Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-08
TEACHERS GREET HIM
Superintendent Stuart Guest
at Reception
AT CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
Pledges Made of Fidelity to Interest
of the Schools.
PRESIDENT OYSTERS ADDRESS
AT CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
PRESIDENT OYSTERS ADDRESS
Remarks by Members of the Board
of Education and Assistant Su-
perintendent Hughes.

building to extend their congratulations
| to Mr.. A. T. Stuart, the new superintend-
ent of public instruction. and to pledge
their support to him as their chief. The
meeting was a rema rkable demonstration
of the friendly feeling existing between
the teachers and Mr.. Stuart and of the
pleasure of the teaching corps in the
choice Of the board of education for a
successor to Dr. William E. Chancellor.
Applause for Mr.. Stuart was prolonged
and enthusiastic when he arose to speak
and at every mention of his name by the
other speakers of the afternoon.
The teachers gathered in the exhibition
room of the high school building When
the hall was filed Mr.. Stuart. the men,
bers of the board of education. with the
exception of John F. Cook. Harry o. Hine.
secretary to the board. and p. NJ. Hughes,
assistant superintendent, took seats on the
platform. With them sat Miss F. L. Hen
ley. principal of the Seaton School. and
Miss Adelaide Davis of the Emery School,
who presented the greetings of the teach
ers to the new chief. Mr.. Stuart was pre-
scented with a large bouquet of American
beauty roses by the teachers, and each
member of the board was given a hand
some rose. There were several speeches.
The name of Dr. Chancellor was not men,
toned throughout the meeting, and he
was only referred to in an indirect way.
Miss Henley Introduces Capt. Oyster
After the applause which greeted Mr.
Stuart and the members of the board as
they appeared on the platform, and which
continued for some time, subsidized. Miss
Henley cNlled the meeting to order
This is the season of family reunion"
she declared. LAS families gather to well
come back absent members. so the teach
ers have gathered today to welcome back
our superintendent and to express to the
board their grateful appreciation of its
efforts in behalf of the schools and as
sure it's members of their continued 10y
atty and support
When Miss Henley mentioned the name
of the superintendent she had to make
long pause to give time for the applause
to subside. She presented Capt. James
F.. Oyster. president of the board.
What / have in my heart this after
noon l feel l can't express in words he
began. This gathering looks to me as
| if it might be a jollifcation, and from the
expressions on your faces l judge it would
be proper to have a band of music here.
Il want to express to the teachers the
heartfelt appreciation of the board for
| the good service they have rendered, not
| only before our time. but since the begin
ming of the present administration. Our
| knowledge of your embarrassment and
| humiliation of the past year appeals to
| us to use our best efforts in behalf of you
| good teachers. 1t is the duty of the citi-
! zen to obey the law. This law has been
presented to us by Senator Burkett after
much study and preparation. He has
| given us a good law. / am sure you APP
preciatc the law and want 1t to continue.
| We realize that. next to serving the law.
| our interest is in the welfare of the chill
dren and next is your comfort. We will
use our best efforts to make you all
happy.
he board has followed the law. both
in letter and spirit. The law gives us the
power to select a superintendent. If he
fails in his duty to the children, in his
| duty to you and in his DUTY to us. we
feel he should be removed. We take pre-
caution in picking a new superintendent.
If he does his full duty, we will be happy
to give him our support. We expect the
superintendent to be fair and just to you
people. We want to see that you are
made comfortable and your efforts to
make the schools successful are pro-
| tected.'
Mr.. Stuart's Address.
Capt Oyster then introduced the new
superintendent, Mr.. Stuart. Enthusiastic
applause greeted him as he arose to
! speak and it continued for minute or
more Then Miss Davis stepped to the
front of the platform and addressed the
new chief.
| IN Denalf OIL the teacnerS. she SalU
| Il thank the board for having given back
to us this good man, who is wise and con-
scientious, who loves his charge and never
leaves 1t. In behalf of the teachers, |
beg the board to induce Mr.. Stuart to
| remain as superintendent. Under him we
4 Will give the best work we have ever
given. ] need not tell you, Mr.. Stuart, of
| the love the teachers have for you, of the
faith they have in you, but l pledge the
| loyalty of the Washington teachers and
Il hi,
Applause greeted this brief eulogy. and
Miss Davis presented Mr.. Stuart with
| a bouquet.
Il cannot tell you how grateful I am
to you for this manifestation of your con-
| fidence In me- MIR. Stuart began IF
had not before felt the warm pulse of
such a greeting ] should be afraid lest
your high measure of expectation might
be disappointed. soon or some time. Old
friends and tried friends are best. and
therefore l do not fear will be misunder-
stood or lacking in sympathy or helpful
ness from you in sympathy or helpful
discharge my new duties
Evidence Of Teachers Interest.
Not for me, 1 feel did you come here
today. 1 have had many past evidences
of your willingness to help and evidence
of your interest in the success of the
children and of your feeling of RESPONSE
bility that goes with your duty to the
children. Behind me is cluster of peo-
pie, well representative of the citizenship
to whom you have come to bear greetings
These are people who, unlike me and
you, have been called from the ordinary
avocations of life and had put on their
shoulders a great public trust. Each
has made a success in his own line of en-
deavor, but now they have put upon them
a trust as representative citizens and
for which they receive no dividend in
the way of pecuniary benefit. They have
taken up the trust at a considerable loss
of time and money.
II give the best | have. the little time
am with you. | am full of sympathy
and am at your disposal and that of the
board as long as 1 last. or while it is the
wisdom of the board that l remain This
was interpreted by the teachers as a
declaration that he would consent to re-
main superintendent as long as the board
wanted and the remark met with pro-
longed applause.
"A>slip of the tongue, Mr.. Stuart has
tened to say, when he heard the ap-
plause.
Board Members Heard.
Miss Henley next announced that the
teachers would like to hear from each
member of the board and each responded
briefly. DR.. b. w. Everman, vice presi-
dent CT the board said the meeting at
tested to the feeling between DR.. Stuart
and the teachers Mrs Hill thanked the
teachers for their kindness in supporting
the hoard Mrs MuSSey said she had