The Washington herald., 1907-01-09

The hearing on Washington school mat
ters before the education subcommittee Of
the House District Committee yesterday
was as good as a day at Donnybrook
Fair The big room of the District Com
mittee was crowded with dismissed
teachers and many citizens interested IN
the schools. Gen. Morrel presided, ana
with him sat Messrs. Greene, Siemp Pou,
and McLain. Gen. Morren being detained
from the Capitol for the first hour. Mr..
Greene conducted the hearing. The pro-
ceedings were marked by bitter comment
on various officials and almost constant
recrimination. In several cases the lie
direct was given. When Mr.. oyster asked
what animus there was behind the
Greene bill, Mr.. Greene told him 1t was
none Of his business" When Or. Chan
ceHor and Admiral Baird said they had
offered Mrs. Cooper another place. after
dlsmissing her from her old one. she said
no such offer had been made. When two
teachers said they had called AT Admiral
Baird's house on a certain occasion, the
admiral jumped up and said the statement
was false.
Mr.. Greene made a brief statement. say
ing he had not heard his bill criticised
except indirectly through the newspapers.
No one had come directly to him about
it. and he said he hoped that now there
was a hearing. every one interested would
take the chance to express his or her
views. The members of the school board
numerous teachers, and other citizens
were present in the large committee room
of the Ifc4-f-r gvo,,,r,7{+foa he ,.-n-+
front Of the Capitol Scores CT those
present had to stand, and remained there
with undiminished interest 10 the finish.
When Mr Greene asked If there was
any one present who was opposed TO the
Greene bill. Admiral Baird arose. and
said he was present not exactly in op-
position to il, but 10 advise about it. I
came, said he, Ito ask Congress TO light
en- The burden Of the board Of education.
Statement by Mr. Greene.
My idea" said Mr., Greene. was to
restore rights to those deprived Of them
There was no dispute in this committee,
in the House, in the Senate, or in con-
ference committee. as TO the intent and
purpose of the bill not to disturb the
teaching force on the rolls when it was
passed. But while at my home this past
summer I learned that what appears to
me TO be violation Of the law mad oc-
Cured
And I want it understood that this
bin was not framed particularly in the
interest Of colored teachers. but for all
the teachers-every one Of them. II one
teacher has been summaIily removed. due
10 misunderstanding Of the law. others
Flicrla~ rr1sII rf fv,
ner. Moreover. I want to say that this
bin was not drawn many spirit of an
tagOnism to the public schools.
In the first place" said Admiral Baird.
beginning MS statement. "a vigorous en-
forcement of the law is essential TO good
government You have provided in this
bill that no employe Of the board Of ed
ucation shall be disciplined unless with
i've days previous notice"
Admiral Baird mentioned as ilustra-
tons the improper conduct Of cOlOred
JanitOr in one of the coiOred schools, and
said if he had seen it, he would have
kicked the man out then and there. 10
which Mr.. Greene said. THAT would be
right"
Not under the law observed the ad-
miTal, who went on TO speak Of another
case requiring discipline, where the de-
said he believed that every one in the
schools should have fair hearing but
there were cases where summary removal
was the only course 20 be taken He de-
CARED that the newspapers Of Washing
ton had given the board much trouble by
criticisins the board severely.
Admiral Baird objected decidedly to the
clause Of the Greene bill requiring five
days notice before an empIoye could be
1fras. q .~.I
some amendment to that clause might be (
desirable.
When Mr. James F. Oyster took the
seat at the head OF the big table to make I
his statement. his first remark was.
What prompted this biu?"
This angered b!T. Greene. who turned
red in, the face, and brought his fist down
on the table with emphasis as he re-
Piled None Of your business. 1 am
not here 10 be questioned by YOU. 7 tell
you very plainly that it is none Of your
business"
Board in Embarrassment.
Mr.. Oyster, when quiet had been re-
sumed, proceeded to say that Congress
had asked the board to do things that
were desired, but had withheld power /
lie said he had brought up at the first
board meeting the question whether
teachers were to be kept In, and was
told that it was a legal question. For
six weeks he said the board went from
the Commissioners to the courts. the
President. and the Attorney General to 1
find out what their duty was. Supt /
Chancellor then got from the school au-
thorities a list Of the good" teachers. |
the 'fair and the poor
I think" said Mr.. Oyster. there were
only two on the whole list who were
not recommended for appointment. one
was Mrs. Cooper who had absolutely 1
failed as principal of the VI Street High /
School owing to her lack of executive i
ability We offered her another position /
az $500, or $lo0 more than she had been /
getting
Have you any record Of the board of I
education, asked Mr.. Greene. which will
show that Mrs. Cooper was in fact offered 4
another position?
Mr Oyster said Mrs. Cooper was dis.
missed because she would not take the
place offered her. Admiral Baird and
Superintendent Chancellor tried to make
statements al this point. but were checked /
by Mr. Greene. Later Admiral Baird
SAID; We all held Mrs. Cooper in high /
esteem, but the efficiency of the school /
was impaired by her ineficiencv as prin-
cipal. But We did not wish to dismiss
her, but to put somebody else in charge 1
of the school. So we made her an offer /
Of another position paying $100 a year |
more"
What was the date of that offer?"
4 can't tell just when 1t was done
verbally
In the running fire of questions and 1
answers that ensued Mr.. Greene asked |