Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-23
ACCUSED JAMTOR
SEES V|ND|CA7|ON
Thomas M. Welsh on Duty at
HallowelI School Despite
Teachers Protest
DECISION CAUSES DEADLOCK

''The boards action seems to vindi-
cate me, and that's all / can say"
Thomas M. Welsh, janitor of the
Hallowell School on Twenty third
street below Pine, was attending his
duties as usual today in spite of the
open friction between him and the
teaching force of the school,
Miss Sarah A. weidler, principal
OF the school, resigned couple of weeks
ago following formal written protest
to the property committee of the Board
OF Education. Miss Weidler, it is un-
derstood,. resigned because of seven
specific charges which she made against
sne Janitor and, according to Miss
Margaret Wilson, the present acting
principal, the letter contained the clause
that a volume would be needed to con
tam the numerous instances in which
the Janitor' S conduct had met with the
dlsapproval not only of the principal,
but also OF the fourteen teachers of the
No copy of Miss Weidler's letter has
been made. public. Miss Weidler, her
self, is said to be away for the holi-
DAYS and the copy of the letter sent
to the property committee is held as
confidential until a settlement of the
CitSe is GeaCned.
Situation Appears DeadIocted
In the meantime, there seems to be
deadlock. The decision of the prop
erty committee, after two meetings
which were held on the case, was that
the Janitor was on probation and would
be transferred to another building as
soon as practicable. DR.. John P. Car
ber, superintendent of schools, said the
whole case was up to Miss WeidIer
whether or not she would accept an
apology from the janitor and give him
another chance until a transfer could
be effected. Miss Weidler's resigna-
tion has not been accepted by the board
nor has an opportunity been provided
for an apology.
'I am sure Miss Weidler feels that
no self respecting person could accept
an apology" says Miss Wilson. '"The
insubordination started soon after Miss
Weidler came to the school three and
half years ago. She has endured an
intolerable amount of insult and has
made complaint several times to John
Christopher, the district superin-
tendent.
1--WE teachers are all behind her, for
we have been subjected to the same
insults of which she made complaint.
"We have nothing to add to the
statements already given out, but we
do want to say again that Miss Weld
Ter is big woman. She is the kind of
principal that the community needs.
She was an inspiration not only to the
pupils, but also to the teachers, who
never heard an unkind word from her.
She was always courteous in her de-
mands on us. We felt as though we
were working with her rather than for
her."
Janitor Pleads Vindication
"Resign? Well, a man doesn't like
to resign when he feels that what he
has done is not wrong, and the board
has not asked me to resign. Their ac-
ton vindicates me-" declared Welsh to-
day. .a,
II am not saying that what Miss
Weidler accused me of was wrong
wouldn't deny that some of the things
are so, but / was called before the
board and they heard what / had to say
and they haven't asked me to resign"
Beyond this the janitor will say
nothing. He is anxious not to appear
discourteous, and says he tries to keep
in mind always that the teachers are
ladies', but he objects to the notoriety
that attaches to the case.
Whether the board will take further
action is not known.
1t is believed that Miss Weidler will
not return to the school unless Welsh
is removed. The janitor apologized
early in the case and it is understood is
ready to apologize again provided Miss
Weidler will make it possible.