The Hawaiian gazette., 1916-08-15
Commissioners Stand Firm and
Refuse To Change Decision
In Kauai Case
PEDAGoGUES MAY APPEAL
TO COMING LEGISLATURE
Attorney Patterson Makes Game
Fight In Effort To Rein
state His Clients

SO far as the commissioners of pub
lie instruction are concerned, and their
dictum is final, Mr.. and Mrs. H. c.
Brown win not teach again in the
government school at Wnimea, Kauai
or at any other school controlled by the
department.
This was decided yesterday by the
commissioners. The Browns were
given full days hearing. Attorney
Fred Patterson of Lihue, who repre-
sented them, occupied the better part
# two hours in summing up the
lease" for his clients, following the
close Of the taking Of the "testi.
m0ny."
In the summing up, Mr.. Patterson
did not spare the superintendent of
public instruction. He dealt lightly,
however, with the inspect or general of
schools and barely "touched" Com
missioner Eric A. Knudsen, the Kauai
member of the board.
Following the hearing and address
by the attorney for the Browns, the
three commissioners present went into
executive session. When they emerged
therefrom it was announced that the
commissioners had decided that the ac.
ton of the board, taken previously, in
not reappOinting Mr.. and Mrs Brown
would stand as final
May Go To Legislature
just what further steps NAV be
taken by the two teachers, it was not
announced yesterday, although it was
rumOred that they would carry their
complaint against the board Of educa-
ton to the next Legislature, which will
meet in Honolulu on February 81,
next. Hardly a session of the legisla,
ture has been held but some board of
education investigation has not been
conducted.
InsubOrdinution, the dominance of
Mrs. Brown, an assistant, over Mr..
brown, the principal, and other teach
crs at the Waimea School, remark
alleged to haye been made by Mrs.
Brown when Eric A. Knudsen was ap-
POINTED commissioner of public instruc.
ton that he was "a weak reed to
lean on, - and pilikia said to have been
hrd between Mrs. Brown and Miss
Gertrude HOfgaard, another assistant
at the Waimea school, were the charges
which the hearing yesterday brought
out which made up the case, substan.
tiating the claim made that the
Browns had not been reappointed "for
the good Of the department.
Hearing Was Exhaustive
Mr.. and Mrs. Brown and a number
OF other witnesses" testified yester.
day. Petitions, letters and other docu-
mentary evidence of Endorsement and
Import Of the Browns were also in.
troduced and read. The minutes of
1Urmer sessions Of the board and
copies of the Office correspondence
were scored, examined and excerpts
read and quoted during the several
hours of the hearing.
Although Mrs. B. d. Bond, one of
the Big Island commissioners, was alb
sent, being away in the mainland, she
was there in spirit, for letter written
by her told how she had learned that
Kauai was unanimous for the Browns.
Closely questioned by Attorney Pat
tHrson, George s. Raymond, Inspector
general of schools, admitted that, after
having cautioned the Browns once,
there had been no further complaint
from any source. He had landed at
Waimea once and gone straight to the
house of Miss Hofgaard, a teacher in
the same school. Mrs. Brown had
learned of this and, apparently slight.
ed at the act of lese majestic, had had
s"me discussion about it with Ray
mOnd, yet this had not been material
and could not be held as much of
charge against the Browns, it was
claimed.