The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-03
SCHOOL BOARD IN
ALt-A|eHI SESSION
II. y. Thomas Attempts TO Explain
Statements Not I'm Accordance
With Facts.
DUE TO MISUNDERSTANDING
Tells How He Happened TO Say He
Was Compelled to Teach Sewing and
Double Grade When Such Was Not
Required.

Required.
| r. n. Thomas teacher In the High
land Park School, appeared before the
the board why he should not be dis
missed from the school system for
conduct unbecoming a teacher in that
he was alleged to have made mis-
statements as to the duties required
of him. At o'clock this morning the
board went into executive session.
after hearing testimony In the case
/ that was started at s o'clock.
! During the hearing 1t was admitted
by Thomas that he had made mis-
take in saying that he was required to
teach sewing at the Highland Park
School, and that he was also mistaken
when he declared he was teaching
double grades at the school. He de-
clared that he was further Under the
impression that teachers could have
! leave from their schools on any oc-
casion by merely notifying the super
+ intendentS office.
The charges brought against Thomas
followed statements attributed to him
published in a local newspaper. In this
statement he said that h was required
! to teach sewing at tho Highland Park
School. also double class without en-
! ira pay. and further that he was not
guilty of characterization when he took
! leave without notifying Or. Chandler
personally as this was common praC-
tice. The case attracted much atten-
ton. and large number of witnesses
We're present last night when the hear
ing begun, Thomas was represented
! by Presley Smith. Jr an attorney.
Charges Are Read
Z. NJ. Long. the member of the
School Board, who had offered the
! resolutions at the previous meeting,
which brought Thomas before the
hoard to show why he should not be
dismissed from his position. because
IF conduct unbecomlng a teacher was
requested 10y Chairman W FLOYD
, Eeams, TO take the case in hand Mr..
/ Long read the charges against the
instructor. and several papers among
them letter fror5 Thomas to DR.
Chandler. In which was stated that
the writer would be willing TO accept
any position which the board had to
( offer, but declaring that he preferred
/ departmental work. and that he would
like an increase in salary. He was
given departmental work at the High
land Park School, and later an in
crease in salary. Mr.. Long first call
ed F. f. Gravas, principal of the
Highland Park school to the stand
Never Taught sewing.
The principal stated that Thomas
was teaching the IA and 7-B grades
ut the school, and that he taught such
subjects as history, geography and
arithmetic, but declared that he did
not have to teach sewing as this was
not included in the curriculum of the
grade. He added that the subject Of
sewing had never been taught in the
grade presided over by Thomas. since
he had been principal of the school.
Music, however. he testified was
taught in the grade. and on being
notified by Thomas that he could
not teach this subject, Mr.. Graves
stated that he advised him that other
arrangements would he made to re-
leve him of this. which was agreed
on.
Mr.. Graves was asked by the board
why he took any notice of the pub
lished statement regarding his school.
and he said that he regarded them
as a reflection. and had been asked
about them on various occasions. and
he thought II was a duty to properly
| inform the patrons of the school.
He said that an impression has gained
currency to the effect that the teach
ers were permitted to shift classes in
the school whenever they saw fit.
which was not the case.
The only shifting. he said. was
when Thomas declared he could not
teach music. He brought in teach
er from another grade for this sub
ject, sending Thomas to Ali lin that
grade during the regular teachers
absence. This was the only shifting
done. he said and was done TO ac-
commodate Thomas. and make it
easy for him.
! Attorney Smith made an effort to
score for his client when he asked
the principal If it was not generally
stated that when DR.. Chandler want
ed to get something on a teacher, he
would put him under Mr.. Graves.
This was denied very emphatically.
At this point the attorney began a
line of questioning regarding the cur
riculum OF the school and other mat
ter which was ruled out by the board
as being irrelevant.
! Wanted Facts Brought Out.
Mr. Graves is here with papers
and document for the purpose OF
bearing out the charges preferred
against Mr.. Thomas, and is conceal
ing certain facts which I wish to
bring out" declared the attorney,
land wish to continue my question"
This was refused by the board. where
upon Mr. Graves made a statement
saying that he had only come pre-
pared with such documents as he
needed to answer the charges that
had been made against his school