Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-01
Withdraws His Approval.


Il beg leave to revoke the approval / gave
to House bill 22l45, when 1 appeared in
your committee room on the sth instant
My purpose was. and is, to advocate a
fair tenure of office for the teachers The
board of education has given a conscien-
tious trial to the law approved June 90
1906, and find that under the courts in
depreciation of the law we are unable to
remove a teacher or officer who Is un-
worthy.
Acting strictly under the provisions of
this law, We dismissed a teacher-officer
on the 18th day of October. He and his
friends employed a lawyer, who appealed
to the Supreme Court of the District of
Columbia for writ of mandamus, reQuir
ing the board to reinstate that teacher
officer and give him a formal trial. This
case was called for the I'd of November,
but was put off and deferred from Friday
to Friday, to oblge the attorney for the
defense, in accordance with the ethics of
the legal profession and in the meantime
the public interests suffered. The court s
decision was finally reached on the 9TH of
December, more than month after the day
originally set for a hearing.
The writ of mandamus was issued and
the board. bowling its head in submission,
reinstated the Objectionable teacher officer
and began preparations to give him the
reached this trial on January 3d. 1907. The
attorney then raised the question as to the
legality of the creation of the board of edu-
cation, which was overruled.
a The Board Enjoined.
"A number of witnesses were examined,
and at pm. the board took a recess
until the 26th, and in the meantime the
attorney asked the Supreme Court of the
District of Columbia for an injunction
against the board of education, on the
ground that Congress had no right to ere
ate a law requiring the judiciary to ap-
point the board of education. The court,
however. did not grant the injunction, but
has enjoined the board to show cause
why. on the LIST of February. We should
not be enjoined from continuing the trial
of the Objectionable 'teacher-officer.'
In the meantime. the board of educa-
ton may be regarded as existing de facto,
but not de lure. 1t Is therefore a ques-
ton whether or not we are now at liberty
to purchase fuel for the schools or to even
sign the merest reQuisition.
I'VE conducted the trial fairly and with
out prejudice, but being confronted by an
unusually able lawyer. familiar with tech
nicalities and who INDUCED In such with
cisms as to induce offensive laughter from
the crowd which filled the rooms, we were
embarrassed. This attorney not only made
undue effort to suggest words for the wit
nesses. but embarrassed them; to this j
objected, but he claimed 1t his right and
frankly owned he was there for that pur-
pose.
1T must be remembered that it was
through the effort of this attorney that
the mandamus was issued which obliged
US to go into formal trial. and when We
reached the trial he inconsistency OBJ
jected TO 1t on technical grounds.
Board Misrepresented.
This trial, Mr. Chairman, will be prece-
dent: we may expect a repetition of 1t
whenever we essay to dismiss teacher,
no matter how grave or criminal the Of
Tense. You have read the newspaper ac-
counts Of this subject, and as public man
you have been able to read between the
lines that the board of education has been
greatly misrepresented If not ridiculed be-
fore the public.
THE reporters do not make stenographic
notes of our proceedings. but listen atten-
lively and write from memory. II rarely
occurs that any two of them agree entirely
There Is nothing that so interests the pub-
lie as contest. and story very readable
to the public can be written of almost any
event, II the writer can show any contest
or ridicule.
I'VE have. sir. given this law sufficient
trial TO develop its objectionable as well as
Its admirable features We will be Obliged
TO give more time to trials than to educa-
tional affairs.
The civil service rules for the classified
service In the executive departments relat-
in my opinion. far preferable to the method
OF trials We are now obliged to employ.
beg to suggest that some legislation para
phrasing such rules. would be eminently
satisfactory to the board, the teachers. and
the public"
Teachers Advisory Board.
At meeting Of the teachers advisory
council yesterday afternoon Miss Josephine
Burke was elected a member Of the eoun-
ell from the intermediate grades Miss Carl
L. Garrison's resignation as secretary was
accepted, and Miss May p Bradshaw was
elected secretary pending the completion
Of the organization.
A resolution was unanimously adopted
providing that eighth grade principals are
hereby invited to hold 4 mass meeting on
Monday. February 4, 1907, at $3.50 pm. at
the Central High School Hall, to suggest
ave names from their number for members
Of the teachers advisory council
1t Is understood that each teacher pres
ent win place on one unsigned ballot the
names of five persons. The chairman and
secretary of the meeting will certify the
five highest for the special consideration OF
the council and will forward the list at the
earliest date possible to Miss May p Brad
shaw Edmonds School. 9th and d streets
northeast.
Afternoon primary grade teachers are in
vited to hold a similar mass meeting under
similar conditions at the Central High
10 am. to suggest the names of seven per-