Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-22

individual members to resort to certain
schemss ana political deals. which publicity
members Of the board would be more likely
to do right. With oil their acts under pub
he scrutiny. than II permitted to act In
"The public wants to know. and should
know, why the superintendent and board
at hrst sought to evade the plain letter Of
the Law in making certain transfers and
rect attention from their bunglesome
slaughter OF the inn0cents by plun9ing an
apparently legal spear into the supposed
m0rfbund bodies OF their victims. Thus
legal tangfe. into which they have plunged.
contrary to the superintendent's published
judgment that the real intent of the law
wa. was to protect every teacher in his posi-
pressed to several reputable citizens. that
the law required him to recommend Mrs.
cooper as principal Of the NJ Street High
which he acknowledged he did not have.
More Light Needed.
''The public wants to know. and should
know. how the good OF the service Is to
be accomplished by the dismissal from the
service of teachers who. to say the least.
were among the best on the rolls. and to
der obligations because Of the self-sacrifc-
ing manner in which they have given their
time. their rich endowment Of talent and
their purity and sweetness of life toward
the general educational and social uplift Of
all the people. 1t Is hard for the ordinary
parent to understand why the teacher who
wins and helps pupils should be displaced
by one who repels and discourages. 1t Is
also hard for any but q professional educa-
tionalist to understand how 1t Is that the
element Of sympathy in a person disquali-
mes that person for the princpalship of
school.
'The public wants to know and should
know how It was possible for a new super
intendent, unacquainted with the personnel
or our teaching force, in the short length Of
time he has held the office, and before any
opportunity for observing their work was
onered, to form an honest, fair intelligent
Judgment, concerning the fitness Of 1900
teachers. such as prepared him to recon-
mend the dismissal Of any. Nor Is 1t easy
to understand how the new board which
had not been brought into Official contact
with the teaching force in harness could
allow itself to confirm unjust recommended
lions to dismiss teachers whom every men,
Der OF the board knew had not been tested.
board: as to their fitness. The action Of the
superintendent and the board on this point
does not appeal to the public as containing
any of the elements Of the square DEAL
"Good Of the Service"
THE public wants to know and should
know II the superintendent and board OF
education now take the position that the
law upholds them in arbitrarily Diminishing
teachers upon that dreamy, vague, mean
ingless. cowardly. yet damaging assignment
OF cause. viz, for the good Of the service
No teacher in the system Is safe for a day
II that Is the theory under which the board
for the protection Of teachers under trial or
investigation. Is reduced to an <absurdity II
the statements Of individual members of the
board. whispered in private and talked over
ence. as against the public viii, the judg-
ments OF the one man whose ipse dixit.
sanctioned by the board. must be accepted
as law and gospel. 1t cannot he for a mo-
to put in jeopardy the living reputation
and professional character Of the great
teaching body.
the cause. and it is with a view to encour-
aging all to perform their duty in this re-
gard that this expression Of views has
been given to the public. No one should be
Indifferent.
Let every citizen take a greater interest
In our public school affairs. Let US in
form ourselves Of the requirements Of the
law and as to what is going on. Let us
cAcEClS0 the Il&nI Oh petltlOn to the board
Of education. to the court, to Congress Let
us insist on the greatest publicity respect
Ing the acts of the public servants who.
for the time being. are expected to admin
lister the law. Let us expose wrongs wher-
ever found In the system, and insist on the
abolishment Of methods which breed and
sustain faHoritism, partially and political
trading. Let us give time, talent and
means to assist in the prosecution Of the
contemplated suits, as q means of securing
g. 1nSt INTERPRETATION Of the existing law
and let us hold public meetings to crystal
lie sentiment against the injustice now be-
Ing heaped upon innocent teachers and a
powerless public"
Officers Elected.
A permanent organization was then per-
fected, to be known as the citizens commit
tee on public school affairs. with Rev. Dr.
8. L. Corrothers as president, Charles E.
Lane. secretary. and Rev. DR.. E. H. Hunter,
treasurer.
The following committees were then
named:
On collection Of facts in school controver-
sy-Attorneys. ]. l.. Neal. E. H. Hunter, T.
A. johnson and George W. Jackson
On mass meetings-Rev. DR.. D. Z. WISE
man. F. D. Lee. o. T. Taylor. Rev. J. L.
Jasper. George w. Jackson q. 8. Mabry,
w. A. Stewart.
On printing-Thomas A. johnson, F. D.
Lee and c. E. Lane.
It was decided to print the address In
pamphlet form for gratuitous distribution
to the public to crystalline and arouse senti-
ment and thus facilitate Investigation,