Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-02-22
WOMAN SCHOOL HEAD IS
OUSTED AFTER HOT FIGHT
Summit Board Fires Miss
Connolly Over Angry
Protests OF Citizens.
IFrom a STAR correspondent. /

tFrom a stan Correspondent.
SUMMIT, Feb. 22.-Following a bit
ter denunciation of the people of Sum
init and the State, who had attempted
to intimidate the Board of Education
by means of 'lawlessness, mob rule and
disobedience," in signing petitions pro-
testing against the dismissal of Miss
Louise Connolly. superintendent of
schools. by George Hill, president of the
board, 1t was decided at a meeting of
the board last night to Gust Miss Con-
molly at the end of the term. There
were three dissenting votes.
Mr.. Hill declared that If the same
attempts to influence the members of
the board from their duty" had been
used in a political campaign the per-
sons would be indicted.
h meeting was the stormiest ever
held in the city. The two rooms in
School No. l, en- Springfield avenue,
which had been set aside for the meet
ing, were filled long before the time set
for the meeting. The majority were
young people, former pupils of the
school, teachers and representatives
from women's clubs and societies from
nearby towns. Nearly everyone had a
ollCtt VI pdptl vi ihC SNhNo aNSh ~
front of him, and the air was charged
with excitement.
II have here a bundle of fifty let
tiers, all on the same subject" said
the secretary.
Il move they be placed or f1le,i in
terrupted Morris A. Tying, vice-presi-
dent of the board.
II make a motion that they be read
ghouipd Temuel SkidmOre.
President Hill told the secretary to
read them.
AS soon as the secretary was through
Mr.. Tying arose and made 2 motion
that the majority report of the board,
prepared Friday night, that Miss Con-
molly be dismissed and a man appointed
in her place be passed. This motion
was seconded.
1.-The dismissal of Miss Connolly in
the face of the petition signed by I1S
residents of the town and all the let
tiers and kilograms from different parts
of the State would be a direct insult
to the people declared Mr.. Skidmore.
Then the people went wild.
"You bet IL would" You're right
"That's the stuff" were a few of the
phrases heard above the pandemonium
of clapping hands and stamping feet.
MIR. Hill threatened to adjourn the
meeting, and was laughed at.
President Hill Replies.
President Hill then called for re-
marks. Elmer Underwood and Robert
M. Cow agreed with Mr.. Skidmore. Mr..
Hill then turned the chair over to the
vice-president n told why he wanted
to GUST Miss Connolly.
sssrha Iicrniasa1 IF Misc ConnollV falls
into a place of secondary consideration
when the actions of the people in this
city are brought to mind" he declared.
Their actions III presenting petitions
and letters to this board in an attempt
to swerve it from the straight line of
duty is a return to mob rule. DISC
bedience! Intimidation! Coercion!
That is what it amounts to.
IF such a thing should take place in
a political campaign every signer would
be indicted. If this was done to me and
| was a judge | would have the persons
put in jail for contempt of court. 1t
Is simply trying TO force the members
of this board to do the bidding of a few
and to overthrow their own opinions. 1t
is tampering with the justice Of the
State.
ut has been said that [ was preju>
diced against Miss Connolly. The only
prejudice / have is that of a judge or
| jury at the close of a trial. People say
tia I wish Miss Connolly's discharge
because she is a woman. To think that
a man of my standing n reputation
as a lawyer would attempt to GUST a
person on this ground alone is an insult
to my intelligence. Although, I tell you
frankly, if two persons. a man and
woman. with exactly the same qualifi-
cations, should apply for the position l
would unhesitatingly give it to the ma
But that is not the case. The charge
is incompetence. If a man occupied the
position and had conducted himself and
got the same report as Miss Connolly, I
would discharge him. Three months
after l was appointed to the board, i9
January, 1908. 1 realized that a change
would be the best thing for the school
service. Two other members also knew
1t. At that time I prepared a resolu-
tion similar to the one presented to-
night. but, unfortunately, ! was taken
| sick and was unable to have 1t passed.
"The schools PIN this city are inferior
to any In the State. The standing of
| tie pupils is lower han anywhere else.
| the methods of instruction are lax and
there is absolutely no system; there is
no supervision"
'I will read you but n report, but
I think it will convince any reasonable
person thai the charges made against
Miss Connolly are just. In 1906, the
year before Miss Connolly took charge,
the average attendance was 7S4. There
were 1887 cases of hardness inc sew
enteen pupils had perfect records. In
1907, one year after Miss Connolly took
charge, the average attendance had
dropped. to 81 and there were 3.191
cases of hardness and but seven pupils
had perfect records In 1908 there were
721 pupils n the records of hardness
had increased to the amazing total of
3.249. Isn't this sufficient evidence?"
Mr.. Skidmore violently assailed Mr..
Hill for his statement that. although he
knew of the conditions two years ago.
ne never told the other members of
the board.
we are just as much interested in
the welfare of the school children of
the city as Mr.. Fill is" he stated. "If
he knew of errors In our system 1t was
his place to tell the other members Of
fbo board 90 that thew naroopa1tx