Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-07
FACTIONS IN R|VERDAl
SCHOOL ISSUE CAUSES PRO-
TRACTED TROUBLE.
Health officer, Trustees and Others
Drawn Into Controversy-Ex-
change of Epithets.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

special correspondence OF The Star.
RIVERDALE, December T, 1907
For the past two years the citizens of
this place have been hopelessly divided
concerning the administration of their
public school affairs and manifestations
Of i'll will have been displayed upon fire.
quent occasions. The trouble dates back
to a time when a determined effort was
made to Dust the late Mrs. ]. l.. MCGEE
as principal Of the Riverdale school. A
determined opposition to the dismissal Of
Mrs. MCGEE developed. headed by Joseph
Tanning, and the greatest contest was
waged when it came to the matter of the
appointment of local trustees Under the
law the trustees select the principal of
the school, but have nothing to do with
the naming OF assistant teachers, this
function being performed by the county
school board.
The naming Of the trustees was in the
nature of a compromise, although it was
admitted the anti MCGEE faction had Sc
cured two Of the three. Those selected
were DIR. s. NJ. Mcmillan, H. W. Chase and
j. II. Schaeffer. The services of Mrs, Nc
Gee were dispensed with.
The next trouble arose over the &C.
cupancy OF the basement Of the school as
study hall. the two main rooms being
overcrowded and more space being needed.
The county health officer, the secretary of
the state board of health and member r.
of the board Of county school commits
sioners all condemned the room, and at
that time Trustee Schaeffer was strongly
opposed to the room being occupied by
the school. In the face of this opposition
nothing was done in the direction Of fit
ting up the basement for school pur-
poses.
About month ago the question was
again agitated, and this time the county
school board, or two Of the members
thereof, authorized the appointment of an
additional assistant teacher for the River
chairs, etc, for the use of her pupils
Miss Hamilton secured her commission as
assistant teacher, and the furniture was
purchased and put in place.
Trouble Renewed.
Then the trouble broke out again. The
members of the Ladies Auxiliary of the
Riverdale Citizens Association dncor-
porated) protested against the use of the
basement as a schoolroom. They sum.
moned the health officer, DR.. John E
Sansbury of Forestville. who examined
| and Immediately posted notice on the
schoolhonse forbidding the use of the base,
| ment. This had the effect of arousing the
| ire of the members of the opposing fac.
ton. and, 1t is stated, one of the trustees
deliberately went to the building and tore
of the position assumed by Health oficel
Sansbury, those in favor of ignoring his
decision called a public meeting in the
schoolhouse last evening. and those who
sided with the health officer awaited them
selves of the privilege Of meeting face K
| face the forces that had opposed them 70,
the past several years. Before the meet.
ing was formally called to order there wal
much discussion among the citizens but
none of these discussions appeared to bt
prompted by anything beyond the an.
sonal animosities.
A little after o'clock Mr.. John H
Schaeffer, one of the school trustees
called the meeting to order. and Mr. VIII.
Lam B. Severe was named as secretary
The presiding officer explained the alb.
sence of his colleagues. DR.. Mcmillan and
Mr. Chase, and then proceeded to outline
the objects of the meeting. He said the
trustees were practically unanimous In
their determination to open school in the
basement next Monday morning, despite
the opinion of the health officer that the
place was unfit for such purpose He
said all opposition to the opening of the
school had been yelled until the Ladies