Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-06-07
might not be accorded like opportuni.

might not be accorded like opportuni.
ty
Sometime later, 1t developed that
Professor Moons was under suSpi-
cion by tho Department of Justice as
an alien spy. As result of their In
vestigations, pictures wcre found In
his possession of type which CON-
stitutcs criminal offcnso under the
local code. Upon this charge he was
tried and convicted by the Supreme
Court of the District of Columbia.
1T developed during the trial that
one colorcd teacher aided Moons. It
should be said however in justice to
The teacher who was deceived into aid
ing Prof. Moons is woman OF UNI
usual culture and refinement with
finished European education. She is
over fifty years Of age and has Il
wide and intimate acquaintance
among the best people Of Washing
ton both white and cOlorcd. Her re-
putation, her character and high pur
pose have never been challenged and
even i'll the midst of this distressing
ordeal, it remains unimpcached.
This is high compliment paid to
the female teacher, who has been
forced to resign from the public
schools of Washington. Just how her
virtual dismissal can be justified is
Il mystery to us. DR.. Miller contin-
ucs:
When it was revealed at the trial
that this teacher had been aiding
Moons the colorcd population became
, inflamcd and demanded her immcdi
alto withdrawal from tho teaching
force. Unfortunately, tie school board
permitted this teacher to continue
her school duties at the Dunbar High
School as if nothing had happened.
The cnragcd populace under tho lead
crship Of the Parents League picket
cd the high school building and
forced the withdrawal OF the teach
or. This together while declaring her
own integrity OF purpose recognized
the embarrassing situation and tend
cred her resignation. Had the Board
of Education acted upon the advice
! Of the assistant super htendent and
; caused this teacher to withdraw from
tho teaching force the resultant con
| fusion and turmoil would not have
arisen.
! We cannot understand why the
Assistant Superintendent Of Schools
should have recommended that al in
noccnt teacher should get down and
out unless the suspicion against her
partook Of the nature Of certainty.
Jesus Christ was treated by Pontius
plate in the same way and tho namo
Pilate has been exccrated to this day.
What should havo been done Is plain
ly evident. Tho teacher should have
boon suspended from active duty
pending al Investigation of the
charges against her lodged by tho
Parents League. If guilty, she
should have been kicked out OF the
public school system and II innocent
! she should have again been assigned
, to duty.
But Dr.. Kolly Miller says furth-
err:
BY this timo the populace had be-
come inccnsed and felt that their
protest had forced tho resignation Of
| the Objectionable teacher and that
the school board had failed in their
splain duty to safeguard tho moral
welfare OF the colored children plac-
ed under their charge. Mass meetings
were called, to which thousands ro
'sponded.
1t was alleged that there wore
other "Mocns teachers" who must DO
eliminated. A petition with 10000
| signatures was presented to the
Board OF Education demanding tho
dismissal Of tho assistant Superinten
dent in charge Of the public schools
who was held answcrable for all Of
the faults OF tho system from the
, beginning until now.
! Arc there other Moons in the pub
lie school system OF Washington?
How can you find this out other than
+ through rigid Investigations Of exist
ing conditions led by counsel for the
Parents League, who should be Civ
, en- an opportunity TO mearhn ana
expose every ~candal or alleged scan
dial in tho system? DR.. Miller says:
! Assistant Superintendent Bruce, it
is fair to state did all that was pos
sible under tho limitation, of his
powers to have tho Moons propagan-
da excluded from the schools. Ho is
in no sense blameworthy for any Of
the scandal growing out Of this at
{ fair. But the Parents League shifted
their attack suddenly to Mr.. Bruce,
and demanded his immediate dismis
sal. All OF his imperfcctions real. or
alleged, during his whole career were
catalogued.
According to DR.. Kelly Miller's
: statement Prof. Roscoe c.. Bruce Is