the
board performed some routine business.
Leaves of absence were granted to May
Dining, Sue H. Gardner and NJ C. McGill,
teachers. J. T. Layton was promoted to as
sistant director of music in colored schools.
to succeed Harriet Gibbs, who resigned.
Permission was granted to the class of the
Eastern High School to give two playettes
on the night of June 15 in the interest OF
the class annual
Narx,, ,f