The Washington times., 1919-04-09
BOARD REFUSES
TEACHERS APPEAL
CONTINUED from Page I'D

lCOnlluuGu To-
statement and conclusion contained in
your communication OF March 81, to
submit the following and more detail
ed statement of all matters that en-
tered into the suspension of Miss
Hood. This course is deemed es-
peciaIly advisable in view of the
widespread publication of charge and
criticism against the board without a
publication of the boards letter to
you of March 30, which contained
the grounds upon which its direction
in the premises was based.
Early in February three parents of
pupils in Miss Woods class in the
Western High School addressed let
ters to DR.. Newton, principal of said
school, complaining Of Miss Woods
discussion and instruction upon GER
tain subjects, and their complaint in
the Boards letter to you of March
80 was summarized as follows:
Indisereet Discussion.
"Indiscreet discussion before
young pupils of present inter-
national conditions, social and po-
litical; her defense Of Boil
shevism; her offer to instruct
boys on the subject out of class;
tain named magazines which
would give the other and correct
side of the aims and precepts OF
that form of government; her ad-
vanced ideas on the subject of
Individual direction, and that
such instruction was impressed
upon immature youth with that
added weight which a teachers
instruction always carries
The writers of these letters gave
the names of six pupils as the source
Of their information.
When the board was informed If
these complaints IL considered that
there were two courses of procedure
formal board Investigation, which
might result in trial, or an informal
inquiry to establish whether the con
ditions were such as to warrant, in
the discretionary power Of the board
and without formal investigation, the
application of suitable discipline.
The latter course was decided upon
certainly as a preliminary one, Doth
on Miss Woods account and on ac-
count Of the system, the board realiz-
ing that public investigation and trial
should be most carefully entered
upon, and, If possible, avoided, be-
cause Of the friction in the system
that is always engendered by such
action. and also because Of possible
injustice to the party complained
against. Accordingly, It determined
to submit the charges to Miss Wood
through DR.. Newton, the principal of
the school, and thus AFFORD her an op-
portunity for answer and explanation.
Miss Weed Makes Reply.
Communication was accordingly
made to Miss Wood. through DIR.
Newton, and on February IA Miss
Wood made reply, which reply was
transmitted by DR.. Newton to the
board. Miss Woods answer was
neither satisfactory nor full in ex-
planation or denial, and in connection
Herewith DR.. Newton wrote to Super
intendent Thurston on February cath,
and in that letter says:
''She CAIiss Wood feels that
while her answers taken sepa-
rately and without reference to
the question asked may seem un-
patriotic and offensive, she had no
such intent, and Is quite convinced
that she may be trusted to steer
clear from such dangerous topics
in the future"
AS stated, the board was not salts
fed with Miss Woods answer, but
still desired full information from
her, and accordingly requested the
superintendent and two members Of
the board to see Miss Wood in person,
and by personal communication in
form themselves, If possible, more full
ly as to Miss Woods discussion Of the
topics,referred to and her attitude re-
garding the same, and whether there
\
contained in the letters received.
This was accordingly done. and at
the interview DR.. Newton, on the re-
quest OF Miss Wood, was present.
Based On Written Statement.
The questions asked Miss Wood
were based on the written statement
from one of the complaining parents
After the interview the board was
informed that while Miss Wood WIZ
an excellent teacher in English, she
was not trained to teach economic,
social, or industrial problems, and in
attempting TO discuss these showed
Door judgment and indIscretion; that
her viewpoint was that of a pro-
nounced nationalist, disinclined to
take into account the harm that she
might accomplish by not taking into
the reckoning her position as a
teacher of children OF very varying
equipment; that she made slight effort
at defense and exhibited little or no
regret.
one member OF the committee was
not present when the majority mem.
bers gave the foregoing result Of
their interview with Miss Wood.
On Miss Woods written statements.
as submitted by DR.. Newton, and on
the report just above referred 10 or
her verbal communication. the board
concluded that conditions did not call
for a formal investigation or trial,
but were such as to be amply met
by the application OF discipline or
short time suspension, which is vest
ed in the board by law, and is
necessary incident TO the exercise of
the control and direction expressed
in the organic act.
Suspended For Week.
The board was unwilling to make
the usual two weeks suspension
that is a suspension by the president
of the board which lasts from one
regular meeting to the following
regular meeting, and at the regular
public meeting following the con-
ference at which the conclusion was
reached, entered, without a dissent
ing vote, the order:
THAT Miss Alice Wood be sus-
pended, without pay, for a period OF
one week, commencing March 80" =
The inquiry Of the board was con-
fined absolutely to the written and
verbal communication with Miss