Evening journal., 1920-10-08
MRS. NELSON
ASKS APOLOGY
Demands Principal Wooten
Also Withdraw Condi-
tions for Her Return
SAYS HE EXCEEDED
HIS AUTHORITY

Mrs. Alice Dunbar Nelson, cOlored.
teacher OF English at the Howard
liigh School. who was "locked OUT
from her class room last Monday
morning, by II. Ray Woolen. colored,
The principal. because she had alb
sented herself on Friday without his
/ PERMISSION, today answered Princi-
pal WO0ien's letter 10 her on Wednes-
day, In which he stipulated that in the
future she should secure his written
/ pernfs9ion 10 absent herself from
her studies. In her reply. Mrs. Mel
son asked that Principal Wooten
make public aiOlogy 10 her for his
actions In dismissing her from her
class room.
Mr.. Woolen iday said he had not
received the letter from Mrs Nelson
but he added ~ viii not make any
apology ] feel that / owe Mrs. Mel
son none and The matter is so silly /
don't think / will even reply 10 it,
The letter sent by Mrs. Nelson also
requests The principal 10 withdraw
b s conditions stipulated for her re-
turn and to remember that she is
siill In the employ Of the Board OF
Education and TO make out her salary
check at the proper time deducting
the one day she was absent TO attend
tho Social Justice Conference at
Marion. Ohio. last Saturday. Mrs
Nelson's letter 10 Mr.. WOOten reads:
Mr.. H. Ray Woolen.
Principal Howard High School,
Wilmington, Delaware.
Dear Sir: In reply TO your letter
OF the sixth instant / would like to
say as 90 the cond. lions which you
impose consequent upon my return
ing 10 school:
~. Since you had no right TO 'sus-
pend, lockout relieve from duty.
or send me home, you have no right
10 permit me 90 return You exceed
ed your authority as a principal and
am emplOye OF The Board Of Educa-
liOn and 10 is not within your right
or power 10 siipulate conditions 10
which ! must agree before I resume
my duties.
80 The Board OF Education pro-
vldes laws and regulations by which
all teachers are bound, and there Is
no provision for unusual conditions,
nor for arbitrary ruling by the prin-
cipal
"3. The final decision on an mat
ters concerning the employment dis
mlssal or suspension OF teachers
rests with the teachers committee OF
the Board OF Education. Of which
committee you do not happen TO be
a member.
"a l do not make promises which
/ canno' keep, and therefore could
not agree that ] should never be alb
sent unless for illness or death in ih 2
immediate family. I might be called
upon 10 testify in court as a witness
In the case OF a pupil, which has
sometimes happened. In mat case, I
should beeiiher compelled to break
the word given you, or be pun shed
for contempt Of court.
70 | could not promise TO obtain
a written permit from you In case OF
Illness. | might FAN down he stairs
OF my home and lose consciousness
before / had time To- get written per-
mission from you. And again. my
word would be broken
&c. I have iransgre ssed no laws,
violated no contract, upset no tr1di-
tlons. and therefore do moi feel tina.
your action on Monday, the fourth OF
October. IN excluding me from my
classroom, and d smssing me from
he Oillce with scant courtesy, was IN
accord with The policy Of the Board
OF Education and the superintendent.
Wh0 nave always treated the teach
ers OF Wilmington with courtesy, con-
s'deraton and a due regard for ,he
laws Of the said board
- / feel In this matter that there
should be mutual concessions. so /
would stipulate before I return 70 my
duties In the school Of which YOU are
principal, certain conditions. as fol-
lows:
ga Since Won insulted mo by dis
courtesy; by oNcr-steppng The law ~
refusing TO allow me TO take my
class: by sending me out OF your Of
fce, by compelling me to retire from
my school room in the presence Of
wy pupils and other teachers, and by
publishing humillating conditions upon
VIII ! must return 10 my classes:
81 feel that you owe me public
apology for The public affrOnt put
upon me, and request same apology
from YOU.
20 Since YOU have no right TO make
conditions. / must request that YOU
withdraw same. and consider my re-
turn 90 school as That OF every other
teacher bound 10 obey the laws OF
the Board Of Education. and no un-
written, arbitrary ephemeral law.
which cannot be kept or subscribed
TO without mendacity.
In the meanwhile. you will please
remember that I am still i'm The en-
ploy of the Board of Education. end
will kindly make out my salary check
at The proper time, deducting. OF
course. the one day, October first.
Very truly yours.
ALICE nUNBAR-NELSON."