The Washington herald., 1919-04-01
union TEACHERS
CHAMPION CASE
OF MISS WOOD
Protest Action of Board as
Emperiling Rights Of All
School Teachers.
SUGGEST DAMAGE SUIT
Assert Cause of Suspension
Irregular and Against
District Law.

Open rupture between the high
school teachers OF the city and the
BoarN of Education was threatened
at a meeting of the High School
Ieachers' Union, held at Central High
School yesterday afternoon.
Branding the action of the board in
summarily suspending Miss Alice
Wood. for twelve years a teacher at
Western High School, as unjust, the
union sent a formal protest to the
members Of the School Board, George
z. Hamilton president, and Ernest l.
Thurston, superintendent OF public
schools, demanding that Miss Wood
be reinstated, that the published state
ments concerning the reason for her
suspension be corrected, and that the
teachers be given a public hearing be-
fore the bSard in order that they
might make clear their position upon
the matter and the general status of
teachers in the Washington public
schools.
Wood Case n Precedent.
We are Of the opinion" the pro-
tests reads, that il the board does
not reconsider its action in the case
or Miss Wood, il will have been de-
cided by the board that teachers are
liable to separation from their posi-
tons and salaries and to public dis
grace on the report of one or two
pupils, for class discussion in the line
or duty. on topics not known to be
excluded or objected to, without in
Nesugation or recommendation by the
head Of the department or principal
or the school, and without oppor-
tunlty on the part of the teacher 10
hear the charges or have an oppor-
tunity for defense.
To approve such a course of
procedure is to place an indignity
upon the whole teaching force, and
L" aHect seriously it's efficiency"
IL was declared that Miss Wood,
who was suspended on a charge of
having made certain indescreet re-
marks in her class room during a
discussion of BOlshevism, was not
given a chance to defend herself,
and that the first notice of her
suspension came through a news
item in the press.
Furthermore, it was pointed out
that under the organic act, June
20, 1906. it was ruled that a teacher
might be separated from her posi-
tIOn and salary only % for mis-
conduct or dereliction of duty after
trial. or (2) academic or pedagogic
inefiiCienCy.
Claim Suspension Irregular.
The superintendent in his letter
Of suspension" the protest points
cut stated that it was imposed for
disciplinary purposes. As a mat
ter Of common right and justice we
submit that Miss Wood should not
rfgh
having been informed definitely OF
the precise Offense with which she
was charged and then given a full
and fair hearing before those who
were to pass upon her guilt"
Miss Wood was suspended on a
charge brought by the parents of two
Of her pupils, E. P. Reside, 215O Wyo-
ming avenue northwest, and Thomas
Bradley, 800 F street northwest
The teachers union charges that
Miss Wood was summoned to appear
before Superintendent Thurston and
two members Of the school board on
March lIth, and that, during the. con-
ference, no reference was made to the
letters Of complaint, the question
asked having chiefly to do with her
views Oh economies and ethics.
Answered Pupils Questions.
Among the questions Miss Wood re-
members being asked, was if she be-
lieved that a dog had a soul" and
if conscience was the final and de-
Gliding guide"
The conference ended" states the
protest, with the expressed opinion
of the chairman that it was the con-
cluslon Of the committee Cwho, it is
said. had not conferred during the
conference), that an indiscretion had
been committed by Miss Wood in dis
cUssing these economic and social
questions and Miss Wood withdrew
under the impression that the Incl
dent was closed"
At the opening OF yesterdays meet
ing the entire correspondence covering
the matter was laid before the r,nIon