New Britain herald., 1919-04-29
TEACHERS DECLINE
 ID SIGN ANY PAPER
Asked to Endorse Resolution Of
 Fealty to School Board
INDIGNATION EXPRESSED
Principal Fowler and Attorney Sexton Make Statements Regarding AL legged Action at Burritt School- Sexton Grows Bitter.

Mako Statements Regarding AL
 Icged Action at Burritt School
 Sexton Grows Bitter.
 Another bomb-shell in the con- fusing maze of circumstances attend ant upon the school board unpleasant ness was thrown, so it is stated, yes terday afternoon when Principal E. R. Fowler of the new Elihu Burritt school called his staff of teachers to- gether and urged upon them the need of signing a paper pledglng the1r surport to the local school admin istration. Details of the meeting are skctchy but feeling is running high among certain group of teachers at the school because of the alleged high-handed methods of obtaining their co-operation. Though the meet ing and the events that transpired were supposed to be yelled in the strictest secrecy it became public property in a surprisingly short time. It was said that the principal at tackled P. $. McMahon and M. A. Sexton in no uncertain words and necessarily put another bolster under their expressed decision to carry the thing through.
 Principal Fowler, and Lawyer Sex ton have made public statements which the Herald prints herewith. It is also understood that P. s. McMa- hon and Stanley H. Holmes, super intendent of schools, were eloseted for several hours this morning but the result of their conference is yet 3 secret.
 In regard to the alleged affirmation of loyalty submitted to the teachers nf teachers were willing to sign it. Principal Fowler states that there was no coercion attempted but that ! discussion was held in regard to the loyalty question.
 Sexton's Statement.
 Lawyer Sexton, who has been re- tained by committee of teachers to defend their interests in the threat ened probe called for by the school board to determine who has been spreading malicious propaganda against the school authorities. made the following statement in regard to his case. He refgTrsaesees theg naset- ing, reported to him as having Bs6h held yesterday afternoon. Speaking with especial reference to this meet ing and what he termed the attitude of Principal Fowler and SuDerintend ent Holmes. MT. Sexton saiG:
 If there is a teacher in this town who has made a false or malicious statement against the superintendent why does he not come out with the charge? Let the public know what il is and give the accused an oppor- tunity to refute it and defend her self and her reputation. That's tho manly way to do it and the chival
 
 and devious ways and try md bludgeon the teachers into signing a resolution against their wishes. Why is Stanley H. Holmes so anxious to have the indorsement of the teachers if his administration is so far above the breath of suspicion? You would think that if things were as he would have them appear, the teachers would rush to his defense and not have to be corralled like a flock of sheep, ard cOerciVe measures employed to make them do something they did not wish to do. Is this the brand of democracy we are to have taught in our schools?
 The teachers are to be congratu- lated" said MT. Sexton. for the at titude they took in refusing to sign or endorse any resolution that did not meet with their approval. It showed they had iron in their blood and their blood corpuscles were of a, bright brilliant red and not of pale sickly hue. These teachers have nothing to fear from the stand they have taken. They need not feel that their positions have been jeopardized.
 The people have risen in their de- fense. advise the teachers to sign no resolution presented to them, De- cause I do not think it will be for their interests to do so. The meeting which took place Monday afternoon at the Elihu Burritt school was the most disgraceful thing that has hap pened in New Britain, if all reports are true. Think of a man corraIIing a number of teachers in the school and trying to cram down their throats 2. resolution indorsing the school admin lstration against their will. And 2 that took place yesterday afternoon, not in Russia, but right here in our very midst And these people are the people who wanted s7,000 to Ameri- canize the foreigner If I had known at the time that the tax rate was up for discussion that we have such for cigners among us, not from across the sea, put imported from Maine. I would be Tn favor of the approprfa- ton. What MT. Fowler said nerson- ally in regards to me and MT. Me- Mahon will be taken up at the proner time and in the proper way. But for the present we shall not deviate one jot from the course we have mapped out. This fight will be to a finish and the teachers can rest assured that VIC will be with them to the end"
 No Coercion, Says Fowler
 The following statement was made by Principal Edward R. Fowler this afternoon:
 'The teachers meeting held in the