Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-17
|nAPS SCHOOL BODY
AS MEN IN DOTAGE'
''ServiIity, Not Service, De-
fnanded," Declares Father
Of Dismissed Instructor
CHARGES RULE OF TYRANNY


\ Education by c. Austin Miles, who to
day took exception to the dismissal of
his son as teacher in the Elwood
public school, Oak Lane avenue and
Twelfth street.
The dismissed instructor is Russell
Hancock Miles, composer of numer-
s Gus hymns and songs, and member
Of the American Organ Players Club.
He was dismissed at the last meeting
4 of the board on Tuesday, on tho charge
Of Standardization.
The father of the young man. charg
ing that the board Substitutes tyranny
Z for authority and demands seryility
rather than service" saws that Miles
"haviug admitted his error as TO fact
Of insubordnation in that he refused
! to tench ragtime in the assembly room,
was discharged
Crank INSTRUMENTATION. is the rea
SON given for his dismissal by William
Dick, secretary of the Board Of Educa
tion, and David H. Lane n member Of
personally investigated the case.
miles went SO far as to order his
class to remain seated after the stu
dents had been dismissed by the princi-
nal of the school" Mr. Dick added
HE declared that he was in charge
Of the classroom.
,Contemplates Libel Suit
The senior Mr.. Miles said today that
he was contemplating suit for libel
/ against the principal. Mrs Elizabeth r.
Pendlebury. because. he says. she
charged that his son refused to play
'patriotic" airs. such as the Battle
Hymn of the Republic" and Amer
ica." He says Mrs. Peudlebury also
asserted that his son opposed the VIC.
tory Liberty Loan.
II most assuredy did not" Mrs.
Pendlebury declared when asked if she
had accused the young man of oppos
ing the loan.
Mr.. Lane smiled when shown the
paragraph of the statement made bv the
senior Mr. Miles. referring to the ma
ture years of the members of the
Board of Education, apd the inference
of politics.
sThat's the same old thing" he said
with wave of his hand why dis
cuss it? I've been hearing about pull
and political jobs for number of
years. The Board of Education has a
waiting list and the appointments adhere
strictly to civil service requirements.
They must and investigation shows
that they do"
According to Superintended of Schools
John T. CARRIER, the matter was referred
to him and turned over to "the proper
, committee. He said that Miles had
been dismissed by the board on the
Recommendation of the elementary
/ schools committee.
IF the board wants me 10 give out
the facts in this case. WILL" Mr.. Gar
ber said. But | feel that it would be
very unfortunate for the young man to
do SO.
Admits Technical Guilt
According to the fathers statement
there was hearing before the commit
tee. at which the dismissed teacher ad-
< mitted that he had been guilty of a
technical act of INSTRUMENTATION. though
not Intentionally, and agreed to apol =
< cgize, which he was told would be suf
hcient. When, according to the father.
( the young man took his letter of apology
to the executive offices of the board he
was informed that it was too late aud
he had been dismissed
The elder Miles said that his son. as
n a musician. was unwilling to play some
OF the songs brought out during the war.
because he felt they had no merit mu
sically. Young Miles refused to at
u tend Liberty Ipan rally in Oak Lane.
the father said. because he had to keep
an engagement to play, elsewhere.
1T is hoped the father said. that
the time will come when We shall have
at the head of the Philadelphia schools
an organization truly representative. of
men of mature years and not in their
dotage, although no one dare quarrel
with old age: openly and admittedly
In politics. if preferred, rather than Sc
cretly and surreptitiously subject to a
pull if it comes from the right side
" Mr.. Lane, in discussing the case,
said:
II happen to know something of this
ease personally. The young man came
a to me with letter from a friend.
When he had explained his case told
him that it was a case Of rank insub
ordination. He was only Young fpl
low, and probably acted hastily. and
was inclined to look at the matter in
lenient manner.
..I gave him a letter 10 the superin .
u .ttsndent and asked that Ieniency be
shown him. That was the last ! heard
Of the matter. 1t appeared TO be an
administrative matter"
Miles recently returned from serv
ice with the army. and was formerly q
substitute teacher. for six months at the
Germantown High School. A state
ment made by the elder Miles that thu
young teacher was an instructor oi
music in the Ellwood School was denieC
BY the principal. ..-
g .'Mr. Miles was not a teacher o
music" she said. He was simply &
grade teacher
In making reference TO ''ragtime' il
the public schools, the elder Miles said
.sThe schools of this city are used b!
nublishers Of cheap, low grade music a
n medium whereby they may exploi