The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-06-25
DENIES MISS WOOD
IS A BOLSHEVIST

Miss Wood. my client, is not a
Bolshevist. and has not been ad-
Judged by the court as such; that is
sue is not before the court" said Paul
E. Lesh. attorney for Miss Alice h.
Wood. the Western High School
teacher. addressing Justice Hitz. pre-
siding in Equity Court No. on the
mandamus hearing compelling the
Board Of Education to rescind its &C
ton in suspending her from her duties
and to pay Miss Wood her salary for
the week she was of duty.
After disposing OF a lot OF prclimi-
nary arguments. the case which'is at
tracing the attention Of the public in
general and school teachers in par
ticular and which has been hanging
FIRE ever since Miss Wood is alleged
to have made her Bolshevist state
ments TO her class at the western
High School in February. has at last
reached a point where a legal deter
mination Of :he rights Of the teachers
as to the scope Of their studies in
schools. and as regards the ights Of
the Board Of Education in discipln-
ing them. will be- had in the near
future, unless prOtraCted litigation
ensues
Counsel for Miss Wood said that
his client does not deny the powers
or the school board TO prescribe
studies in the schools but that she
only asked To be informed Of the ma
ture Of the studies prescribed before
the teachers are punished for an al
legged infraction OF those rules
1t was argued by Mr.. Lesh that
Miss Wood had a clean record" and
that in order to enable her to reach
group b. class &. carrying with il a
higher salary. il was necessary that
there be nothing in her record to
show that her salary had been held
up by the Board OF Education for any
reason Whatsoever. Miss Wood is
eligible to this promotion. said her
counsel. by reason OF her superior
work, and is entitled to higher pay.
As 10 the COurs" Of studies pursued
in the schools. Mr.. Lcsh said that
such has been prescribed ty the SUI
perintendent Of public schools. and
that II includes discussion OF current
topics. war news. matters OF his
torIcal and scientific interest. ques-
tions relating 10 economic and social
problems. the reading OF newspapers
and magazines, and a free and spOn-
taneous discussion.
This whole trouo;e was started. d"
said Mr.. Lesh. through a letter dated
February -. signed by Frank P Rec
side and Thomas Bradley, to the prin-
cipal OF Western High school in
which they mentioned the alleged
pro- BolShevist utteranCes Of Miss
Wood" In this letter. according TO
Miss Moods attorney. the latter
told her class that she had attend
ed the meeting at Polls Theater at
which Bolshevism was discussed and
that the newspaper reports about
Bolshevism were not true, that she
had friend in Russia who wrote her
that Everything was in splendid
shape an dthat Bolshevism meant
merely a government by the major
ity.
In summing up his conclusions. Mr..
Lesh said that the Board Of Educa-
ton has no right to deprive any teach
er OF her salary under disciplinary
measures. that the board cannot dis
cipline teacher for obeying the in
structiOns Of her superior officers.
that the board cannot punish a teach
er without a hearing, and that the
board in this case did not consider
the case as a board.