South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-04-20
Board Member Declares All
Agitation Regarding Ap-
pointment of School ExeCu-
tive Has Been on "0utSide." I"
PUPILS ASK RETENTION
OF PRESENT PRINCIPAL
Hold Mass Meeting and CirCu-
late Petitions and Plan
Parade Favoring Sims -
Judge Brown Adds Tribute

~All agitation in regard to the ap-
pointment OF a new principal for the
South Bend high school," A. L. Hub
bard, member of the school board said
Tuesday morning, lis outside of the
board itself. While we have not yet
appointed a new man or have agreed
upon who shall be appointed. the
board is far from holding any hostile
feeling toward any particular man
THE most recent agitation seems TO
have been stirred up and made public
by friends of the present holder of
the office, +. l. Sims, who. fearing
that Mr.. Sims might be displaced.
/ have sought TO forestall such a move"
! The board members, William Glen,
! George a. KnoblOck and Mr.. Hub
| bard, will meet Tuesday night, and
the chief business will be the discus
sion arising from the question of ap-
pointing a principal.
1T is merely a matter Of choosing
4 the right man for the right place,
said Mr.. Hubbard further. The board
eas no feeling of animosity toward
Mr.. Sims"
When asked If the recent public
fcriticism offered relative TO Mr.. Sims
kconduct toward a certain pupil OF the
school would sway the boards opin-
lion, Mr.. Hubbard declared that 1t GER
tainly would not.
Among the candidates for the Of
l.fice of principal are John A. Byers.
lprincipal of the local grammar school;
/ r.. +. Ramsey. principal of the Bloom
? ington, Ind. schools; T.. =. Wlles,
principal of the Evansville schools,
and ]. L. Giles. Of the Marion, Ind,
schools.
1t was claimed Tuesday morning
that the board was not divided in
opinion 10 the point that there was
oissension. Each man Will be given
his chance against the others and the
best man will win-that at least Is the
opinion of the board members.
Pupils Hold Mass Meeting.
Unanimous approval of the regime
OF r. l.. Sims as principal of the high
school and a demand for his relnstate-
ment both this year and next, was the
sentiment of the high school students
at a mass meeting at the school Tues
day morning.
The meeting was called by students
for the purpose of presenting the
matter Of a successor to Mr.. Sims be-
fore the entire student body and Sc
curing their sentiment on the subject
and was presided over by Walter
Phelan.
Many OF the students were sur
prised at the reports that there was
a possibility of another man being IN
charge OF the school When asked
whether or not they wanted another
man in the place of the present head
or the echOol, the answer was
laundering chorus of I'VE want Sims.
Many Sign Petitions.
over 40 petitions were placed in
the hands of students TO be circulated
-
every student in the school affiN his
signature to the document before )
O'Clock This Will then be presented
TO the board of school trustees at their
meeting at the high school building
tonight.
\ parade which viii include most
Of the students in school is being
planned By the students 10 take place
on the downtown streets during the
supper hour, finishing its course NJ
the high school building where the
board Is in session.
II is understood that practically
every teacher OF the faculty is in IA
vor Of the retention OF Mr.. Sims. al
though nothing definite Will he given
out 10y any of them. Many teachers
attended the mass meeting and ap-
plauded the work OF those trying TO
B secure the reinstatement of Principal
Sims. students who made speeches
f UIklnE AlldL MI CAlllS hG ANAttAAtQ
were Dichl Martin, president OF the
senior class: Wallace Davis, president
OF the junior class; Russell Steiner.
president Of the sophomore class, and
Robert Happ.
Mum" on Teachers Petition.
4 petition IS being circulated among
the teachers OF tne school 10y G.. A
Metzler which was at first reported
TO be similar 20 that being passed
around among the students. but when
interviewed Metzler said that the pc
tition ne had was not in regard TO the
present matter at all, but was con-
cerning a private matter which had
arisen between certain OF the teach
ers and Mr.. Sims and that ne could
give nothing out about It.
Judge Willis Brown, who spoke at
the assembly preceding the students
mass meeting. said in part;
The reason I'm here today Is be-
cause / took dinner with your prin-
cipal. Mr.. Sims, in Chicago the other
day. and prominent Chicago business
man Prof. Sims entertained US by
telling what he considered the true
functions OF "a school and school
teachers: To instill boys and girls with
am mbitiOn 10 achieve.
Il said 10 the Chicago business man,
There's real educator and 1 want
10 visit him and his school
in my experience j count your
principal, Mr.. Sims. one OF the very
advanced and real educators 1 have
mai