Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-05
REFUSES TO CONSIDER.
Board of Education Declines to
Hear Charges
AGAINST COLORED TEACHER
Dramatic Incident Occurs at Meeting
Held Last Night.
BUSINESS MATTERS DISPOSED OF
Delay in Construction OF School Build
ing in Brookland Explained
School Gardening.
BUSINESS MATTERS DISPOSED OF

Charges against Grace NJ Campbell,
colored teacher assistant director Of kim
dergartens, filed by Mrs. Annie E. Murray,
a colored citizen interested in education,
and consequent bitter attack upon the
board of education, resulted dramatically
last evening at the meeting of the board
Mrs Murray presented communication,
the specific purpose Of which was to re-
open the hearing OF the charges she had
made against Miss Campbell. Mrs. Muir
ray attended the meeting of the board
one week since, and had been refused
hearing, the committee In charge Of the
matter, Mrs. West. chairman. having rec
commended that no good purpose would be
served by further investigation.
Mrs. Murray waited until the board had
convened last evening, when she handed a
communication to the clerk with the re-
quest that 1t be read. President Gordon
objected to the reading of the letter until
some member of the board had first learned
Its contents. After reading the communi-
cation Mr. Gordon announced that he would
oppose having it read aloud or become
part of the minutes of the meeting, mas
much as It related to a. matter already
decided
Mrs. Murray, 1t Is understood, made
charges against Miss Campbell to the eff
feet that she had furnished unreliable in
IOTIHatlOU 10 d HOUSE COHlIlHttGG III Cuil.
travention to certain statements made also
to the committee by Mrs. Murray.
President Gordon's Statement.
President Gordon stated that in addition
to the matter already decided and closed
by the board, the communication attacked
the board and particularly one of the men,
bers. His view of the matter that the
board call a peremptory halt on the read
ing In p1ea Of OF cfrc of
It's members was unanimously concurred
In by the other members.
Mrs Murray then demanded to know
whether the board would consider the COM
munication, and was informed that the
matter had been disposed of and anything
bearing on the subject was irrevent. la
Text of the Communication.
Mrs. Murray's communication, which the
board declined to consider is in part as
follows:
ITO the Board of Education: In conform
ity with your rule that all statements or
communications be in writing, submit the
following:
II am not satisfied with the conclusions of
the committee on teachers and 5anitors as
embodied In their report on the charges
made by me against Miss Grace NJ Camp
bell | fail to see how such conclusion
could be reached since l was not notified to
come before them and present my side of
TIE tdse Against Sucn star chamber pro-
ceedings protest, and will contest them to
the last resource.
The assumption of the committee that
they can arbitrarily decide a case In which
citizen is interested in advance of hear
Ing both sides, is which, to say the
most for it, is unusual and vicious In prin-
ciple. Too often, In the judgment of many,
has the board .squelched the right Of the
citizens to be heard in matters of deep con-
Germ to them, and thereby has divorced If
not forfeited, public confidence
Taking up the conclusions of the COM
nittee as set forth In their report on my
charges, copy of which has been fur
nished me, find the following:
The issue between Mrs. Murray and Miss
Campbell is not necessarily one of vera city
but grows out of a difference of informa-
ton, Interpretation, and point of view.
The foregoing is untrue and shows
how culpable is the attempt Of the com
mittee to decide the case ex parte.
What Was Desired.
Had the committee heard the testimony
l am prepared to produce they would have
| saved themselves the criticism they must
! now be prepared to meet and avoided an
amazing biunder. l asked that Miss Camp
| bell be required TO prove the statements
| contained in her letter, and, on falling to
! do SO. be required to withdraw them. /
| submit 1t TO the Judgment of the impair tial
! citizens OF Washington whether in SO re-
| questing, | exceeded my rights as a reputa-
| bic citizen of the community.
1T was claimed on the part Of the ad-
| vocates of paid board that the citizens
would be more conscientiously served but
| what is the fact? The very first demand
! made by a citizen to be heard In defense
| of her character for truthfulness Is evad-
| ed on the score that other citizens might
| see in It precedent and claim too much
| of the boards time. the time they are paid
| 10 give. This is a new idea and indicates
| that the board will give only such time to
| school matters as IL can conveniently. ! do
| not think the people of Washington will
| support the board OF education in this view
Each case presented must be heard pa
/ tiently, hearing both sides, and then de-
| Gliding. Such view that Of the commit
| tee quoted above inlicates low estimate of
| the people of Washington touching school
| matters. since 1t would debar them being
decently heard on matters concerning them,
because II fears they will abuse the priv
ilege
I'm view OF the foregoing 1t is not
strange that l was barred the privilege OF
making this expose through a trial of my
charges. Is 1t strange that Mrs. West rec
commended that no investigation be held, as
it would serve good purposeY
But IL would have served useful pui-
pose by showing how matters vitality I'M
portant and concerning the management of
our schools are handled by their public
servants and how the Judgment Of Congress
on school matters is falsely colored.
Il still insist that the letter and petition
bearing on this matter, and now in the
possession OF the subcommittee, be with
drawn
GSigued) ANNA E. MURRAY"
Ways, Means and Supplies
| means and supplies, submitted the regular
/