The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-03-23
KISSING PRINCIpALONLYF FINED
hoard or EDUCATION WOULD
NOT DISMISS HIM,
Because II Appeared That Too Long
Time Elapsed Between tho kissing
and the Time when Kissed Teachers
Con,pIained-A Womsn's judgment.


Con,plained-A Womsn's Judgment.
The report Of the elementary schools
committee to the meeting Of the Board
Of Education yesterday relative to the
charges against Principal Bernard Cron-
son Of Public School 3 at Grove and Hud-
son streets stirred up the meeting as moth
ing has done for several months.
| Chairman Abraham Stern Of the COM
mittee submitted the report. which ended
in resolution that the principal be de-
clared guilty Of the charges Of gross mis-
conduct and inefiiciency and be fined four
months pay The fine is equivalent to
81. 200
The principal was charged with kissing
some OF the women teachers In his school.
His trial was held in secret aud the de-
bate at yesterdays meeting brought out
part Of the testimony for the first time.
Miss Martha Draper stood up as soon
as the report was read and made the first
extended speech OF any woman member
Of the board.
Il do not believe that the imposition OF
fine Of four months pay is sufficient to
atone for the gravity Of the charges OF
which this principal was found guilty"
she said. Such a man as this principal
ia unfit to be in charge Of q school.
move that instead Of being fined he be
dismissed.'
DIR. Maye said he quite agreed with Miss
Draper in regard to the necessity OF care
fully guarding the morals Of the public
school,
"Only last night a teacher gave me in
formation about her experience that made
my cheeks burn with shame to think that
we had destroyers In our school system.
he said.
| Chairman Stern said that 40 far none OF
the facts had come out in regard to Cron-
son 3 trial. 30 the previous speakers were
hasty in judgment. in his opinion.
Ear he it from me to defend the prin-
cipal on the charge OF undue familiarity
with women teachers he went on. But
there was some doubt a. to the sincerity
of the women who accused him. based
upon the time that elapsed between the
date Of the alleged offence and the time
Of complaining.
.In one case q woman teacher says that
away back in 1908 the principal smiled a
her and stroked her hand with his hands
In 1907 he attempted to kiss her. she
says. and in 1908 he actually did kiss her
she testified.
1T took him hve years. Blu
II was three years ago that no busse<
J the woman teacher. and the terribil
insult was not made known until recently
Why didn't she resent tho familiarity
at the time?
There was another comp lainant. {
woman teacher who said that four year,
ago the principal tried to kiss her. But HI
didn't succeed.
All that was Why the committee die
not consider Dismissal just"
This long silence was evidently fol
good reasons said Arthur Somers o.
Brooklyn There seems to have beer
two in this anair-the kissed and thu
kisser. A silence Of several years ove
the violence done to the proprieties in
/. volved two persons. II one is to be dis
missed does not justice demand tina
the other should also?
Il call upon Mrs. Post. who is a membe
: of the elementary schools committe'
D and heard all the testimony at the trial
r to enlighten us. as abe can show us thu
womans heart and the wOman's mint
I as affected by the evidence"
Mrs. Post arose and said:
Il think his conduct was most repre-
hensible, but under the circumstance
b. do not think he should be dismissed
AS member OF the elementary school
committee l don't believe we should dis
miss this principal said Commissions
. Cosgrove. Tho impression at the tria
8 was that the women teachers did no
8 seem to think they had suffered muci
. by the kissing. This you will understand
I when one OF the teachers that had conn
I in for some Of the principals playfulnes
actually declined to be transferred from
8 that school. She said that MIR. Cronsol
was always q gentleman and acted lik
one"
A vote was taken on Miss Draper
n amendment. calling for dismissal. II wa
u lost by large majority.
The resolution to fine four mont h
h nav was then adopted. and the man.
: teachers in the gallery and at the bacl
y OF the room went out.
lCALLED FATHER TO WHIP Girl
In the SchO0l-PrincipaI Charged Wit
- This Fined.