Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-01-25
BOARD CENSURES
TEACHER ACCUSED
BY SCHOOL HEAD
Miss Clara B. Hummell, East
Newark Instructor, Charged
with INSTRUMENTATION.

Charged with INSTRUMENTATION, Mist
Clara 3, HummelI. a teacher in the
East Newark public school for Ave
years, was last night before the schoo
government committee of the East
Newark Board Of Education, and the
session that ensued p. owed one of Tho
storrniest hat a board committee has
held in a long time. The teacher was
Suspended Yesterday morning. AS a re
suit of last nights investigation she
was reinstated, but in no uncertain
terms was informed that her next of
fenso would mean her ultimate dis
missal.
Miss Humnleil is accused of acting in
a rather defiant n toward the
principal of the school, James A. MI
gent. She has sent letters to the board,
one Of which was probably the longest
mjsslyc ever received by the governing
body of the school. That she was dis
crinlinated against and did not receive
the treatment accorded other teachers,
are GONE of the charges alleged to have
baen made by her.
ON several occasions the board in
strueted its secretary, William A.
Carey, to cite Miss Hummell to appear
before il. In answer to one summons
Miss Huinmell is said TO have replied
that she never remained out late at
night, as she feared it would impair
her health. Principal Nugent, not
wishing to have any trouble, counten-
snced, according to some of the board
ynern bers. more than another school
head would do.
The climax arrived yesterday morn
ing. when Mr.. Nugent found that Miss
IIunmell has brought her class to her
room by means of a route other than
that laid out by the principal. Mr.,
Nugent took the teacher to task, and
when he saw that she was defiant sus-
pended her. Miss Hummell taught her
class until noon and then went home.
Mr.. Nugent prepared his charges and
presented them to the school govern
ment committee.
A notice was sent to the suspended
tutor to appear before the committee.
She was on hand, as was also County
superintendent NJ. II. Kinsley. The
commissioners were surprised to see
Mr.. Kinsley. They allowed him to re-
main at the hearing. His mission was
soon made evident. He seized the first
opportunity to speak in behalf of Miss
IJummell and asked that the board
show her mercy.
He admitted. it is said. hat Mr.. Nu-
gent had acted right in ~suspending the
teacher. Miss I1ummell, 1t is said, told
abe commissioners she considered that
Ahe had done wrong and apologized to
Mr.. Nugent. 1t was then decided to
r%einstate her. but she was given to un-
derstand that the next charge made
and proven against her would result in
her permanent suspension.
Each member of the committee CEN
silred the teacher and told her that
charges that should have been made in
the past had beer withheld in order to
give her a chance. Some time ago
MISC Hummell is said TO have. had
trouble with a pupil named Ray
Worthington.
IT appears, from the stories told. hat
the teacher ordered Worthington re-
main in at noon. The lad never at
tempted to leave the room until he
heard the noon whistles. Grabbing his
hat he made a dash for the door, The
school marin was too quick n she
collared him before he could get out of
the room, A Observation-Disclosures fight Is
said to have followed; the boy finally
broke away, however, and went home.
The matter, it is said, was not reported
TO the principal for some days. Fol
lowing a fatality a rule was made and
in effect was that no teacher should
keep q pupil in school at noon.
Miss Hummell has been teaching for
almost twenty years. MI. Nugent has
been in charge Of the borough school
for several years.