Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-15
ISSUE FAIRLY JOINED
Board of Education and ST.
perintendent at Odds.
NEITHER LIKELY TO YIELD
Differences as Outlined by Prof.
Evermann and Dr.. Chancellor.
MEETING HELD LAST NIGHT
Plan of Action Outlined by Board
Member and Attorney Mcnamara.
Conflicting Views.

SOuHlCLlUS VIEWS.
Apparently the issue is now squarely
Joined between the board of education and
the superintendent OF public instruction.
Members of the board are of the opinion
that Supt William E. Chancellor is det r
mined To embarrass the board as much
as possible in carrying out its order of
last Wednesday directing that the Latin
and German centers in the graded schools
be abolished.
The board members are standing to-
gether, and are determined 10 make the
superintendent walk the chalk line or va
cate the position of superintendent. In
fact, after they have made him walk the
chalk line, if they succeed, they intend
to do their best to get a more acceptable
superintendent, anyhow. A conference OF
some of the members with Assistant
United States Attorney Stuart McNa-
mara, special counsel for the board, was
he'd last night, and plan of action was
discussed
The Last Stand: or Who Shall Com
mand the School System?" has been sug-
gested the tie OF the exciting drama
that is being enacted in the District today.
The board and the superintendent are
each trying TO play the role of hero and
make the other look like the villain and
each is watching the other most carefully.
AT present the spot light that marks the
progress of the hero over the stage should
be shining most of the time on the board
of education according to many self-con-
stituted critics of the drama.
Regarded as Curious.
II is regarded by those who have been
fortunate enough TO see a copy OF The
Lang. editor, as a most curious thing that
at this junc;ure there should appear in
that periodical an editorial entitled DIR.
Chancelior's Propositions which con-
tains the following astounding statement:
THAT Super -ntendent Chancellor has
been able 10 accomplish anything under
the circumstances, ana has steadily won
fuller control until now he is practically
in command marks MIN as an admins
ira tor OF remarkable reSourcefulneSs.
Nothing mas ever amused those mem
bers of the board who have seen It more
than this, especially in view of the Lact
that DIR. Chancellor is himself calling pub
lie attention to the editorial at this time.
Prof Barton w. Evermann. who was
responsible s1br Prof. Chancellor appoint
ment against the local sentiment and who
led the opposition TO the superintendent at
the meeting last Wednesday and was
given the unanimous support OF the
board, was shown this morning certain
statements by DR.. Chancellor attacking
the legality of -he boards action in or
dering the abolition of Latin and Ger
man centers in the graded schools. and
also claiming that the board had APP
proved of his action by appointing four
teachers to conduct these language
classes.
Ready to Make It Legal.
''If the action of the board Wednesday
''the board is ready TO hold a special
meeting and make it legal. i regard
such remarks by the superintendent as
merely bubbles. AS to the other point.
If what he says is true-that he recon-
mended the appointing of teachers 10
carry out his plans and We approved
what did he mean when he said he did
not know that his plans had been put
into execution. Certainly he will moi
deny that he said that in open meeting
last Wednesday.
II may say that we do not intend that
any teacher who mas been appointed shall
lose his position rs the result of this af-
fair We can find plenty Of work for
them to do elsewhere.
Il do not think there ever was board
of education that has tried as hard to
hold up the hands of superintendent OF
schools as We have. Personally / have
done all in my power to support DIR.
Chancellor. but II has been no use. 1t is
hard to follow an object that has so many
eccentricities.
The board is trying TO do what It can
do to adjust matters in the present crisis
either with DR.. Chancellor or without
him"
No Intention of Resigning.
In the interview to which Prof. Ever
mann replied DIR. Chancellor had the
following to say of the situation:
II have no intention of relieving what
ever situation may exist by resigning
and shall allow the board to take the
affirmative throughout
The action of the board of education
in passing the resolution ordering me tc
reverse my action in establishing Latin
and German centers in several of the
graded schools was Illegal.
The board authorized each successive
move in the establishment of these GEN.
ters, by its action and by the signed
approval of its committees. notwithstand-
ing its disclaimer"
"The resolution adopted Wedne sday was
written in lead pencil and not signed or
dated. The vote was not recorded or
polled the requirement being that each
member must voice opinion II re-
Quired the removal of the teachers and
this cannot be done under the law befora
they are given a hearing and a trial II
they ask; for instance the Cardozo case
no matter of what nature, can only be
made upon the written recommendation
OF the superintendent. and have made No
written recommendation. This changes
the entire aspect of the case. j have CON
suited with Attorney Mcnamara on the
il gal points involved in the carrying uut
of the boards instructions and the dispo-
sitfon OF the teachers employed for tho
work.
Authorized by Board.
"The board authorized the carrying ou
Of the scheme, and the appointment of The
teachers to teach Latin and German anC
fits installation. Every step in the move.
ment was approved by the board In proc
OF this ] presented the action Of the board
approved by the committee on intermedi-
ate instruction. OF October 9, when tht
appointment of the teachers assigned wa,
approved. Is II possible that the mem
bers OF this committee and the bOart
members present did not know what they
were doing?
Il am willing to carry out the instruc
tons OF the board, and have always dom
so conscientiously- President Eliot o
Harvard, who is quoted as opposing tn
scheme. was its originator in the city O
Cambridge twenty-five years ago.
So far as reporter for The Star ha
been able to learn there is not a boar,
member who was aware that the boar,
had indorsed leach successive move n