Evening star., 1920-02-25
WANT VAN SCHA|CK
| OFF SCHOOL BOARD
Benning Citizens Adopt Reso-
luton Calling tor
Resignation.

Two hundred and fifty residents of
Benn1ng. y. C.. at meeting of the
Benning Citi-nns' Association in Odd
Fellows Hall las: night unanimously
resignation of Rev. JOHN Van Schaick.
jr., as president and member of the
board of education, because of his
"lneligibility and recognized in
ability to manage and direct the
affairs of the board of education
President Warner Stutler left the
chair to introduce the resolution.
Preamble OF Resolution.
The preamble to the resolution de-
clares that:
The control of the public schools
of the District of Columbia is vested
IN board of education, to consist
OF nine members. all of whom shall
nave been for five years Immediately
preceding their appointment. bona f1de
residents of the District of Columbia" +"
The preamble also states that at
the time of his appointment al a mem
Der of the school board. Rev Dr. John
van Schaick jr., was a voter and legal
resident of the state of New York and
therefore not eligible under the law
to service on the board. "and notwith-
standing this fact and his lack of
quallncatlons, te accepted service and
entered upon the duties of his office.
ms first official act being the casting
Is president of the board"
The resolution reads:
Therefore be ii resolved by the
Benning Citizens Association, at a
regular meeting held this 24th day of
February. 1920. That the Rev. John Van
scnalck: ". be requested to resign
as president and member of the board
of education for the following rea-
sons:
First Because of his inelisibility
Second Because of his recognized
inability to manage and direct the
affairs of the board of education and
because of his unwarranted aSsump-
tion of power not vested in him by
law
BE it further resolved. That the best
interest of the public schools will be
served by a hoard that is responsive
and responsible to the people and
which can only be obtained in cleo
ton by ballot.
To this end we urge upon the Con-
sress of the United States the con-
sideration of such enactment as may
make this method of selecting ef-
feotive.''
Scores "Secret Meetings."
Secret meetings of the board of
education also are referred to in the
preamble as having marked the pres
ent administration of the school sys-
tenn. in violation of law.
Another item brought to the at
tention of the association in the reso-
lution's preamble was that:
The said Rev John Van Schaick.
jr. is at the present time seeking
some one. not a resident Of the Dis
superintendent of schools. in defiance
of the expressed wishes of the peo-
Pile"
In introducing the resolutions. Pres
ident Stutler said:
The resolutions offered for con-
sideration tonight have been care.
fully prepared with no other object
than to render such assistance as we
can to help remedy the present unset
tied condition in our schools.
THE future success Of our children
of the city and country. depends on
proper school training: and We should
be lax in our duty if We failed to
enter this fight for a betterment of
the deplorable condition in our
schools.
.pre,ent Bad Condition"
The most vital cause of the present
bad condition is the management. and
the part that is bad we should fight
without fear or favor and the part that
is good uphold to the limit.
is the president of the board, who
should be person Of the highest
character having a due regard for the
of law and justice.
This important part of school
has been waved aside by
the present head of the board. who has
violated all important parts of the
school organic act.
Injustice instead of justice was
to Supt. Thurslon about three
years ago. when the Rev. Van Schalck.
as president of the board. tried to re-
move him in order that he might give
the place to a man by the name of
Prof. +. !. Ward.
He is in other cities at the present
time seeking nonresident for the
place. this in the face
of expressed wishes of the people to
fill such places with District people
provided a vacancy exists.
The ballot will help us get rid of
the most Of our troubles here. and we
should not stop until we get it,