The Washington herald., 1909-07-02
SUPT. BRUCE MUST
ANSWER CHARGES
Board Of Education to Make
Investigation.
PLACED IN SEALED ENVELOPE
While They Have Not Been Read
Officially, II Is Understood They
Have 10 Do with an Article Criti-
cisInS the Washington school Sys-
tem-MeetinE Held Last Night.

Formal charges have been preferred
against Roscoe Conklin Bruce, assistant
superintendent Of public schools. The
charges have been nled with the Board
of Education. They are in a large off,
ciaI envelope. forming a bulky package,
and were formally delivered 10 the board
at its session yesterday.
The envelope has not been opened. and
no member Of the board was found last
night who would explain the nature Of
the charges.
AT the close Of a committee meeting
last night. lasting from S 10 11:S0 O'Clock.
Capt. James F. oyster president Of the
Board Of Education, said 10 a reporter Of
The Washington Herald that charges had
been made against Assistant Superintend-
ent Bruce, which would be considered at
a meeting OF the committee.
He said the meeting last night did not
take up the charges against Assistant
Supt- Bruce. its deliberations being purely
OF routine nature. SO FAR as he was
advised. ne said. the charges against
Assistant Supt. Bruce had not been
opened by any member OF the board
Heard Of the Charges.
he had heard charges were 10 be made
against the assistant superintendent be-
fore they reached the board officially
He sai1 he had heard. as had other mem
bers of the board that the basis OF the
complaint was in connection with an ar
ticle printed in the Boston Guardian, an
organ Of the negro race. said to have
been written by Bruce, in which he Is
alleged 20 have made adverse criticism
Of the school officials Of the District.
Supt. Stuart was seen at the Franklin
School building. He declined 20 give the
nature of the charges.
Assistant Superintendent Bruce was
with the committee nearly all the time
II was In session, leaving the room and
going 70 his Office On the second floor
less than half hour before adjournment
While admitting charges had been made
against him. he declined 10 say what the
charges were or by whom they had been
made
Capt oyster intimated the charges
were based upon certain recommended
tions made 10 the board by Assistant
Superintendent Bruce for the betterment
Of the negro high schools. These have
met with opposition among the in1uen-
tial supervising principals and teachers
who have brought retalitatory measures
70 discredit the assistant superintendent
At the afternoon meeting when the
recommendations OF the assistant super
intendent for the reduction Of certain
teachers in the negro high schools were
made, Capt Oyster said:
"The superintendent and assistant su-
perintendent should be supported In their
recommendations for both promotions
for both promotions and the reduction OF
teachers.
This expression OF sentiment together
with what he said last night would in
dicste that he viii support Bruce IN his
recommendations
Opposition TO Bruce.
An Official OF the schools. who refused
to have his name used. said the oppGsi-
ton to Bruce was due 70 recommenda-
tions lie had made as 10 the reduction
from high position Of two negro edu-
Gators. He was Of the opinion that the
people behind the charges were infuen-
tiaI employees Of the school system. and
we're backed by influential members Of
their race he said the opposition 10 the
policy OF Bruce was well organized:
Among the recommendations made by
Assistant Superintendent Bruce was the
reduction OF Supervising Principal J. c.
Male. OF the Tenth division. TO the prin-
cipalship Of Lincoln School. Another
recommendation was the reduction Of W
T. s. Jackson principal Of the N Street
High School. to be a teacher in the Arm
strong School Neither OF these recon-
mendations has been passed upon. Dr.
II. L. Bailey, supervising principal OF
the Twelfth division Of the colored
schools. has been recommended for prin-
cipal Of the II street school.
At the meeting OF the school board
Captain Oyster said.
1T is 70 be deplored that Congress
should so seriously cut the appropriation
for schools as TO prevent their opera
ton"
Prof. ". V Tunnel. OF Howard Uni
versity. was elected a member Of the
beard. The resignation OF Stuart Nc
Namara, attorney for the board, was
accepted.