Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-26
A CHAOTIC SITUATION
WASHINGTON SCHOOL CoNDI-
TONS ARE~THUs DESCRIBED.
From the New York Evening Post.

From the New York Evening Post
Since the law made great improvement
in the relations of the school board to the
superintendent and ordered the establish
ment of examinations for teachers and prin-
cfpals, while regulating the duties of the
board and safeguarding its appointees, it
might have been expected that the long-de-
manded reorganization would now be pro-
ceeding peacefully. Instead, there has de-
veloped a chaotic situation over which the
whole District seems to be in arms, which
can only handicap DR.. Chancellor and is
doing great injury to the school system.
We have neither. time nor space to go into
the details; nor have we the desire to side
with any of the numerous cliques which
have been developed. 1t is, however, neces-
sary to record that some of those persons
who worked earnestly for the new law are
now most severe in their criticisms Of what
has been done since the new board took
Office. 1t is charged that that body has
openly violated the law, and there is diff
ference of official opinion on this point;
that there has been favoritism in the ap-
pointment of some teachers, and that there
has been great bias shown in the removal
of others.
The situation was certainly vexed enough
without the Injection of the color question
Yet the board almost seems to have pro-
ceeded with the deliberate intent of raising
the cry of race prejudice We hold no
briefs for either the white or colored teach
ers that have been forced out or dismissed.
The removals in each and every case may
have been for just cause, but, granting that
they were, the method of removing the COL
ored teachers was tactless. That the three
colored members of the board consented to
it in no wise alters the situation. To take
but one case: Mrs. A. ]. Cooper, principal
of 10 ictr lot
teacher for nineteen years, was dismissed
for the good of the service" without
charges, hearing or investigation, and is
still in ignorance of the real reason for her
summary removal The new assistant su-
perintendent, Mr.. Hughes, at whose door
the responsibility for this summary action
is laid, had had, as supervisor of high
schools, a long controversy with Mrs
Cooper, which had resulted in his not being
sustained by the old school board. Her re-
moval under a stigma, when white princi-
pals, under the same circumstances, were
permitted to resign, has naturally created
a belief-rightly or wrongly-that she is the
victim of an old grudge.
The more recent cases of Principals
Keene and Swartzell. both white men. have
also aroused the public. The former was
dropped, his friends charge, without no.
tice or explanation to him, or opportunity
to defend, explain or resign. after no less
than forty years of service. Perhaps DR..
Chancellor-in whose hands such matters
rest, sinces the law provides that no sub
ordinate can be appointed, promoted, trans
ferred or dismissed by the board without
his recommendation in writing-felt that
Mr.. Keene was superannuated. But what
way to discharge an old and faithful
employee! No sane business enterprise could
afford to treat its workmen in this wise,
much less an administrative body pledged
to equity and justice In its smallest en-
deavors. We have no desire to do Dr.
Chancellor any Injustice indeed, We ear
nestly wish for his success. But 1t is per-
fectly obvious that the grave mistakes thus
far made in the manner of reorganizing the
teaching force are sufficient to handicap
him for the rest of his stay in Washing
ton. The bitter feeling already created
cannot, it seems to us. be expected to die
out for years to come. 1t must make very
difficult the minor reforms. such as the ad-
justment of salaries. the consolidation of
schools. ETC.. etc. That there will be con-
gressional inquiry into what has taken
place seems inevitable and desirable, par
ticularly as the dismissed teachers are TAX:
ing their grievances into the courts.