The Washington herald., 1909-06-15


Of Coluns!s University. and editor OF the
Educational Review, is severely ar
raigned by Miss Edith C. westcoti. prin-
cipal of the Western High School, OF this
city. in the current number Of the Jour
nal Of Education. which reached Wash
ington yesterday.
Miss Westcott charges DR.. Butler with
dealing with .Innueado. slur. and half
limited scandal" and employing "the
methods identined with yellow Journal
ism 10 inJure the schools of Washington.
The Journal Of Education is most
conservative publication II is printed in
who is widely known in the educational
world. Editorially. in explaining the ap-
pearance OF this defense Of Washington
schools. DR.. winship pays the following
tribute 10 Miss Westcott:
On another page we use letter by Miss West
cott. Of Washington though it is a departure from
our custom. Miss Edith C westcOrt is woman
Of such personal worth and professional leadership
that she Is entitled TO hearing in the defense Of
the Washington schools and teaching force in any
publication We should not use such a protest
except from whose position. personal and pro
fessionsl entities her to speak FOR herself without
involving the paner in the discussion
Reply to Injurious Gossip.
Miss Westcott's article. entitled The
Washington Situation follows:
I'm the Notes and News section OF
the Educational Review for Nay. 1909,
appears an article under the heading,
The Washington School Situation
This article, II It did not come from
the pen OF the editor. DR.. Nicholas
Murray Butler. president OF Columbia
University. at best received his edi-
toriai sanction.
During the three weeks which have
passed since this arraignment OF the
Washington schools first came 70 my
attention, have had growing sense
OF its incomDatibility with what should
he the standards and ideals OF educa-
tional Journalism.
''The article in question deals with
innuendo, sIur. and half-hinted scan
dal. II employs the methods identified
with yellow Journalism. It's authority
is summed up in the phrase. one
hears Yes, and so one may hear. to
the end Of time. for venomOus gossip
ers are every ready with their latest
budget Of scandal. One may hear
whatever one is willing 20 listen 70
about any person OF situation That
we all know to our sorrow.
Facts Easily ObtainaBIe.
The pity Of it is that the Educa-
tional Review should consider such
idle gossip. admittedly based upon
mere rumor. and retailed in a spirit OF
marked unfriendliness, as contributing
anything OF value TO the educational
outlook. That the president Of a great
university should place before his au-
dience Ian audience which comprises
the leaders Of educational work and
thought in this great country the
query. Is It true that one high schooI
boy murdered another recently In a
Washington high school?' when all the
facts relating TO the accidental shoot
ing Of Vivian Bowdoin by Denniston
Charleton Cfacts which have been the
subject Of official investigation and
"a oAhcCAlEAAL O-AllAdl GAOlETdIOnD ]
could upon request have been obtained
by DR.. Butler for his complete salts
faction upon this point brings one to
a serious pause.
There seems. indeed. little hope for
the future Of sensational yellow Jour
mails. when magazine. which, from
its editorial strength and educational
prestige. We have a right TO consider
dignihed and professional in spirit is
willing 10 arraign a school administra-
ton under the f1imsy innuendo Of i'm i
piled rottenness. because Of an acci-
dent paralleled in almost every com
munity in America. The list OF boys
land OF mem who did not know It was
loaded is as long as the list Of TRACE
dies TO which their negligence and 1
carelessness gives cause, and more's II
the pity Of It all; but no magazine has
the right 10 masquerade under the title /
OF Educational Review II its summary 7
Of educational news is 10 include such I
hearsay rumors and scandals. The c
casual reader is shocked by the mani
fest unfriendliness Of spirit Of this
article.
An Unparalleled Publication.
rs there community where youth
and beauty have not been BETRAYED
by the lust Of man? Sad, indeed. "a
that story, when the victim Is from =
the ranks Of those charged with the \
intimate care Of young children. All n
Washington was shocked and grieved F
over the tragic death Of the beautiful q
and gifted young teacher referred 10 e
IN the article. but It took the Ednca-
tional Review to see in the situation Of > >
a lovely girl betrayed TO her death an
Indication OF moral unsoundness in the
school system Of Washington.
The article is without parallel in my
experience Of professional Journalism =
Continued on PAGE 5. Column G. Il