New Britain herald., 1919-05-09
FOWLER AND FRENCH SLATED FOR DISCHARGE IF TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION HAS ITS WAY
Hearing For Miss Dunn and Miss Byrne Will Also Be Demanded By Dr. Martin This Afternoon.
DRIVE ON GAFFNEY
 IS ALSO SCHEDULED

RS ALSO SCHEDOLE1 Recent Disturbances Among School i Teachers and Administrative Body 1 Arc Fast Approaching a Climax Martin and Andrulcwicz Lined Up :, With Faction Opposing Present System-Resolutions Ready. ''I will strenuously oppose any ac- tion at the school board meeting this afternoon to re-engage Principals w. c. French of the Grammar school and E. R. Fowler of the New Elihu Bur ritt school for the coming year." de- clared Dr. John F. Martin, a member of the school board. this morning. 1T will go on record" continued pr. Martin, ''as asking the dismissal of MT. French and requesting that the re-appointm of Principal Fowler be withheld until the teachers com mittee investigates his fitness. I am taking this stand on behalf of the Taxpayers and Rentpayers associa- tion, which has requested me to use every honorable means to have both of these men dropped from the city's teaching staff. My reason for OppOS- ing MT. French and MT. Fowler is because it is said that both principals used coercive measures while en- deavoring to force the teachers to sign a resolution pledging their loyalty against their will to the su perintendent of the schools and the school administration. The instruc- tors, it is said were threatened that unless they signed the resolutions they would lose their positions.
 Claim False Statements.
 "Principal Fowler also made cer tain alleged false and slanderous re- marks against the character of cer tain citizens in the presence Of a large number of teachers.
 "I will also demand that the school board give Miss Julia T. Dunn and Miss Irene T. Byrne a fair and inn partial hearing"
 Much interest is centered in this afternoons meeting of the school commissioners at 43O o'clock in Su- perntendent Stanley H. Holmes of v flee Lawyer M. A. Sexton is to be present and will ask for permission to speak on behalf of Miss Dunn and Miss Byrne. An effort will also be made by Dr. Martin and Anthony s. Andrulewicz to have Judge B. F. Gaffney replaced as chairman of the board Dr. Martin and Commission CT Andrulewicz have been requested |, by the executive committee Of the Taxpayers and Rentpayxers' associa- ton to use every honorable means to secure the. election of some member other than Judge Gaffney as presi- dent.
 Will Present Resolutions.
 Dr. Martin will present the fol lowing resolution asking that no ac tion be taken on the re-appointmen of Principal Fowler:
 ITO The School Committed:
 ''Whereas at a meeting called by Professor E. R. Fowler of the schoo teachers of the New Elihu Burrit school on Monday afternoon, Apri 28, certain alleged coercive measure are said to have been used to fore the teachers into signing a certain 7 resolution against their will by threat ening them that unless they signe the resolution they would not be re engaged for the coming year.
 And Whereas certain alleged fals and sIanderOus remarks are said t have been made against character c certain citizens in the presence of large number of the teachers by E R. Fowler,
 "Be It ReSOlVeQ: InaC the com rnittee take no action in the matte of re-appointing for the coming yea F. R. Fowler until the committee Ina an opportunity of Investigating sai charges"
 Teachers Are Supported.
 A netition indicating that the Tax pavers' association has gone on rec ord as protesting against the actio of Superintendent Stanley H. Holme in notifying Miss Dunn and Mis Byrne that he would not recommen them for re-appOintment next 1aI will be presented to the school boar by pr. Martin. The petition reques r that the teachers be given an oppo tunity to he heard at pubnc hea 4 Ing and answer all charges that ma he preferred against them. The D. tition follows:
 Having the highest regard for u teaching abilities of Miss Julia Dur and Miss Irene Byrne, and know1r ho+b of these young women to be lrranroa chable character and DO sossad of the moral fiber 50 essenti t q teacher entrusted with the ed1 cation of our children: we empha' v rally protest against the acton
 p+orIe1r Fl. Holmes in recomm endlr to +be school board that neither t1oso voung women be re-engag gf tn 4be coming year by the scho soard Miss Dunn has taught Tn o' sobools for the past seven years af s11 sroax of her and of her aoln p0'A highest terms, II