The Washington herald., 1907-11-15
MEETING IS SECRET
Board of Education Discusses
the Situation.
DR.. CHANCELLOR NOT NOTIFIED
Learned ON Good Authority that
Such Action Was Taken and that
Every Member Was In Attendance.
Says Passage of Resolution Order
ing Him 10 Reverse Action Illegal.

THE action of the board Of education
in passing the resolution ordering me TO
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 cen
ters. b its action and by the signed
approval of its committees. notwithstand-
ing It's disclaimer"
These were the statements by DR.. Will
lam f. Chancellor. superintendent of
schools. last night, in reference 10 the at
tack made upon him by the board Of
education for the alleged putting into
effect Of this revolutionary" scheme
without first outlining the plan 70 the
board, and he incorporated them IN a
report on the matter made 10 Capt. Oys-
ter, president OF the board. yesterday.
Special Informal Meeting.
Last night, it was learned on good au-
thority. the board held a special informal
meeting TO discuss the situation Dr.
Chancellor was not apprised Of this
meeting, although Il is learned that every
member OF the board was present as was
also Stuart Mcnamara, attorney for the
board. The meeting. il was said. was held
in the Second National Bank building. Of
which Mr.. w. V. Cox. member of the
board. is president. and il was surrounded
by the utmost secrecy. Nothing authori-
tative could be obtained from any mem
Der of the board. although inquiry at
several of their homes dlvulged facts in
dlcating they were attending a meeting
OF the board.
Cap. oyster was not at home in the early
part OF the evening. and when reached by
telephone emphatically refused 10 make
any statement He denied any knowledge
OF a meeting Of the board of education.
and when asked about the superintend-
ent's report. positively refused TO dis
cuss school matters and hung up the re-
ceiver.
None OF the members or the board for
whom inquiries we're made was ar home
up TO a late hour, and il was impossible
TO reach them. Those who could be
reached had nothing 10 say.
Whether the melting WAS for the pur-
pose Of considering the advisability OF
dismissing the superintendent, OF 70
reach an amicable agreement with him,
IS not known. II is known, however,
that the superintendent report was con
sidered. and it is believed an adjustment
will be reached
DR. Chancellor was busy yesterday Sc
curing data for the report. He consulted
with Assistant Superintendents Hughes
and Bruce. and went through the board
minutes and correspondence.
Declares Action Illegal.
He said last night he had submitted
the matter 10 Capt. oyster. He de-
clared the action of the board was il
legal, because it IS required that all reso-
lutions must be submitted in writing and
signed.
This one was written IN lead pencil
and not signed or dated he said. The
vote was not recorded or poIled. the re-
quirement being that each member must
voice an opinion II required the re-
moval Of the teachers, and this cannot
be- done under the law. before they are
given a hearing and a trial il they ask,
for instance. the CaTdOzo case. II is re-
QUired that all changes OF teachers, no
matter Of what nature, can only be made
upon the written rtcOulint nQdllGu or tEe
superintendent and 1 have made no
written recommendation. This changes
the entire aspect Of the case. I have con-
suited with Attorney Mcnamara on the
legal points involved IN the carrying out
OF the boards instructions and the dis
position Of the teachers employed for the
work
The board authorized the carrying out
Of the scheme. and the appointment OF
the teachers to teach Latin and Ger
man, and its installation. Every step in
the movement was approved by the
board. In proof Of this I presented the
action or the board, approved by the
committee on intermediate instruction. OF
October 3. when the appointment OF the
teachers assigned was approved Is it
possible that the members Of this com
mittee and the board members present
did not know what they were Going2
Approved by Eliot
Il am willing 10 carry out the instruc-
tons Of the board. and have always done
so conscientiously- President Eliot. Of
Harvard. who is quoted as opposing the
scheme. was its originator In the city
OF Cambridge twenty-five years ago.
DR.. Chancellor talked at great length.
outlining clearly his position, in the
matter