The Washington herald., 1909-06-16

I
in the recent discussions in regard TO the
George Washington University, but the
statement given out by President Need
ham. unless replied TO by me. might be
regarded as an acceptable explanation
for my retirement from the institution.
I do not take issue with The opinion
that my services are the least valuable
10 the university-the verdict Of my stu
dents upon this matter has already been
expressed IN tangible form.
The actual registration Of last session
shows sfxty-one students attending my
classes. and the cost per student per hour
IS less In mathematics than IN any sub
ject in the university. This answers the
imputation that I have few classes and
only a dozen students.
! With the aid OF a single assistant. in
struction was given during the session OF
I lS07-0S. the last session for which the
\ figures are available, 10 l66 students, at a
l cost per student-hour Of S634 Next 10
/ this In the matter OF cost was the rO-
\ nance languages. with 101 students. al a
/ cost Of $50: then English. with 80 stu
dents. al a cost OF $3.50 while the expense
/ Of teaching some OF the topics exceeded
/ so per student-hour-
Employed Assistant.
II Is also known that for two entire
sessions, when our classes were unusu-
4 ally large. I employed at my own ex-
Z pense an assistant who gave his entire
/ time 10 helping with the classroom work.
and that during the holidays I met f0-
review ali students who wished TO attend
a daily session
4 few weeks ago we were informed
by President Needham that a large en-
dowment must be raised by June / OF
this year or the university might be
obliged to close. At this meeting a com
mittee Of the faculty was appointed 10
aid the board OF trustees IN securing
funds. and was designated its chairman
Some days later mentioned this fact
10 a member OF the board whom I acCi-
dentally met, and his comments upon the
unusual suggestion that the faculty pass
around hat 20 collect their own sal
aries. started conversation in regard
30 the university and its administration
which I regarded as confidential and as
sumo that IL was so considered by mn
After this occurrence had occasion 10
discuss a business matter with another
member OF the board This interview OF
necessity called for a mention Of the
university and its financial condition. l
spoke briefly OF a plan by which the
institution might be made sclf-sustain-
ing did not refer 70 the night-schooI
proposition. nor did I suggest that 7
wanted 70 take over the MANAGEMENT OF
affairs. as Dr. Needham implies in his
statement II IS hard 70 Imagine that a
grave offense was committed in speaking
in this confidential manner 20 two per
sons. who. presumably. were interested
in extricating the university from a pre-
dicament that everybody considered crit
ical
Violated Instructions.
fully realized that 70 mention the uni
versiJy 10 a member OF the board was in
violation OF the Instructions Dr. Needham
issued the first day ne met the faculties.
bUt when We were plainly told that we
were 10 cooperate with the board in
raising S2Oo00oo IL seemed as though the
unusual rule OF silence would have 10
bs broken or cooperation would be i'm
possible. II might also be thought rea-
sonable that in such conferences the gen
eral policies OF the university would be
freedom 10 speak II is also natural that
much pent up criticism would freely flow
-Four members Of the board have recent !
" come 10 me TO express their disap-
proval Of the action taken with respect /
TO myself. which shows that they. too. are /
violating the imposed rule Of silence. and /
that dissention is not limited 10 the
faculty. I shall not betray their views
lest they too are dropped from their ]
high calling
It IS notorious fact that some OF my /
colleagues were even more energetic than 4
I in placing before the trustees sugges- /
tions for a change IN the administration /
It happens also that they have fewer stu /
dents than 7: that the cost Of instruction /
a student is many times what II is in /
and from the student esti- /
mate their services are not more highly 1
esteemed than mine have been. AS they
are retained, one must infer from Dr I
Needham's fattering reference TO my 4
resources that the seriousness /
Of such an offense is some function OF 4
ones worldly possession. and that only i
the less fortuned can have their sins for
given
DIR. NeedhRm's Charges.
II instead OF charging me with the
luestiopable oTense Of saying that each
department OF the university
night be made self-sustaining. Dr. Need
ham had said that he wished to elimi-
nate me because I did not agree with
his educational policies, he would have
referred TO facts known 10 all Of ny
colleagues.
He could have said that I was opposed
% the division Of education. as was the
aculty that voted against It. He might
ave mentioned my opposition 10 the re-
luirements for a degree in the college
II the political sciences-a proposition
hat received the sanction Of the council
'nly by counting the votes OF absent
But thought that my opinion
vas wanted, and expressed It frankly
md feaTlessly in the faculty. and never
made our differences Of opinion a tonic
Il conversation outside
Nv uselessness must have developed
apidly. A year ago in informing me Of
tardy increase Of salary. DR.. Needham !
his Indebtedness 10 me.
nd just before that he made me chair
nan Of a committee to consider the re-
organization Of the department OF arts
nd science Of the university. The report
ubmitted last October was adopted with
My twe dissenting voices. but never
cached the board which had asked for il.
This uselessness Is also intermittent. for
n June 5. OF this year, Dr. Needham
sked me Ito help him save the univer-
ity," and again on June S. a similar prop
sition came from another official OF the !
University In both cases offers were {
made TO restore me to my former posi- j
IL
a. - Il