The Washington times., 1919-07-01
BOARD WILL PROBE
.BRUCE'S FITNESS
Prompt and lust Investigation
Promised Compliments
Against Teacher.

whether Roscoe c. Bruce, colored,
assistant superintendent of schools, is
competent to discharge his duties as
an organizer and director Of the col
ored public schools Of the District will
be determined by the Board OF Educa-
ton after prompt and just" investi-
CATION.
This was the promise made to those
who appealed to the board, in special
session at the Franklin School yester-
day afternoon.
George E. Hamilton, president of the
board, made this definite announce
ment yesterday afternoon just before
the board adjourned. The board
adopted two resolutions without dis
senting vote, one expressing satisfac-
tlon with the findings Of Corporation
Counsel Syme in the Bruce charges so
far as moral turpitude" is concerned,
and the other providing for an inves-
tgation by the board into the fitness
and efficiency OF Bruce.
The resolutions stated that the
board has thus far found no ground
Tor the charges against Assistant Su-
perintendent Bruce. The promise Of
President Hamilton of prompt and
just" investigation was called forth
demands of Fountain Peyton, colored
member of the board.
Hearing COnadenfIaL
Following the announcement that
the inquiry would be confidential II,
every respect, the board having no
authority to conduct a trial in regard
TO the Bruce charge, Mr.. Peyton
engaged in a lively debate with
President
the Parents League wanted an op-
portunity to submit witnesses at an
open hearing. This request was met
oy the statement that the board can
hold no open hearing on the case as
the AFFAIR stands at present
The proceedings were enIivened
considerably when J. c. Vaughn
Todd. who introduced himself as a
humble parent" assailed the ad-
ministration OF the coIored schools
and declared that unless Bruce was
removed there would be something"
done. President Hamilton warned
the speaker that he was transEress-
ing the proprieties OF the occasion
and assured him that the board
would be glad to receive any charges
In writing, substantiated by facts,
but that it could not entertain YER
bal charges as to the general al
legged incompetency OF Bruce or any
one else in the public school system.
"CesSDOOls Of Vice"
The speaker referred to the eoIored
schools as "cesspools of vice" He
said the situation had become fntol-
cradle and the colored citizens want
ed some speedy action, Again P-esi-
dent Hamilton asked that Mr.. Todd
confine himself to facts and not as
sail in a general way an official
against whom nothing had been
proven. s-.
Mr.. Todd attempted to revive the
Moons case in his argument against
the retention OF Bruce. but it was
ruled this was out of order.
1--WE will consider this case in ac-
cordance with law and without re-
gard for clamor," declared President
Hamilton after Mr.. TODD had finished
speaking.
The first motion made to have the
meeting adjourned was obJscted TO
by Fountain Peyton, who declared the
board had actually taken the Bruce
case Under consideration and il was
not proper to adjourn with the case
in its present status. This objection
invoked more debate.
Petition GrOundIeas.
It was announced the board has
found groundless the petition of Eo-
ward H. Lawson, president OF Wash
ington Elementary Teachers Union,
No. 81, against the approval as mem
bers of the teachers council of r. "A. !
,Gillem and Nellie F. Dyson. The
appointments are valid, the board
ruled.
A petition for a new school in the
Bennings district was submitted to
the board from residents of that COM
munity. The Mid-City Citizens As
ISOLATION sent a communication urg-
ing that the appropriation for COM
munity centers be approved by the
board.
The school teachers who were sup
posed to have petitioned the board
yesterday in regard to delay in their
longevity pay decided to wait until
the reorganization of the board, it
was learned.