New-York tribune., 1920-03-27
WOnanTeacher
Hotly Rebuked
By La Cuardia
Aldermanic Chief Resents
Statement That SsSewers of
Europe Are BeingDum
Into Our Schools"
Demands an Apology
Miss Ennis Defies Threat
to Keep Her From Hear
ings Conducted by Board

Major F. II. La Guardia, President
of the Board Of Aldermen, and Miss
Isabella Ennis, school teacher, had H
warm argument at the meeting Of the
Board Of Estimate yesterday. The al
dermanic president told Miss Ennis
never to appear before the board again
until she apologized for what she had
said The school teacher informed
Major La Guardia that she was an
American citizen and citizen of New
York City and that she would appear
before the board as often as she had
occasion in q matter of business.
The trouble arose over an innocent
item. Ernest Crandall, president Of the
Federated Association of Teachers, and
several others appeared to speak in
favor Of the LockweedDonohue bill to
increase teachers salaries.
Miss Ennis started to say something
about the "sewers Of Europe being
dumped on our Shores" when Major
La Guardia, pointing his finger at the
teacher, demanded:
What do you mean by the sewers of
Europe? I'm ashamed of you. Don't
you know that you are talking about
innocent little children? I'll report you
to the Board of Education if you don't
apologize to the children for that re-
mark within twenty-four hours
Miss Ennis Interrupts
Mrs. Grace Strachan Forsythe tried
to cool matters down by saying the
teachers were obliged to send children
home every day, although the teachers
doubled up classes, but Miss Ennis in
terrupted, saying:
' II claim the protection Of the Mayor.
do not intend to apologize to Mr.. La
Guardia or to the children. Mr.. La
Guardia did not let me finish what
was going to say. have been in Italy
ten times to study the children, so as
to be prepared to do the best 1 can
for them"
"Do you teach?" asked Major La
Guardia.
81 do." replied Miss Ennis, land
teach your children"
What do you mean, my children ?"
demanded the aldermanic president.
and before Miss Ennis could leply he
continued: you should be ashamed o.
yourself. Don't you ever cone here
you know what l am?"
II have been told" replied Miss
Ennis.
II was born in America" said Major
La Guardia.
u want Mr.. La Guardia to under
stand that I also was born here" said
the teacher.
William G. Wilcox, formerly pres
dent Of the Board of Education, said
the Chamber of Commerce was in favor
of the teachers receiving higher sal
aries, as were representatives of other
civic organizations.
Favor Elective Board
During the discussion of the school
matters Mayor Hylan and Comptroller
Craig went on record as favoring a paid
Board of Education elected by the peo
pie. The comptroller advocated 'a
paid board responsible to the people"
Miss Ennis said that would mean hav
ing more politics in the schools.
I'VE can't have more politics than
now," declared the Comptroller.
DR.. William II. Allen, director of the
Institute for Public Service, who also
favored a paid board, suggested the
Mayor appoint committee from the
Chamber of Commerce, the Merchants
Association and the teachers to in
vestigate and be ready to have bill
introduced in the next Legislature that
would settle the matter. DR.. Alien de
clared that $15.e00,000 could be added
to teachers salaries and there still
would be a shortage.
One of the teachers was telling what
had been accomplished at Albany, when
the Mayor interrupted with:
"Yes, the people are getting on to
that propaganda"
"Ppropaganda?" exclaimed Miss
Ennis. "Propoganda to send 10000
children out in the streets for the
want of teachers? l have been going
to Albany and coming before thc
board here for years, and it is not
until the schools are breaking up fog
the want Of teachers that this matter
has been taken seriously"
Teachers in Albany
In answer to question by the
Mayor as to how many teachers were
at the Albany hearing recently, Miss
Ennis. Propaganda to send 10000
the Mayor replied:
Il understood there were 100 and
the children in their classes were sent
home"
Mr.. Crandall said the teachers who
went to Albany had made arrange
ments to provide for their classes. he
said there was not a child sent home
by reason of the teachers going to
Albany.
Borough President Curran moved
that the board approve the Lockwood
Donohue bill. This brought an OBJ
lection from Borough President
Riegelmann Of Brooklyn, who said
there was no report on the subject
Borough President Curran said the
matter had come up in committee and
had been opposed by only one member
Of the board, the Comptroller.
Comptroller Craig said he was
wiling to let the Legislature do as it
pleased in the matter. The matter
was referred to the Committee Of the
Whole.