Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-11
IS BODY DEMOCRkT|C'2
Question Raised as to the
Teachers Advisory Council.
PUBLIC SCHOOL METHODS
How Superintendent Chancellor Con-
Quoted the Elections"
FACTS NOT FULLY PRESENTED
Admiral Baird Issues Statement as to
His Action in Case Of Evans
Against Craig.
FACTS NOT FULLY PRESENTED

| That the democratic advisory BODY
with which Superintendent Chancellor OF
the public schools has surrounded himself
known as the teachers advisory council
and which was rather severely condemned
recently by the Northeast Citizens Asso-
citation, has a rather peculiar character for
a democratic" body Is apparently the
verdict of certain facts that have come 10
light in regard to the method of It's or
ganization. Those who say they are IN
formed told a Star reported today that
the citizens of the northeast knew WHEREOF
they were speaking when they SAID the
council is clique. not representative OF the
teaching body and not receiving the sup
port of that body.
In the first place. DR.. Chancellor eiecteo
the second member of the councii. ne MIN,
self being the first member rms secono
member was Miss Ida Daily, to whom, II IS
stated, the northeast citizens 'e1erreo as
the leader of the alleged clique: MISS LAZY
intendent elected the third member OF
the council Harry English these Two
teachers are supposed, 1t Is said, 10 repre-
sent the high schools in the organization.
Under direction of Superintendent Chan
cello- meetings were then held by various
bodies Of teachers for the purpose OF honh-
mating a number of candidates for POSITIONS
on the council. From these candidates tne
thrne members already chosen elected
the teachers to serve with them In the
council.
But Small Percentage.
What are regar ded as the most interest
ing and significant facts about the forma-
tion of the body center around these
meetings of teachers, it is declared. Out
of 40 primary teachers, only twenty
nine were present at the meeting OF prl-
mary teachers, when five names were
chosen from which DR.. Chancellor. MISS
DAILY and Mr.. English chose memoeI vi
the council. Out Of a possible 23S inter-
I mediate teachers, Twenty-Five were prese.t
and elected five candidates. PIX eisnti
grade teachers were present out or pos
sible seventy-four. :. 49,,
occurred in connection with the eiectlon
of the kindergarten's representative on tue
council. Out of a possible seventy per-
sons fifteen were present. MISS Mss, McF new
teen votes and Miss Swan nine votes. But
Miss Swan, the third choice OF the lllte &c
teachers present, was electeo ny .l'o
members of the advisory courci ~ NC 49,
If them Many persons look upon TINS loea
| of democracy as something astonishing. =
Ont of a possible seventy-four teachers o!
snecial subjects thirty-three were present
and five names of candd ia esd TI the Young
est and least experienced was elected by
the advisory council.
Normal Schools Experience.
The normal school teachers were asked 10
submit candidates They met and elected
one of their number. Her name was twice
unanimously recommended to the council
for membership thereon. Nothing came OF
| it, however. and finally, when Miss Rose
Parkman had been transferred to posi-
| tion in the normal school, she was elect
ed a member of the council TO represent s..nr
the normal school. although she was never
recommended by her colleagues
Reports Of the meetings of the various
bodies of teachers and OF the elections neio
| by the advisory council nave come 20 me
newspapers through secretaries OF the
meetings. who have never mentioned the
discrepancy between the number present
and the number of teachers In the class
| IT is this advisory council when the
| Eor,he,st Citizens Association called a
CLIQUE and said was controlled by the su.
nerintendent, and which the superintendent
| and the council itself Yesterday VIGOROUSLY
defended as a purely democratic ana ao
| soluteiy, representative body.
Reasons for Non-Attendance.
Reasons for the failure of the teachers
| to take part in the election CT representa-
| tive on the council are heard on every
hand. 1t is pretty generally conceded by
| they do not propose to be dominated by
other teachers chosen after the method
| laid down by the superintendent. The al
| legation that Miss DAILY is at the head OF
| an alleged clique is no new one among
| persons interested in the schools. and 1t Is
! said that her hand is seen throughout the
elections here described.
A matter which is being discussed with
great animation in school circles today is
| the case of Arthur U. Craig. teacher of
the Armstrong Manual Training School.
who was accused of INSTRUMENTATION by
Principal Bruce Evans of that school. Mr..
| Evans has in turn been subjected to ad-
verse criticism by two colored members of
| the board. The action of Admiral Baird.
| president of the board of education, and
| chairman of the committee which investi-
gated the case of Craig, who, it is said,
endeavored to persuade Craig to sign an
| apology, which action was characterized
Yesterday by John F. Cook. a member of
| the board, a sort of duress. has also
| been the subject Of much comment.
Admiral Baird's Statement.
The admiral was very willing to talk
about the case this morning, and prepared
the following statement:
1.-The trouble in the Armstrong Manual
| Training School is not new; it dates back
several years and has been fostering, and
| has now broken out like a case of measles.
| The principal is a Ph.D., and is so nearly
negro in him. He is handsome man, pre-
maturely gray, and has not only fine
appearance. but an exceedingly agreeable
manner and voice.
Craig is one of the teachers. The prin-'
| cipal made drastic report against Craig,
| which the superintendent brought to the
board The committee on teachers held
| two sessions to hear both sides. not only
| the complaint of the principals, but several
| witnesses whom they named. The testi-
| mony is not fit for publication.
He was asked If he was dissatisfied with
| the principal. and he said he was not, but
| wanted to be let alone The fellow ap-
Feared morbid. and he did not seem to be
able to concentrate his mind on any one
| thing for five minutes at q time There
was testimony to show his incompetence
Principal Not Popular.
ION the other hand. 1t became evident
| that the principal was not and Is not popu-
lar. He has been called a lilly white a term
applied by colored people to those who are
apparently white; in fact, the race preju-
| dice, which Is inevitable. was very appar-
| emit But no charges were made against