Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-09-20
THE FITLER SCHOOL CASE

To the Editor Of the Evening Ledger
Sir-The removal of William H. Sowden
from the prlncipalship of the Edwin H.
Filter School early in this year is still a
matter that engages the earnest attention
of the parents of many of the children. PerS
haps most of them do not know of the re-
cent efforts made to have the boara recon-
slider its action in this case, or how con-
Trajectory and inconsistent are their ac-
tionS.
The school law as amended and approved
by Governor Brumbaugh June 4, 1915, pro-
vided THAT no person shall be promoted,
or transferred. unless he, or she, is among
the three highest in point of Average In his
particular class" This was fair and just.
When there was @ vacancy favoritism or
pull was not to be employed in selecting the
person to fill this position. But
this is too fair; politics has no room to
move Its hands tied by a good law.
Some one is inspired. They conceive of a
dandy scheme in the shape of a brand-new
rule, elaborately worded and most ingeni-
Gus. When some of the teaching force saw
| II they gasped and wondered what would
happen. ,s.
What did happen? The board adopted II
| November 0, 1918. It is known as Rule 16.
| 1t says that when a principal is to be pro-
NOTED to a higher school he must have an
! average OF so in one case and IS In another,
| and 90 and 95 to reach the highest schools
| Do you see what an opportunity Is here
opened for favoritism and pull TO get In
| their work2 There might be twenty five
persons with an average OF so. Who is to
get the plum? The law plainly provides
| who. II was not a question OF what his
| average was 1t might be 10 or 30, any
thing, so long as It was the highest But
| what says the rule? Oh, any one of the
twenty-five will do Good Then I prefer
| Mr.. Jones, who is No. 2S.
1t is said that the principal OF the
| Filter School did not have the proper aver
| age according to the rule, hence he was
removed. The rule is illegal and certainly
| does not govern when II contradicts the
law. The principal Of the Filter School hai
been Illegally removed. The law further
| provides that no principal shall be removed
II he held his position prior TO the passage
| of the school law above referred to- IL ex
| pressly protects cases where schools grow
under the wise direction of a principal ant
seeks to retain him; yes. even prohibits hi
| removal.
In the face OF this the Filter School prin
| cipal is removed. An open violation OF tn
| law.
Then note II you will. this action OF tn
Board OF Education. The PRINCIPALS OF tn
| Wayne School, the Widener School, tn
Leidy School were all in the same clas
as the Filter. These schools grew and NOR
classes were added. The principals wer
promoted and allowed to remain, though Il
not a single case was the principal amonI
the three highest In his or her particula
class Of school II is contrary to the Law
but why were they not removed? oh. the
had an average OF sb I; Filters principal ha
only 81. The rule was invoked to saw
them. The rule said 50 was all right
They were safe. But note what has hap
pened since the Fitler case. The board eyl
dently thinks II no longer safe to insok
| the rule. as witness the most recent trans
fers. All. IA fact, since the Fitler case
They are strictly in accordance with IN
law, The board In effect repudiates the rul,
| care is taken IN recommending promotion
| to see 70 Il that the candidate Is No. 4.
or l. What his average Il does not coun
. Il Is whether h< Il highest
Germantown. septeznbef - 1T