Evening journal., 1914-05-19
WHY NOT An INyEsTIGATION4

w Sunday star upon having fallen in line in the
effort that is being made to put end to inol-
cradle conditions which exist in the management of
the Wilmington High School. 1t is with pleasure that
reprint the following three paragraphs from its
editorial columns:
AS far as we can unravel the tangle at the High
School the main of the trouble may be
pressed in three words: TOO much janitor." The
cent trouble is merely elimination Of many troubles
that have before IL Is humiliation to the stu
donts humiliation &c the teachers and more than
humiliation TO the Principal of the School that che
Janoc is practically supreme in many matters wherein
Principal and the teachers should be in control.
THE would be bal enough If the naitor d man
of good judgment and OF proper instincts may De re-
gardeG by some members Of the Board OF Education
small matter for the anitor to go into the ohce
Of The superintendent where the secretary, youhs
woman, is at work. and without coat on take seat
aud put his feet the table. 1t may be regarded as
a small thing for Tia lanltor TO make practice OF
taking a nap sofa in the Principals office, or
IA the superintendent Office, his fancy may
prompt; Il may be regarded as a small thing by the
board the customary attitude OF this servant
of the school to be Of ordly authority over the
whole school, with the possible exception OF the super
ntendeEt All these things may be looked upon as
proper by the school board; but do not so regard
them; do the people so regard them.
AS to the rules and regulations Of tie board in rela
ton to the care of the High School building II may
that the ianitor is strictly carrying them out We
informed by member of the board but, be-
ing SO. there Is overwhelming testimony TO the enect
that the anitor takes every opportunity to enforce
these rules and regulations in most unpleasant and
sometimes in a most offensive manner In THIS iool-
sh he is supported by the chairman of the
High School Committee, whose continuance in that re-
sIonsibe position is serious reflection upon the good
sense of the school board.
This being the situation at the High School, 1t is
needless us to comment upon the latest outcome
OF condition that has cried aloud for correction for
several years. and which has at last compelled the
members OF the graduating class TO seek accommoda
their class festivities outside the High School
building They have taken this course in quiet and
decorous manner and without the slightest sign of in
subordinaon, either by act speech For this they
to be commended but they are equally to be COM
mended for their refusal to submit In purely per-
10 fna ftr nj nT-Tu
situation I'm viii ich they have the support of
nnetenths Of the High School instructors and we be-
lieve, a like percentage Of the people at large
We congratulate the Star upon its candor.
Members Of the Board of Education may we'll
reconcile themselves the fact that the Wilmington
public no longer is going to submit to such an un-
natural condition as that which exists IN the
ment of the High School It insulting to the princi-
pal humating to the teachers and demoaning to the
students.
It is the proper status Of janor in an establish
ment like that to take orders from and not to give
orders to the superintendent, the principal and the
teachers. II is useless for the clique that controls
the Board of Education and the High School to en-
deayor to Justify the gross inversion of the natural
Of things that has been established and is being
maintained in the High School building.
The time has come when the people Of our city are
determined that the High School ianitor shall devote
himself his legitimate functions of ehoyeng coal
removing dirt and that be shall to be either
"a DOMINATING a terrorl1lnR OF an HTllhbuB ihctoI III
the school In other worcs, he must be put back in
his proper pace kept there and the orders to the
principal and the teachers must from above and
not from the coalbin, the ashpit or the dustpan
There is no misunderstanding in the public mind as
TO the cabalistic source from which the High School
janor receives both his crown and his sceptre. Be
hind all that lies the spnelessness of majority Of
Board of Education which, it not equipped with
piece OF garden hose in lieu Of backbone, might
clean up the High School janitorial rule in hour
and, by a fearless and impartial investigation dis
cover and lay before the public within week the
secret OF that janitor's influence certain mem
bers of the of Education That is what the peo-
pie Of this city On all sides the ques-
ton heard: what has this janitor certain per-
that they permit him to do he does in defiance
of the sentiment Of the community? And that ques-
tion is both timely and pertinent The public de-
mands answer to II. II It be not forthcoming
: through the Board of Education then certainly it
should be forthcoming through City Council some
other duy-constituted body clothed with ample in
quisorial power probe to the bottom of the trou-
BILE. And while such nqusitoral body is work
It should itself merely with laying bare
the of this offensive janitorial control that has
aroused such widespread public resentment and sus-
picion. It should take up the matters school books
school supplies and other things which into the
administration of the schools here, and make a clean
job of it all while it is about it. In other words use
the High School janitor instrument a general
] HuusSSit"ihH6 vi 1lN department VI Luu'dtVh III
anything be discovered a result of such general
| investigation, well and good. If not the Board OF
! Education will at least start out the schoo
year with clean bill Of health something that should
be welcomed by any public body.
And there is another feature OF it all that the public
insists shall be stopped That official insinuation
made in justification Of ianitor rule in he High Schoo
that moral considerations make imperative the pres
janitorial policy Such insinuatons are insulting
10 the teachers, and women and to the students
boys and girls. But even if a monitor, spotter,
spy a bearer of tales affecting teachers and stu
dents be deemed necessary by that sanity and sus
picious clique that controls the High School, such
functonary should be designated and convincing
ground should be laid publicly as ample warrant 70
such designation In the absence Of proof the con
trary, the public doubt will think at the Higl
school teachers and students are fnil, s ,,oral ana