Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-08-13
COMMISSIONER AND.
SCHOOL HEAD TILT.
Teacher Again Figures in Con-
troyersy at BelIeVilIe
Board Meeting.

There was some excitement at the
| meeting of the Belleyille Board n
! Education last night. when Supervis-
| ing Principal of Schools George 4,
| Girard took occasion to deny the al
legations made against him at 2
| previous meeting by School Commits
| sioner John j. Trayers, that for per-
sonal reasons he had Disseminated
against Miss Diana Cobb, a teacher
in the fifth grade of the Silver Lake
School.
Commissioner Travers contended al
a previous meeting that Miss Cobb
had protested against the action OF
the board in not granting her an in
crease in salary. and had appealed to
him to bring the matter before the
board. Mr.. Travers commended that
at that time he consulted Commits
sioner David A. Chairman and Mr..
Girard in Miss Cohbs behalf. and was
distinctly told by the supervising
principal that Miss Cobb would not
receive an increase in salary because
she had created too much trouble.
Mr.. Girard was not present at the
meeting and said he had no idea that
the matter would be considered at
that time.
Mr.. Girard said he mad not been
present at the last meeting ana
wanted to know If the newspaper ac-
counts of the meeting stating that
Mr.. Travers had contended that per
sonal feelings guided his action in
the matter were true The reading
of the minutes of the previous meet
ing confirmed the reports. Mr. Glrard
then stated that he knew the mat
ter had been laid over until the sep
TENDER meeting, but he did not like
to bear the burden of the imputatlon
for another month without register
Ing a protest. He asked Mr.. Trav-
ers if he had made the alleged state
ments.
Apparently wishing to avoid an en-
counter Mr.. Travers returned an
evasive reply, put put to the test ny
the supervisor. answered yes. MI
Girard then stated that he must nave
been misunderstood by Mr.. TraVers,
"a il was beyond mis- province to IN
terfere with such matters. lie cor
tended that it was a matter for the
consideration of the teachers com
mittee and Miss Cobb should have
appealed to that body.
Mr.. TraVers declared he so ADVISED
the teacher, and that Miss Cobb haa
visited the home of MIR. Chairman
chairman of the teachers committee,
and finding no one at home, informed
him of the fact. He said he then
took the matter up with Mr.. Clear
man. and afterward with Mr.. Girard,
who told him that Miss Cobb would
not receive an increase in salary this
year. and would not finish the year
as a teacher.
Mr.. Girard contended that he was
misunderstood on this point by Mr..
Travers and that he referred TO inc
fact that Miss Cobb had INTENDED re-
signing her position.
Mr.. Travers was not to be outdone,
however and asked Mr.. Girard why
Misc Cobb had been transferred from
school No to school No. 4, and who
was responsible for the transfer. Mr.
Girard contended that it was so long
ago he could not remember.
Mr.. Travers then wanted to know II
the removal had been sanctioned by
the teachers committee. Mr. Girard
replied that he was not on the rack
to be cross examined.
Mr.. Travers contended that he had
not refused to answer the question
put to him by Mr.. Girard. and
thought he should return the compl-
ment, The supervising principal re-
turned the same answer. that 1t was
too long ago to remember.
At this point Commissioner George
TAYLOR reminded the board that at a
previous meeting it had been de-
cided to Law the matter over until
the September meeting, when the
chairman OF the teachers committee
would make known the result of his
investigations.