Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1907-09-06
No Conflict at Bethesda.

The prediction Of o sensational conflict be-
tween the county school authorities and Miss
Ida s. Dove, the former principal of the
grammar school at Bethesda, failed to mate
rialize Monday morning when that school
opened. George H. Lamar. president Of the
School Board, and the attorney for Miss Dove
went down on the car from Rockville to-
gether. The car was late, and the school had
Just been opened, Miss Dove being in charge.
She was called into the hall by her att0r-
ney, Frank Higgins, where President Lamar
stated that 1t was his unpleasant duty TO re-
quest that she vacate the principalship of the
school, which, under the advice of her coun-
sci, she did with protest, at the same time ex-
pressing her readiness and willingness to con-
tinue teaching.
Marion r. Manion was then intro uced
and took charge of the school.
The course pursued both by the representa-
tive of the school board and counsel for the re-
firing teacher and trustees Of the school, indi-
Gated purpose on their part to contribute as
little as possible 10 excitement and disturb
ance at the school itself.
IL il understood that conference was had
between counsel for the retiring teacher and
for the gentlemen who composed the local
board OF trustees, and the president of the
county board, on Saturday evening last in
which good feeling was exhibited on both
sides.
President Lamar, of the County School
Board, said:
1.-THE whole affair has been exceedingly
| unpleasant to the members of our Board,
| whose action In the matter, from beginning
to end, has been unanimous. We have q
rule to the effect that the principal of school
with one or more assistants must hold first
grade certificate The enforcement OF this
rule is necessary, both in the interest of the
children who attend these schools and In
fairness to oil of the other teachers in the
county, who receive their compensation on
schedule which gives credit for the character
of certificates they severally hold.
"The teacher removed to-day failed to pass
her examination, and could not receive a
frst-grade certificate.
both the teacher and the trustees were
advised of our position, but 1t seems they
both desire to contest the right Of our Board
to make and execute these requirements,
which are beat for the system as o whole.
The vacancy was declared, and the trustees
were advised that II was their duty to fill 1t.
They refused to take the necessary action,
aud there was nothing else for the Board to
do but to remove them, as teacher had to
be appointed in time to open the school Mon
day; an :, ,Ao,.
community, have depOrted themselves with
dignity and gentility and claim, as under
stand their position, that our Board has ex-
ceeded its authority in the matter.
"The Court Of Appeals has held that the
State Board of Education is the best and pro-
per tribunal for the orderly settlement OF all
such controversies, and counsel for the teach
err and trustees were advised on behalf of
the county board on Saturday last that II
they would take an appeal to the State Board
of Education on behalf Of both the trustees
and teacher such appeal would be treated as
superseding the order of removal for the
time being and until the decision of the
State Board on such appeals.
"They declined this proposition, but were
willing to appeal on behalf OF the former
trustees only, thus leaving the teacher posi-
bly, relieved Of the binding force Of the de-
cision In case matters should be disposed OF
adversely TO her contentious on various points
involved. This, Of course, was not satisfac.
tory to the representative of the School
Board, and hence the necessity for the action
taken Monday morning."