Evening journal., 1920-10-05
NRS.NELSON,
TEACHER, IS
LOCKEDOUT'
Suspended After Trip to See
Harding by Howard
School Principal
HINT RETALIATION FOR
HER POLITICAL ACTION


Mrs. Alice Dunbar Nelson. col
ored OF 9i6 French street, Instructor
of English at the Howard High
School for the past eighteen years.
and one OF the most noted women OF
her race In America has been locked
out" of her class room at the Howard
School because Of alleged political
activity.
Ray Woolen. colored, principal OF
The school. who succeeded Mrs Ed
wins kruse, colored, as principal nine
days ago, has assumed the response
niiliN Tor ila SEQ k-uut' of Mrs Nal-
son on the grounds OF "hcr cOmnati-
hllily and for the good Of the school
system"
according 10 Mrs. Nelson. she was
Informed last Thursday afternoon by
Nrl WoOten that III she attended the
Social Justice Conference at the home
OF SnliOr Harding IN Marion Ohio
last saturday That he would not guar
aniec her position would be open
when She returned on Monday.
Despite This notice Mrs. Nelson at
tended lhe conference, tho only Wo-
man present from Delaware. She
Joined The party OF New Jersey. New
York and Pennsylvania women at
.." '.I 'N''..Nt' I'AANh hNNNt"N 'ht NA HN W
tie Ohio city.
on her return Mrs. Nelson went 10
the Howard school yesterday morn
ing 90 assume her duties there. when
Air WOOten Informed her that her
presence was not desired. According
in Mrs. Nelson. she argued with Mr..
W10ien suggesting that he was maxi
ing mistake and questioned his
.eli i0 suspend her. saying that the
]. I.I d .aNa
ir..i with The Board or Public kdu-
cation
Nr W0oien. according 60 Mrs
y son std The Board reserves the
r.r1i io terminate a contract at any
iinc"
lirs. Nelson Informed the principal
that she had taught school FOR
twenty-five Years and was nearly old
enough 90 De his mother.
Following ihc argument Mr.. Wool-
cnl according Co Mrs. Nelson, said,
This Interview s terminated as far
d. ! am concerned" and when She
itr.cd But I have not yet lnished'
Nay IBIS hand towards the door
saying 81 have"
Aicr her dism ssal Mrs Nelson
Nui io Der home and later CON
flcrrd Nih Or. Conwell Banton,
colcr,d a member OF the Board from
tAr SSH Ward Mrs. Nelson today
sad ihA nr. Banl0n informed hei
tbaI hr Board OF Education mem.
bets would sustain Mr.. Moolcn n
h', act on
A0' content with this opinion. Mrs
Nelson had some members OF the Re
iInlcan state and City Committee o
n'si' race cali on Mr.. Wooten an
tr rs said 10 have told them that th
r.a3 no politics Of Mrs. Nelson wa
messing
'ug ihat her position had beel
f.ir W'eniable through a tcmpOrar,
J4missal and asserting That she hal
ful Nio'aled any rules OF the depart
nd Mrs. Nelson took up the matte
with City Solicitor John W. Huxley
Ir. last night he made an eXamina
ton of ihe law creating the schoC
board he Is said 10 have learned tha
there S no provision IN he law 10
The suspension OF teacher and dis
mssal Is only possible, through con
'ictOn at q trial conducted by th
board a which the accused must b
given a hearing
Political activity Is not given as
cause for dismissal.
In speaking OF her case today, Mr.
Nelson. who Is the wife on Robert
Nelson. secretary Of the Eastern u
vision OF the National Republican Con
mlilee and Editor OF The Advocate.
Ne1ro weekly newspaper said th'
she would not return 10 her clas
room In The Howard School, no ma
ter what action might be taken by q
Beard OF Education. Her usefulne
as a teacher. she asserts, has been In
paired and she would have no disc
il'ne over her students, she says
When Mr. WOoten the principa
was asked about ine matter 'h
morning be- said 70 would require
least two hours 10 explain Just VIII
faused him 60 take the step he di
lie coniendcd that he had not su
pended or disarmed Mrs. Nelson an
referred 20 u as a lock out"
When pressed for a reason FOR b
action. ne said That was due 20 O
compatibility Of Mrs. Nelson az
he allowed time of from her wOl
10 attend political meetings
Compatibility or inc0mnatiDeity
asked the reporter.
"Compatibiiiy." Mr.. Wooten reptile
When he was asked II his acill
had been ord red by the Board
Education members or Superintende
Clifford J. Scott OF the Public SchoO
Principal Wooten replied that
HIOnc was fecNOnelDlt ana was WIFI
10 assume the blame II any was
fan on him. Mr.. WOoten said he hl
had charge OF other schools and hi
always bettered himself ihr0ui
changing his position lie said
had not advised Superintendent SEQ
or any one else connected with q
school board OF his action In "l0c
ing out Mrs Nelson Mr.. WOOt
said that he merely wanted Mr.
Nelson 20 be away from the schO
while he pondered over the matt
and decided just what 10 do in q
case.
Mrs Nelson is member OF d
Nomen's Committee Of the Republic
state Committee and mas taken a ke
Interest In The suffrage cause and 10
uucal matters since the PASSAGE
Tue Nineteenth Amendment Duri
he last session OF the Legislature 5
addressed the membehs when Nj
Were considering he proposed n
member plan for the school boa
She opposing ihe measure at {
Time.
NEED 40 MORE MEN