Evening star., 1908-01-18
SIGNING A PETITION
TEACHERS SUPPORT EDUCATION
BOARD SENATE HEARING.

A petition to be presented to Congress
is being circulated in the white schools
of the District today for the signatures of
have signed it desire to express their con-
hdence in the integrity of the present
board of education. of Supt. A. T. Stuart,
and of Asst. Supt. p. NJ. Hughes, and
ask that the present law be given a
further trial. The petition is addressed
to Senator Burkett. the head Of the school
subcommittee of the Senate District COM
mlftee; but the teachers say that. in order
not TO violate any rule of the board of
education. the petition will be sent to the
board first, with the request that 1t be
forwarded to Senator Burkett 1t is ac-
knoWledged that the petition is intended
TO nave influence at the Capitol
At the investigation of conditions in the
pubic schools by the Senate subcommit-
tee, members of the board of education,
teachers in the schools. and all persons
with ideas for the betterment of the local
and the probing will have a wide scope.
capt. J. r Oyster. president of the board
or education, said today that he had as
surances to that effect from the members
OF the investigating committee.
Behind this announcement, however is
story in reference to which the prcsi-
dent of the board will not talk. Several
weeks ago. the Senate adopted a resolu-
tion providing for the investigation of the
local school conditions: but the board of
education received no notification that
such hearing was to proceed.
Shortly after the Senate convened after
the holiday recess the members of the
District committee and of the subcom-
mittee on schools began to make arrange
mentS for the hearing, and "Wednesday y
last the definite announcement was made
that the first session would be held to-
day. Coupled with the announcement.
there was given out parts of a letter from
DR.. Chancellor. the deposed superintend
ent. making charges against the admins
tration of the schools under the present
board. 1t also became generally under
stood at the Capitol that DIR. Chancellor
was to be an early and an important wit
ness.
No announcement of any character was
sent from the Senate committee to the
board of education, and the latter knew
of the arrangements for the hearings, and
of the charges against the administration
of the schools under the board only
through the newspapers. The impress
sion became general that the subcommt-
tee was placing much reliance on the let
ter of DR.. Chancellor. and would place
much dependence on his testimony.
This feeling, it is understood, began to
dominate some of the members of the
board of education. In the absence of any
official communication regarding the hear
ings. the members began to wonder
whether their view of the situation was
to be ignored.
After the announcement was made at
the Capitol that the hearings would be-
gin today. Capt. Oyster. the president of
the board decided yesterday to make a
trip to the Capitol and learn. if possible.
whether not the boards side would be
heard. Conferences with the members of
the subcommittee which is to conduct the
hearings lasted for three hours. At the
end of that time. Capt. Oyster made the
announcements that he had assurances from
the members of the committee that the
board members and the teachers of the
schools would be given full opportunity
to be heard.