Evening star., 1906-09-09
NJ STREET HIGH SCHOOL
PATRONS URGING THE RETEN-
TON OF PRINCIPAL.
Alleged That Those Opposed to Her
Are Overreaching the Provisions
Of the Law.

Superintendent Chancellor's announce
mcnt last week that the four vacant
principalships in the local high schools
would be filled by competitive examira
tion has not dampened the ardor of the
friends of Mrs. Cooper, who was principal
of the NJ Street High School under the old
regime. Several meetings have already
been held to devise means of bring ing
before DIR. Chancellor and the members
of the board of education the views of
the patrons of this school on the ma ter,
AMI another is planned for this week.
Delegations galore have called at the
Franklin building and numerous petitions
have been presented ip her behalf. Never
theless, DR.. Chancellor has refused to con-
tinue her in office, as he has done in the
cases of several other principals.
a patron of the NJ Street school, and a
warm friend of Mrs. Cooper, outlined the
feeling of those who are working for her
in statement to a Star reporter yester-
day.
Favored by Majority.
THE NJ Street High School," he said,
lis the one academic high school for the
colored people, and the parents and pa
irons interested are almost to a man for
Mrs. Cooper as principal, which position
she has held since January 1902 The
newly appointed superintendent of
schools. DR.. William E. Chancellor ac-
knowledges that the people of the COM
munity are overwhelmingly for ,er con-
tinuance in office. is shown by petit
tions personal letters and delegations of
representative citizens expressing in
dorsement of ber administration of the
school.
The former director of high schools,
Mr. p. M. Hughes, the one official of the
former system legislated out of office by
tho new law, has been appointed assistant
superintendent. Mr.. Hughes has for two
years fought Mrs. Cooper because she has
insisted upon the same curriculum and
equal opportunities in the colored as in
the white schools. Legally, Mr.. Hughes
can have no connection with any of the
cclcred schools; but as the power next to
the throne he continues his persecution OF
Mrs Cooper by opposing her 'reappoint-
ment' and that of several members of her
staff, notably Mr.. Love and Mr.. Wilkin-
soa,, who loyalty co-operated with her in
the administration of the school.
Tactics of Opposition.
The white members of the board of
education seem, by courtesy to leave the
selection of colored teachers to three COL
cred members, one of whom has been
openly and actively opposing the n Street
High School and is hostile to Mrs. Cooper
An alliance of one other with him is about
to defeat the wishes of the community
and work a great injustice.
In the meantime heads of departments
havs been selected without recommends
ton of principal and otherwise contrary
to both the letter and the spirit of the
law. Thus a combine of two members,
bent on rewarding their friends and pun
ishlng their enemies by overreaching the
law and outgeneraling the superintend-
ent, is frustrating the wishes of the COM
munity and circumventing the intention
of Congress. Mr.. John F. Cook, the other
colored member of the board, is sincerely
in favor of Mrs. Cooper.
Alleged Act of Vengeance.
DIR. Atwood. the member of the board
who is opposing Mrs Cooper carried his
attack into Congress last winter and was
there discredited. Mr.. Hughes, the as
sistant superintendent of white schools,
showed so clearly the ground of his hos
tility before Congress that the school was
efectually and for all time separated
from his supervision and preju lice. Yet
these two are able to so stretch the pow
ers or office as to wreak vengeance on Mrs.
/ Cooper and the teachers of the cOrps who