The Washington bee., 1910-10-22


treated Mr.. Dyson with marked con-
sideration and fairness, as he always
does when the rights of a teacher are
involved. The other matter was ex-
planned to the president, as will be
seen in the following letter to his
counsel:
Mr.. w. Calvin Chase.
Dear Sir: l, Albert R. Dyson, was
appointed to the pubIiu schools MAY
I, 1907, as a teacher of the first grade
at Bruce School, Dr. Edgar Beckley,
principal.
1 received no rating at the end of
the school term, as l only taught two
months.
In the following September I resum-
ed my position as teacher of the first
grade under Mr.. M. Grant Lucas, prin-
cipal; Henry Bailey, supervisor.
There | remained until February,
the close of the first half term. l was
transferred TO the Phillips School, first
grade, under Miss G. F. Smith, prin-
cipal; DR.. Montgomery, supervisor.
AT the end of this school term l was
rated poor In the following Septem-
Der | went back to the Phillips under
Miss G. F. Smith, principal; J. 6.
Nalle, supervisor.
During this last term I realized that
| could give better credit both to my
self and also to the system by hav-
ing a second grade, as the children are
larger and not as difficult as those in
the first grade for a young man to
handle.
With these points in view, I spoke
with Mr. Bruce and also Miss z. F. G.
Merritt in February last asking for
this change. They both gave me their
promise to change me at the first
available opportunity. Opportunities
occurred, but they failed to keep their
promise in changing me. Thus | was
allowed to continue to the close of last
year, and was again rated poor.
I have since learned that these
marks were due to Miss z. F. G. Mer-
rift, Miss |. Wormley, Miss G. F. @.
Smith and Mr.. ]. c. Nalle
I was dismissed July by the board
| went to Mr.. Bruce and was told
that my ineficiency was the cause of
it.
During this last year I received
three letters from Mr.. Bruce, one
through Mr.. Males criticism of my
work, which was entirely unwarrant-
ed, for he did not visit me that month
and could not have possibly made the
criticism. The other two were through
Miss Merritts and Miss Wormley's
criticism of my work, claiming lack
of interest and energy as the criticism.
These letters are the only COM
municatiOn l have ever received from
Mr.. Bruce.
l was never summoned by the
board or any other supervisory officer
to answer to charges of any kind
Mr.. Nalle visited my school room
to observe my work but once during
the entire year; Miss Merritt twice;
Miss Wormley twice, and Mr.. Bruce
not at all
I am a graduate of the Normal
School, class of 1905. Was rated No.
II in class of 25, which was in the
excellent group.
Respectfully,
ALBERT R. DYSON,
I2O D street S. w.
Frequent visits were made to Mr..
Bruce both by Rev Jarvis, the father
in-law of young Dyson, and his coun-
sci. Mr.. Bruce assured both that he
would reinstate Mr.. Dyson. Rev.
Jarvis was somewhat skeptical, and
demanded that Bruce put the promise
in writing. In the meantime, Mr..
Bruce rendered young Dyson a jani-
tors place, and sent him a blank to
fill out; was to hold this janitor's
place until he (Bruce) thought sufi
cient time had elapsed before he could
reappOint him. After consultation, it
was decided that the acceptance of a
janitor's place was a humiliation;
hence the position was declined.
Mr.. Bruce then made another sug-
gestion, to the effect that if Mr.
Dyson would substitute and make
good, he would reinstate him, as will
be seen by the following letter from
Mr.. Bruce to Rev. w. D, Jarvis:
Washington, D. c., Oct. 20, 1000.