Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-05-19
PRINCIPAL DIVINE
Friends Plead For Him Before
 Committee on Teachers.

| US meeting last evening It adJOufn-
 ed and gave way to the committee
 on teachers, Commissioners J. J. Nc
 Donald, E. B. Kelley, jr, and c. s.
 Chapman, who had decided to grant
 Thomas J. Devine, principal of the
 Duggan school public hearing, the
 committee having determined to not
 recommend him for reappointment.
 The mayor and Commissioners Gal lond and Laun stepped aside from the table and Commissioner Mcdonald stated that the committee decided to
 give hearing on charges that were
 brought against MT Devine and that | it was decided to have MT Devine
 present. He said that, perhaps there
 may be some who would like to say
 something for MT Devine. Clerk
 Fitzgerald then read a petition from
 a number of citizens who had held
 mass meeting in the city hall at , o'clock and passed a resolution fav- bring the reappointment of MT De- vine. There was some laughter when the clerk came to what seemed a lot of flourishes but it was discovered
 to be the name of John O'Neill."
 Superintendent of schools Tinker
 then uttered the room and seating
 himself at the table began to read.
 pal Devine was responsible for the
 discipline of his school; he is super
 visor of the studies of the pupils in
 his school: He can suspend the
 teaching of pupils and must promote
 the schools advancement in every
 way, and he shall not be absent with
 out leave from the superintendent.
 He was charged with being lack In
 sustaining the supplies of the school;
 supplies that were delivered were not
 distributed; classes were without text
 books without any reason for being
 SO; there were acquisitions for books
 while there were more books of the Kind asked for in the school than could be used; the examination of the pupils every month was not car ried out; wrong text books were in use, the first grade using books be- longing to grade four and pupils were therefore at great disadvantage in pursuing their studies. This showed lack of proper supervision. The rules as to the opening and closing of the school were disregarded; there were complaints from parents of pupils about their children's studies; and there was friction be- tween the teachers and the principal. Mir Tinker then stated that at MT Devine's request he transferred sev- eral teachers who more than made good in their new schools and that teachers did not care to go to the Duggan school. He should say, how ever. that he met MT Devine on the streets only once during school hours and that Mir Devine said he was looking up truant.
 As to the evening school that was established in the Duggan school last winter, MT Tinker said that the had arranged for another to take care of it, but he spoke to MT Devine about it and MT Devine said he would like the work 1 and he was given it. What was the | result? Two nights after the school | had opened teachers complained to | him that the school came near to be- | ing in a riot two consecutive nights. | Mir Tinker said he wrote the principal | about this and that if 1t were re- peated he would lose his position in | the evening school. Another teacher | that he was absent and | .ardy after that first complaint. On he evening of January the super ntendent could not find MT Devine ibout the school and when he went 10 his office he found there an odor ,f drink.
 Mir Tinker said he has spoken to Mr Devine every year during the ,ast few years about the condition of | lis school. Mir Deyine promised ev- ,rything yet he seemed to have done toward improving this state If affairs.
 Even under the last Kilduff admin word was sent him that un- ess an improvement took place in lis school he would have to be dis missed. and in consequence of all this word was sent him this year that he would not be reappointed. The rec 'rds showed that he was absent from ifs school six and half days without since September and Mir Tinker says he was informed by the on teachers that Mir De- inc had been absent nine days more lso. Concluding. Mr Tinker said iayor Thoms saw him one day in ourt. The mayor was asked about his by Mir Tinker and the mayor that he did see Mir Devine n court. and the mayor added that e advised Mir Tinker to advise Mir levine Another time the principal 'as found asleep in the school dur ng school hours. Miss Mary Ennis. a teacher in the Duggan school was called in and ( etween sobs she stated Mir Devine -as absent from the evening school NO consecutive nights and she had { rouble with her class which consist ( q mostly Of young men. They un- ertook to make rough house In the ooni. Twice. she said, he acted as If nder the influence of drink and ] vice she smelled drink from him T uring the night school
 The jsnitor Of the school. James [ !. Herman. was called. He stated z response to questions that he new [ ! noticed the children were noisy in { le files. and he could no; recall their [ sing out in the weather longer than 2 'ud be avoided. The ianltor ad- fitted the principal vas tardy at ? Tening school on a feW occasions. Q s fo hIs condition the lasf nirhf Of