Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-24
Mr.. Parker's Views.


IneN MT. BdIhcE rose, StSluS-
IT seems monstrous 10 me that with all
his array Of charges disproved the super
inteudent would still humiliate a teacher
who has given his life work to building up
this magnificent system. and further to de-
grade him and drive him from the school,
for he has too much spunk to remain il
reduced In rank. l answer to the superin-
tendent concerning his charges with a
downright not so We are not compelled
to sustain the sup erintendent and l wash
my hands Of such infamy if this board votes
10 do So
Mr. Parker then threatened to resign by
July If such action were taken, and, with
some amusement, the other members of the
board murmured that they supposed they
would all go anyhow.
The Superintendent has done what he
ought not to have done, continued Mr..
Parker. The Mckinley is out rough
seas. She has mutinous crew. Had our
superintendent done his duty he would have
summoned those teachers and. as In the
navy army. would have said, stand up.
Fire
The lawlessness of the Mckinley School. +"
he continued will breed riots. 1t will breed
assassination. and unless we sustain the
principal We shall reap the whirIwind'
DR., Needham said he was disappointed. as
he had expected the superintendent to point
out particulars to sustain his findings.
This is, ne said, plainly a controversy
between the technical and academic por-
tons of the faculty. l should have been
more impressed If the technical teachers
had attacked Mr.. Gardner and the academic
sustained HIM"
DR.. Needham continued: The patrons of
the school sustain the principal, and in two
other cases of the trial of principals the at
titude OF the parents has much Influenced
this board. l would not think of setting up
my judgment against the parents of pupils
IN the schools Their interest is evidence
entitled to the greatest weight. MIR. Cham
Derlaiu. the director. also sustains the prin-
ytDai and ne certainly oP him
than does the superintendent, and must
know him better. There are absolutely no
facts TO show that the principal has not the
sympathy OF his teachers"
Defense of MI Stuart.
Dr. Kingsman then arose to the defense
OF the superintendent. saying:
Il feel guilty In this matter. We should
not have placed the responsibility of this
Investigation upon the superintendent He
has been connected with ths-schools thirty
five years and no one has ever dared TO
impugn his motives his honesty. He
knows more of education and school method
law than all of us pct together. What Is
position II we show lack of conf
dence in his judgment?"
Mrs. Francis said:
DIR. Needham and Mr. Parker are new
and inexperienced members. and IL they
understood the condition of the Mckinley
School as we OF the Industrial committee
do they would understand that for six
years now we have had trouble there More
than year ago DIR. Kingsman said We
must do something, but MIR. Chamberlain
always stood up for Mr.. Gardner. and.
must say. Mr.. Stuart stood up for Mr..
Chamberlain and we did nothing. We have
held up his hands, knowing him to be
weak. and now the fires there have become
confiagration, and something must be
done"
Asked by Mr.. Bundy whether his recon-
mendation was based on the testimony or
other and previous intelligence of the con-
dition OF Mr.. Gardeners work. Mr.. Stuart re-
piled that in his opinion the testimony Is
sufficient condemnation of the man, but that
IL merely reinforces what ne had known.
President Gordon then arose. as he said
to speak as a matter OF justice.
ri believed at the time the charges were
Il Brought, and / believe now, that the
board should have made this inyestiEa-
!. ton itself It was probably afraid, and 50