Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-22
ENTERS ITS PROTEST
Citizens Committee Scores
Board of Education
CONCERNING DiSMISSALS
CONCERNING
Action in Case Of Mrs. Cooper and
Others Denounced % Arbitrary.
DIR. CHANCELLOR IS CRITICISED
Address Issued to Public and Per-
manent Organization Effected to
Fight Cases in Courts.


at Galbraith African Methodist Episcopal
Zion Church, on 9th street northwest, last
night to father the plan to carry the con-
tests Of Mrs. A. J. Cooper and Prof. ]. L.
Love. formerly teachers in the M Street
High School, into the District Supreme
Court for settlement. The meeting was pre-
sided over by Rev. DR.. 8. L. Corrothers.
president Of the committee, and Charles E.
Lane acted as secretary. G. 8. Mabry
stated that the special committee named at
the last meeting to draft an address to the
public was ready to report. Rev. E. II.
Hunter read the report which. after dis
cussion. was adopted and ordered given to
the press. 1t follows. in part.
Text Of Address.
.rThis committee, representing the senti-
ments Of the great mass of citizens and
patrons interested in our educational sys-
tenn, submits the following statement of
grievances against certain recent actions of
the superintendent Of schools and the board
Of education which seem to strike at the
perpetuity and integrity Of our public school
system. Two important questions are LETT
altogether unsettled and confused IN the
public mind by their actions. and. In 50
far as any attempt to settle them has been
made, they have. to the mind of the aver
age citizen, been decided contrary to the
rights and obligations involved. Inc Ques-
tons referred to are:
Il. Whether taxpayers, citizens and par
ents Of the children have any right to ex-
pect respectful and considerate treatment
schools and the board Of education, or was
1t the design Of Congress, in passing the
new legislation affecting our schools, to
create an oligarchy Of nine members. who
should control the distinies OF our school.
in conjunction with tool Of their own
choice, and in accordance with the whims.
personal spite and political schemes of de-
signing persons on the lizard, who have
no interest In thc children or the public
we':re, and in whom the people have no
cOnfdenceY
'2 Was the recent act Of Congress pro-
vdlng for the creation of a new board of
education designed to regulate teachers
salaries increase the powers and duties OF
the superintendent. and give greater pro-
lection to worthy teachers, as appears both
from the letter and the spirit Of the law. or
was 1t simply enacted as a platform upon
which nine persons were to get control of
the reins Of school government, and after
selecting q shrewd manipulation for the ex-
ecution OF their designs. to show their dis
regard Of the lawmakers. the people and
the teachers. by dashing down the tablets
of the law and breaking them in pieces?
Furnishes Example.
"Our grievances and protest take form
largely around the cases of dismissal from
the teaching force, and the NJ Street High
School principalship furnishes the best ex-
ample OF the Irregularities against which We
complain. The facts are these:
Mrs. Anna J. Cooper has for years rem
sdered valuable and distinguished services
in the educational work of the District Of
Columbia. The people Of the District know
1t and the people at large appreciate it.
BY her administration the standard and
prestige Of the M Street High School have
been advanced, and this in spite of the
persistent and unrelenting opposition Of the
man who Is chiefly responsible for the
wrong that has been done her. After
protracted and trying investigation OF her
administration of the school upon charges
brought by the former director Of high
schools, the board of education exonerated
her and continued her at the head Of the
M Street High School controversy. and
after careful elaboration abolished the
office of director of high schools. The
former incumbent was made assistant SUI
perintendent Of the white schools by the
new board of education. and as such has
used, according to the representations OF
the new Superintendent. his influence
head of the school. This continued and
persistent persecution has resulted in her
dismissal by the new board. under cir
cumstances and in q manner which we
believe to be illegal and which we know to
be unjust.
MRS Cooper's case is here cited as
typical and leading one. Except as to the
degree of personal animus displayed by
certain officials and members Of the board,
the several cases of dismissal are practi-
cally the same. The same high-handed, Sc
cret proceedings were employed In each, re-
sulting in summary and arbitrary dismis-
sails. There seems to be no moral or legal
doubt that such action Is an invasion and
vip.ation of their common law and statu-
tory rights. 1t Is a duty they owe to them
selves. to the public and to the great body
of teachers. whose tenure of office is in the
balance, to press for their rights and seek
redress for the wrong done them even to
the last limit We commend their loyalty
and public spirit in this matter. and we ap-
peal to an honest. just, generous public to
unite In giving both moral and material aid
to their efforts.
Seek Adjustment Of Rights.
aside from the legal status Of the lille
gally deposed teachers, who are seeking a
proper adjustment OF their rights, there are
certain matters of grave import con-
corning the administration of our schools,
growing out Of and affecting the cases I'M
der consideration, in the settlement of
which the public has vital interest, and
about which the school authorities have no
right to eQuivocate, withhold information
or act in the dark. Thus far the new ad-
ministration. in its short existence, has
done many things to Justify the charge of
incompetence. 1t Is clear that such charge
would not lie against every individual con-
dents published utterances indicate that
he is not in accord with the theory under
which the board finally acted in deposing
certain teachers. for he said in his letter to
The Evening Star of September Is: For
myself, l believe that they were continued
by mere virtue ofthe legislation
Some OF the members Of the board. in
personal conversation. have indicated their
displeasure at the final outcome OF their
action as body. Incompetence. therefore,
is not to be charged against the members
In detail. but against the body as whole.
This disqualification is unfortunately sup
~plemented by an utter disregard for the
law which gave them being and clearly
defined their duties.
I'VE, therefore. wish to set forth some
of the grievances which this committee has
found, upon careful investigation, to be
chargeable against the existing administra-
ton Of our school affairs; and to invite
a calm, careful, thoughtful examination Of
these grievances, in the light of reason,
common sense. fair play and the public
good.
What the Public Should Know.
1.-The public wants to know and should
know why it 10 that practically all the
meetings of the board Of educa ton since Its
organization have been held in secret. when
the law provides that, The organization
meeting and all meetings whatsoever there.