The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-06-14
BOARDDODGES
IN WOOD CASE.
TEACHERS SAY
Believe Delay in Filing Answer
Is Due to Fear of Public
Opinion.

Despite the action Of the District
Supreme Court in setting June Fl as
the date for the trial of Miss Alice
Wood, the teacher who appealed from
the order of the Board Of Education
suspending her for alleged defense Of
Bolshevism, the answer Of the board
required by Justice Stafford has not
been filed.
The Board of Education offered to
file the answer three or four eweks
ago. With the consent of Paul z.
Lesh, attorney for Miss Wood. the
date was postponed until last Satur-
day. A week has passed since that
time and the board is still delaying
action in placing its case before the
court-where it will become accessible
| to the public.
Washington teachers ar engaging
in considerable speculation as to the
hesitancy of the school officials in
presenting their defense in the school
case.
See Last Minute Action.
Some Of the teachers are OF the
! opinion that the answer Of the board
will not be filed until the last min
ute before the hearing, 50 that pub
| lefty" which might tend to infu-
|
may be avoided.
This" said one teacher" Is in line
with the extreme bashfulness Of the
school officials, when it comes to
placing matters Of interest to par
ents, school children, and teachers
before the public"
Other teachers say the board is dis
turbed about the strength OF it's case,
and is making efforts to settle the
AFFAIR out OF court.
| Officials Of the teachers unions, in
GLIDING Miss Alice Deal, president OF
the High School Teachers Union, de-
clare, however. that the case cannot
be settled out OF court since IT has
gone too far. and that board mem
bers were given ample opportunity
to settle the matter satisfactorily be-
| fore an appeal was made TO the law
The Importance OF the board an
swer to the appeal Of Miss Wood is
being emphasized by members Of the
! Teachers Unions, as well as by school
| officials.
The recent concession Of the board
to the teachers in giving its consent
! to the organization OF the teachers
council is said by the instructors to
| be only the first step in the general
| campaign for reorganization Of public
! education in Washington.
Want "GaE Rule Lifted.
The teachers admit that il the de-
Tense Of the board in the Wood case
is upheld by the court that further
concessions from the board will be
rather difficult to obtain.
One of the demands OF the High
School and Grade Teachers unions Is
that the gag rule" must be abAn-
doned by the Board OF Education.
| As far as the answer Of the Board
OF Education to the petition of Miss
Wood in the District Supreme Court
is concerned. II has been ready foI
some time, according to the attorneys
in the case. An effort is being made
by Mr.. Lesh and Assistant Corporation
Counsel Stephens to smooth out diff
ferences as TO facts in the case, but
up to the present time agreement on
the answer has not be effected.
Provided the facts in the case are
not agreed upon. the Supreme Court
must settle them, as we'll as the ques-
ton of the legality of the boards &C
tion in suspending Miss Wood without
a hearing.
Formulate New Laws.
The reorganization committee of
the High School Teachers Union,
which was organized to rewrite the
school laws off the District, met yes
terday and formulated plans for
drawing up the proposed substitute
set of laws this summer.
At the annual meeting Of the
Teachers Club this week the fol
| lowing officers were elected: Presi-
dent, Miss Catherine Watkins; vice
president, Miss Gertrude Kelsey;
treasurer. Miss Laura f.. Bryson;
chairman program committee, Miss
BerniCe Randall; chairman house
committee. Miss Ruth Oberly; educa-
/ ton committee, Miss Ella Given;
press committee. Miss Ella Henk.