Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-08
SUPPORT MR.. GARDNER
Friends of Tech. School Prin-
cipal Adopt Resolutions.
WILL APPEAR BEFORE BOARD
Boy Students Supplement Work Of
Elders by Demonstration.
SPEECHES EXPRESSIVE OF VIEWS
Patrons of the School Meet at the
Riggs House to Formulate
Their Plans.
WILL APPEAR BEFORE BOARD
SPEECHES EXPRESSIVE OF VIEWS

While mothers and fathers Of pupils at
tending the Mckinley Manual Training
School were assembled last evening in the
pariors of the Riggs House, grayely and
earnestly considering measures in support
of the retention of Mr.. A. s. Gardner as
principal of the school. a corps of enthu-
Stastic students of the institution gathered
or the street below and interrupted the de-
alterations of their seniors with noisy trib-
ute to Mr.. Gardner. Lusty cheers for the
principal of the Mckinley School arose
again and again. until the speechmaking in
his honor had to be suspended for a time.
This strenuous Endorsement of Mr.. Card
ner on the part of the boys under his SUI
pervision came in the midst of a flow of
speeches in which emphasis was given to
the contention that as a whole the student
body of Mckinley School is heartily in IA
vor of the present principal, and that the
best index to the work of a teacher or ex-
ecutive head of school is to be found in
the estimate lof the scholars. Coming in
that connection the demonstration was ac-
cepted as happy augury for the success
of the undertaking.
A little later set of resolutions was
UNANIMOUSLY adopted commencing In high
terms the administration of Nh Gardner
and expressing the conviction that 1t would
be for the best interests of the school to re-
tain him In his present position. Thereafter
committee of seventy-fve, comprising
those who attended the meeting was APP
pointed TO meet this evening at o'clock at
the Franklin School for the purpose of pre-
senting the resolutions to the board Of edu-
cation.
Substance of the Resolutions
The resolutions were prefaced by the
statement that the report recently submit
ted by Mr.. A T. Stuart, superintendent of
schools. to the board of education recon-
mending the reduction of Mr.. Gardner from
the prfncipalship to a subordinate position
had been laid on the table by the board.
II was then recfted that it had come to
the knowledge of the patrons attending the
meeting that certain teachers of the school
who Joined in the original charges against
the principal were actively circulating a
petition looking to the reopening of the
case against Mr.. Gardner. This action It
was added, the patrons regarded as "detri-
mental to the school and the proper main
tenanee of discipline? 1t was further as
serted that the patrons are entirely salts
ned with the present and past administra-
ton of Mr.. Gardner as principal and en-
terrain complete confidence in his ability
integrity and sound judgment The resolu-
tons closed with the declaration that it is
the unanimous opinion of those attending
the meeting that the best interests of the
school will be subserved by the retention
of Mr.. Gardner in his present position. The
committee which drew up the report con-
sisted of B. F. Edwards chairman: G. A.
Weber, C. c. Holland, DIR. W. w. Alliger
and p H. Dugan.
Purpose of the Meeting.
The meeting was called to order shortly
after o'clock by Mr.. B. F. Edwards. who
was elected chairman. Mr.. C. w. Nelson
was chosen secretary. In explaining the
purpose of the gathering the chairman said
that 1t was called ito uphold the present
nigh standard of the Mckinley Manual
Training School and to sustain the principal
IN his honest endeavors to advance the in
terests of the institution" Mr. Edwards
deplored the fact that the peopIe of the
District are without suffrage, and therefore
ne said, have no opportunity to make their
rights and wishes known in such cases other
than by assembling for a discussion of
grievances and presenting petitions to the
authorities. His call for voluntary speeches
was responded to by goodly number of the
patrons.
Mr. Edward E. Holman stated that as q
patron of the school he is thoroughly sat
ished with the administration of Mr. Gard
ner. He said Mr.. Gardner In his work
showed tact common sense and a desire
10 90 justice. When complaints are made
by parents, Mr. Holman said. the princi-
pal Is accustomed to hearing them defer
enually and at once starting a thorough
and effective investigation Mr. George r
Strobe said he had been informed that GER
tain teachers of the Mckinley School had
been lately attempting to persuade patrons
to sign d petition asking for Mr. Gardeners
removal He said he had been told that
the plea used by the teachers in question
was that Mr.. Gardner would have to go
or they would be forced to leave their posi-
lions. If that was true, he declared he
hoped 1t would be the teachers and not Mr.
Gardner who would leave the school.
Mr.. ]. n. Sturtzer commented upon what
he considered to be the excellent work of
the principal. and Mr.; w. ]. Brooks de-
that the institution could have attained the
good results shown In the accomplishments
of It's students If 1t had not had an eff
ficient head. Mr.. Gardner the speaker said
had always been courteous in his dealings
with scholars and considerable of their
rights, at the same time maintaining dis
ciplne.
1t was the opinion of Mr.. Edward Web
ster that it would be exceedingly difficult
to find another educator in this city who
can take Mr.. Gardeners place and continue
the work of the school without detriment
to the scholars. He declared that the prfn-
cipal had the absolute confidence and re-
spect Of the students.
DR.. Alliger had substantially the same to
say in regard to the attitude of the pupils
toward the principal He thought 1t would
be a serious mistake to make change, and
declared the opinion that the charges
against Mr. Gardner were the work of dis
contented teachers"
Bad as Epidemic of Disease.
Mr.. C. c. Holland expressed the convic-
ton that discord in a School is nearly as
bad as epidemic of some dreadful dis
ease. He thought that IL the issue had
been narrowed down to the point that If the
principal was retained many of the teachers
would go they should be allowed to get out
at once. In that case he would be in favor
of speeding their withdrawal. He insisted
that the best index which can be. found of
ter than the opinion of -teachers-is
the value which children place upon their
work. He wasssdre that in the light of
this test Mr.. Gardner would be found to
ton.
Mr.. G. A. Weber the next speaker, said
he had made study Of manual training
in the schools of this country, France and
Switzerland. and asserted that he had never
hetter yszork done ar,,1y here than At the