The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-03-02

Thomas j. Bissell, principal of the
Charlton Street Public School, was sus-
pended from duty today by Superin-
tendent Poland, after a conference with
Frederick F. Guild, president of the
Board of Education, n John Breunig,
chairman of the teachers committee.
When the board meets it will be recon-
the conference MI. Bissell was formally
notified of the action taken, and Miss
S. Alberta Reuch, vi~ce-principal, was
notified to TAXI charge of the school
temporarily.
This action was the result of notice
given the local board by the State
Board of Examiners that the first-class
certificate of Principal Bissell had been
revoked at a meeting Saturday for the
purpose of trying Mr.. Bissell on
charges made by the State Medical
Board that he, Bissell, had issued a
false certificate to Herman p. Reiger,
l~purporting to show that Reiger had
graduated from the Pennington High
School during the time hat Bissel vas
supervising principal of the Fleming
ton schools.
Reiger testified that in return Cor the
certificate he had given Bissell $500,
and presented as evidence letters from
Bisseif stating that when the money
was paid he would do his part of the
contract"
Bissell admitted that he had issued
the certificate. and had received the
money, but stated that he issued the
former Goa the representation of the
youngl man, and that the latter was "a
personal loan.
Text of Charges.
The result of the hearing was the
following decision. which was for
warded TO the local Board of Educa-
ton today:
First-That Thomas j. Bissell issued
to Herman p. Reiger a certificate stat
ing that said Reiger had completed a
f%our-year high school course at the
public school in Pennington, N. j.,
known as Reading Academy. while said
Bissell was principal. Whereas, said
Reiger had never attended said school
and said Bissell was not principal of
said school during the time the c%ertifi-
Gates stated that Reiger was a pupil
therein.
Second-That said certificate was
given in consideration of the sum of
5000 paid to Bissell by Reiger.
The action of the State board in re-
voking the first-class certificate leaves
an appeal to the State Board of Edu-
cation open to the accused principal.
and does not affect the license under
which lac serves as principal for the
Newark Board of Education. When the
Ct,4o Dbl .F Jr..,A,f1D-. G,..% J.,r,,.1
of the charges against Bissell they
asked him to resign so as to avoid an
investigation that would result uu-
pleasantly ana lower the dignity of the
educational system. They requested
that he resign, but this Principal Bis
sell refused to do.
81 am shocked and surprised at the
action of the State Board of Examin-
ers,' said Mr.. Bissell today, land will
not take an appeal to the State Board
of Education, for to my way of think
ing the examiners would not have
found against me If they did not have
the full authorization from the State
Board of Education to sustain their
decision, and an appeal would be use
less. / will leave to the people of
Newark. the School Board and my fell
low-educators to decide whether / am
innocent or guilty. 1 was guilty of
carelessness in granting a certificate
to a young man whom / thought was
worthy, and the suffering and humilia-
ton | am undergoing is a result of
carelessness on my part, without the
faintest thought of graft or wrong
doing. / will abide by the decision of
the Board of Education"
Mr.. Bissell declared hat he appre-
ciated the position of the members Of
the board who suspended him, and hat
before the Board of Education takes
the matter up he would take a vaca-
ton, as his health has been failing.