Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-02
CR|T|C|SE THE BOARD
Speakers at Mass Meeting Ex-
press Their Views.
AFFAIRS OF LOCAL SCHOOLS
Resent Action in Cases Of Mrs. Cooper
and Others.
THE PUBLIC Is TO BE EDUCATED
Resolutions Adopted Embracing an
Appeal to Superintendent Chancel-
lor-Committee Appointed.
AFFAIRS OF LOCAL SCHOOLS
THE PUBLIC Is TO BE EDUCATED

lStl StTeel bdptlSt OHuTCH ldSt-TeNcEIuS
under the auspices of the colored citizens
committee on public school affairs, Rev.
DR.. Walter H. Brooks offered prayer, turn
ed the meeting over to the committee and
introduced Rev. DIR. s. L. Corrothers,
president. DR.. Corrothers explained the
object of the gathering and among other
things said that the critics who have re-
marked that the committee Is doing and
saying too much about public school af-
fairs could not had failed to note
the errors and blunders of the school
board"
"a few more such blunders and the pub
lie will ask the members of the board to
resign" the speaker asserted. MOT a
single white teacher was peremptorily dis
charged without something being offered
them. This was not SO in the case Of the
colored teachers. Was that just and right?
Why only remove colored teachers? We
want to know. We will not stand for this
conduct of the board. We will let the pub
lie and the whole country knowTsit Mr.
Hughes began his fight on Mrs. Cooper two
years ago and being the foe of Mrs. Cooper
he should not have been allowed to Judge
as to her continuance in the service as
principal Of the NJ Street High School.
Before the attorney of the board told them
that they were in error they had changed
the whole status of the teachers and had to
reverse their hasty and bunglesome work.
The fight has just begun
Resolutions Adopted.
Secretary Charles F. Lane read resolu-
tons, setting forth that there occurred
times in the affairs Of communities when in
cidents arise, SO complex in their nature,
so far-reaching in their effects that the
citizen who is thoroughly committed to
the welfare of the community is frequently
at a loss as to what course to pursue, in
order to subserve the best interests of the
people. But in the matter of the present
moment, it was added. Notwithstanding its
completely and many perplexing features,
the colored people of the District of Co.
lumbia, with one accord, feel that gross
injustice has been done them and the COM
munity In the removal of Mrs. Anna ].
Cooper from the principalship of the NJ
Street High School, where, for so many
years. she has effectively taught and con-
Quoted the affairs of the school to the bene-
fit Of the pupils and the entire satisfaction
of the patrons of the school,
Continuing, 1t was stated that I'VE
view with confidence and respect the
efforts of Superintendent Chancellor as he
strives to adjust the conditions of the
school system, and we feel that while his
Intentions are honest. he has been seduced
into an act of injustice to the people of the
District by attempting to remove Mrs.
Cooper from her position as principal of the
M Street High School" 1t was resolved
that I'VE appeal to Superintendent Chan
| ommend that the board of education re-
scind the action taken and reinstate Mrs
Cooper in the position from which it is at
tempted to Illegally displace her.
Confidence in the mental and the execu-
tive ability Of Mrs. Cooper to conduct and
carry on the affairs Of the high school to
the benefit of it's students and the en-
hancement of the system was expressed
and further it was made plain that I'VE
are unalterably opposed to the activities of
Assistant Superintendent Hughes in affairs
touching the colored high schools, because
OF his avowed belief in the negros inabil-
ity to acquire the higher culture" The SUI
perintendent and board are asked to elimi-
| nate Mr.. Hughes as factor, as the law
requires in arranging for, guiding or con-
trolling in any way or manner, the affairs
Of the M Street High School.
High-Handed Action.
Rev. DR.. E. H. Hunter discussed different
phases of the action of the board respecting
the colored teachers. He said two colored
principals and two teachers were DISCHARGED
in high-handed way" and that the
board misconstrued the whole Jaw and pro-
| ceeded to put out" and put i'm teachers
| at will, regardless of law.
congress- the speaker said, INTENDED
| that no teacher should be dismissed with
out first having hearing. An injustice has
been done and we are going to stand up
and say so. We are going to stand by
whatever is right. The board erred in the
dismissal of the principal of the M Street
| High School and the supervising principal
of the colored schools and two teachers.
When the attorney informed the board that
| it was in error in appointing teachers for
one year, it reversed itself and appointed
teachers without term, which is very in
definite and may mean by the minute, hour
or day. They were certain before that they
had one year at least, but any teacher may
now be removed at any moment for the
| good of the SERVICE whatever that may
be-
Rev. Geo. w. Lee. the next speaker, ex-
requested to attack Mrs. Cooper from the
pulpit and affidavits were handed him to
use. but he refused because he knew moth
ing against Mrs. Cooper.
"a man who will attack a woman with
out cause is no man." the speaker asserted.
THE papers have not hesitated to say that
| the board erred. If the head of that board
had been a District man we would not be
in this muddle nor have this trouble. If
| there is any race that ought to be particu-
| lar about the education Of its children 1t
is the negro race. When it is said that
higher education units the negro for use
fulness that means simply that he will
then have aspirations and instead of hold
ing some other mans horse for nickel he
will have one of his own. and instead of
picking cotton on somebody's farm he will
own and pick cotton on his own farm.
Never until we learn to honor our women
will we be a nation. Say. to the school
D0arQ, DO rlSnL~ ana repent LOT the weak
ness that you now crush may yet rise to
crush you. Treat our girls right
James l.. Neal said that the committee
on collection of facts was actively at work
and that the contentious of the permanent
organization would be pushed to its logical
conclusion.
I'VE will contend until We are right he
said. DIR. Chancellor nominated Mrs. A. ].
Cooper for principal of the M Street High
School. but she was defeated by the votes
of two Of the colored members of the board.
Teachers have been appointed who have
not been examined as required by law.
We propose to attempt to right our wrongs
and see that Justice is done. We are going
to educate the public"
In Mrs. Cooper's Behalf. :.
Rev. Dr. Brooks stated that he had ex-
erted his influence for Mrs. Cooper because
he believed her to be a good woman. Each
deposed teacher is entitled to trial." the
speaker went on to say. They should
have chance to defend themselves. For
the good of the service, any teacher can
be dismissed on a.pretext. 1t is unjust to
dismiss teacher on the bare statement,
for the good of the service and it is wrong
and cowardly. If Mrs. Cooper is incom-
| petent the board should say SO, and prove
1t.
They told us years ago to stop protest