The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-06-06
ASKS SQUARE DEAL
/. FOR HIS DAUGHTER
Father of Adele Klein, German
Teacher, Protests Against Mans
Promotion Over Her Head.

mittee OF the board of education In
appointing Charles M. Noyack first
assistant in the German department
In the Eastern High school, over
Miss Adele Klein, who is Novack'
senior in service and is recognized
among outside professors as one OF
the best German teachers in Detroit.
Is causing no little comment In school
circles. F. j. Klein, father OF Miss
Klein, appeared before the commit
tee. Monday afternoon, to protest
against Novack's appointment. but
the committee, while acknowledging
Miss Klein's qualifications TO be ex-
ceptional, refused to rescind It's for
mer action on the ground that MI.
Novack's appointment had been rec
Commended both by Principal Bishop
and Prof. Niederpruem. head OF the
German department. The committee
took the position that II was bound
by these recommendations.
| The action OF the committee does
not necessarily end the matter. The
appointments of teachers for the
next school year come up for con-
/
Ing OF the board and there is dis
position on the part Of some Of the
inspectors to insist on the appoint
ment Of Miss Klein.
Miss Klein, in letter to the COM
mittee, said that she was practically
promised the position OF first assist
ant when she applied for the position
of head of the department some time
ago. Supt Martindale denied that
any such promise had been given.
81 am not in the habit of making
promises" said the superintendent.
Il can say truthfully that the sup
Ierintendent has never made me any
promises" volunteered Inspector Rob-
ertson, and being an anti-administra-
ton member, there was a bit Of irony
In his remark.
Mr.. Klein. In speaking of his daugh-
ter's qualifications, said that she had
been teaching five years. and the pro-
fessors in Ann Arbor and other uni
versities, who had been able to judge
her work, had pronounced her the best
teacher of German in the Detroit
schools. He could not understand why
Principal Bishop had failed to rec.
ommend her for first assistant this
year, for he had recommended her
highly on previous occasions.
IF be has recommended Mr.. No.
vack for the place instead OK my
daughter, then defy his recommends
tion," said the aged father. He is
wrong. Mr.. Novack has been teaching
in the Eastern High only two years
Why should he be advanced in pref
erence to my daughter. You gentle
men should investigate this.
II do not come before you as a
father. TO ask a favor. come as a
citizen and taxpayer to see that jus
tice is done. take 1t that you are
all looking out for the best interests
OF the schools. and my purpose In
coming before you Is to see that those
interests are protected"
Miss Klein's salary is $1,000 per
year, and the position of first assis-
tant would mean substantial In.
crease In salary. Novack's present
salary is 81 800 per year.
Ferdinand Raffel, father of 7-year-
old Esther Raffel. who claims to have
been inhumanly punished by Principal
Guy Bates, OF the Logan school, made
W. ma NOhipioihl against tue
before the committee. He declared
that his daughter is still undeg a ply
sician's care and unable to attend
school as a result Of the beating she
received
Raffel said that he had called UP a
physician, who is also a school in
spector. and had asked him to call
and see his daughter. The physician,
he declared. had refused to come un.
less paid 81.
II am that man. said DR.. Hugh
Cary. chairman Of the teachers com.
mittee "He explained that he did not
consider Ii his province to investigate
the case as an inspector under the
circumstances, and that he did not
propose to make the call in his pro-
fessional capacity without remunera.
ton. II was up to the superintendent.
he held, to investigate such cases.
Mr.. Raffel had considerable to say
about the treatment OF children in the
Logan school, charging that in some
instances rags were placed over the
children's mouths to keep their cries
from being heard after they had been
punished.
The committee decided to hold a
special meeting next Monday after.
noon, at 4:30 o'clock, to investigate
the whipping of the Raffel girl. Prin-
cipal Bates and Miss Bassett. the
child's teacher will be summoned TO