The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-01
0 The News scimttar

be a summary or review OF my WORK
as principal OF A. B. Hin school from
September, 1910, TO September, 1918
inclusive.
In view of the fact that this state
men was in many particulars inaccu-
rate, incorrect, and misleading, 1t is
imperative that ! make reply thereto
in order that my standing as an edu-
Gator be unimpaired. l was not present
when Superin tendent Jones read his
statement and 50. could not at that
time meet his attack upon me.
In order that you may understand
the question before the board on that
occasion, it is necessary to state that
in September, 1918, and after l had
been reelected as principal of A. b.
Hill school for the eighth consecutive
year, / was granted leave OF absence
by the president Of the board in order
that / might enter on the overseas war
work of the Y. M. @. a. This leave OF
absence granted by the president OF
the board was concurred in by two
members of the board, as required by
its rule, see Rules and Regulation OF
the Public Schools Of Memphis, Tenn,
page 80, section G65, which says, when
the superintendent, assistant superln-
tendent or. any other employe' desires
leave Of absence, 1t may be granted
by the president or vice president upon
the recommendation Of two members OF
the board"
Il returned from service overseas, ar
irving in Memphis on July II, 1919. on
the following day, July II, 1919. l Went
to the office of Superintendent Jones
and reported for duty. Superintendent
Jones informed me that there was no
vacancy. 1t was at this time that l
learned that | was not re-elected on
June %, 1919, at which time the other
principals and teachers of the city
schools were reelected for the ensu,
ing year On July IA, | also conferred
with three members of the board, stat
| ing to each that | was at his service
| or that ! was ready for service, AFTER
seeing the superintendent and three
/ members Of the board, / was very much
surprised to find that any question ex-
| listed as to my continued employment by
| the board of education. had re,
sponded to our country's call and had
| gone overseas in the educational de-
partment of the Y. Nj. G. A., IN the
| interest of our own American boys. 30
| thought entered my mind at any ume
| that | was being stabbed in the back
| while serving our own battle-scarreo
| bows on q foreign field, and on return =
| ing to Memphis would find my posi-
| ton gone. :. ,,o
| When, after my return, 1t become
/ known to the patrons and friends OF A.
| r. Hin school that the board of edu-
/ cation had let me out, they expressed
great resentment and went so far as 10
send a committee to wait on the super =
| intendent and the different members OF
| the board of education and also to hoLo
mass meeting on Sept. =, iSl9s 10 pro.
test the action of the board. so great
was the pressure brought to bear tha(
the board of education met in specla
session on Sept II, 1919, for the pur-
pose of considering the question OF my
reinstatement. 1t was then tnat eu'
perintendent Jones read ms report
l Lii thn Oft
siona record, to which l now WISH
briefly to reply. $1,000
that the action taken by the citizens
of A. B. Hill school district in sendins
committee to wait upon. Superinteno.
ent Jones and the, indlvluual nlSt,oe' .
of the board, and also IN ho;ulng .
mass meeting at ne "chool on sept. .
1919 was taken before the board haS
opportunity to act on my reinstatement.
Answer-F'ifty- days had lnteT
vened between the time reported y
Superintendent Jones ana tne Ioi I'm,
Of the mass meeting, during which TIM
three regular meetings of the board
| education were held. .s .l,o
~ Superintendent Jones charged ina
!. at two different times during IN
week prior to my departure, l had ue
MED any intention of entering wan se;
vice. when at the same time ! nao !
NV possession a notification from IN
, government that ! could apply Tor ~
passport or that my passport wouLo
| granted. -, c,,or;,+e ndar
Jones or anyone else that hau a1
s such message from the government, ~ s
cause / had no correspondence with IN
government about the matter OF pass
: Mort until after | reached New 4ori
Oct. /, 1913, 49,. sta+as f,u
8. Superintendent Jones states . tnl
Their, that / phoned MS nome SUN
| time during Saturday. ~,
Memphis at all on Saturday, nar,a
left The city for New York on Friaa
. afternoon, Sept. u, 1918, at about 0'S
o'clock. o,oir,s a,s
that he learned for the first time q
/ Monday morning that had left q
citv saturday night to enter. war. worl
knswer-As stated above, ! left Men
mis- on Friday afternoon about %
Sent. ~, 1918. I have abundant sa
Serce to the effect that Superlnteen a
ent Jones was no tied anou1 l hsd cor
and also trer during Saturday aItel
noon he e We instructions relative
tbe work at 4, B. Hill school.
Supt. Jones further Claims
oharqes that he never received, direct
or indirectly, a request from me w
leave of absence. 80 ~ No
u helow the rule does not require IN
l. inc sunerintendent be consulted apo
'e the matter. but have sufficient eV
~ dence to convince any one that ouE
u Jones did receive written fequese "
= tated by me for leave OF absence
~ me. and that he received II ABOUT ho'
ID Saturday, Sept. 2S, 1918. 49,.
y Supt. Jones states further, thal
81 had heen elected principal OF Centi
~ high school that would not nave 60
y 10 France, or If ] had gone Wou
y have given him time to secure comp
~ tent successor. o,,,oa Z
~ a leave of absence from A. y. =
VI school had not known that a comp
!. tent successor was at hand. The ne
Il, | teacher whom | recommenoeu was
- ~ competent that she had to DO all !
~ clerical work for the principal tnat "
~ sent there, during the entire year,
~ this besides her regular Classroom
81 ties. - +ha+ Ian,
e are only given under the rule "ni
+, means for a short time.
"a Answer--Rules and Regulations OF
~ Public schools of Memphis, Tenness
y. mage 80. section 265, regarding lea'
Of absence-"When the superlnteho.e,
assistant superintendent, or any OIL
employe, desires leave OF absence,
~ may be granted by. the president,
= vice president upon the recommendaI
! Of two members of the board !
n il the rule which Supt. Jones 81
= means for short time, etc, Jnoge
Z 5. Supt Jones charges Mso eha q,
II had ample opportunity to confer "
" him. c.. Of ,o,s
s. called at the office of Supt. Jones !
times before went to the office OF
president of the board and asked
was out each time After obtaining
leave of absence from the president
the board, concurred In, by two OF
. members Of the board, ! called 81
" Jones home but was told that ne
|. unable to speak to me. Az tnls lim
I, on consulting my watch, ! found I
= / would not have time for that
n catch the next train for New York