Evening star., 1920-11-18
SCHOOL BOARD MAY
POLICE GUARD
Officials Consider Action
After Meeting Is Disrupted
by Disturbance.

While the board Of education was
considering the question OF proper
school lighting yesterday afternoon.
the meeting was disturbed and finally
broken up by interruptions by per-
sons who sought to revive the much
discussed matter Of the retention In
service of the colored assistant super
intendent. Mrs. Giles Scott Rafter.
president of the District Congress Of
Mothers and Parent-Teachers' Asso-
citation, had addressed the board in
urging improvement in the iHumtna- :
ton of schoolrooms and other school
space, when the trouble developed.
In consequence of this experience
conference of school officials has been
called for this afternoon to consider
protection to preserve order at future
meetings Of the board.
The disorder at yesterdays meeting
resulted from repeated attempts on
the part of ]. Vaughan Todd TO revive
the so-called Bruce case in the race
of warnings by DR.. Abram simon
president of the board. that it's dis
cuss1on in public meeting would no
longer he permitted. -
When DIR. Henry B. Learned, acting
president in the absence of DR.. Simon.
Informed Todd of the boards policy
he ueHeu IHleTi upllOH ahA u0ihoA0SN
that he be told what disposition the
board or Supt.' Ballou had made or
intended to make of the case.
Requested to Take Seat.
Todd continued to talk. DR..
Learned advised him that he was out
of order and requested him to take
his seat.
81 am a taxpayer and a citizen
replied Todd. Therefore l have a
right to talk" And he continued.
D. A. Edwards, new member OF the
board. then interrupted Todd with a
question about the condition of lights
at the Patterson School. which had
been previously referred to by the
speaker. Todd answered Mr.. Edwards
question and then proceeded to dis
cuss the Bruce case.
Address your remarks to the
YOU speak to the board you should do
so through the chairman"
why censure me?" queried Todd.
"Censure Mr.. Edwards"
At this point. DIR. Learned said that
he would "close his ears to all further
discussion" But Todd continued his
Whenever Todd stopped for breath,
DR.. Learned registered a protest.
Then. as the wrangle became more in
tense, Supt. Ballou left the board
room, and returned later. -a@
zJoins Forces With Todd.
Almost simultaneously with the su.
perintendent's return. George c.
Smith. member Of the Central
Northwest Citizens Association. join
cd forces with Todd. He asked the
board what had been done in the
case of two school teachers whose
characters he questioned at a previous
meeting.
Dr. Ballou arose and stated that he
had asked Smith to present his
charges in writing. bdt he failed to
do SO. :.
There was a lun. Tor a moment.
Several persons left the boardroom..
Mrs. Coralie F.. Cook made a motion
to adjourn. But before the motion
had been seconded. Todd resumed his
speech. DIR. Learned. however, stop
ped him this time. and the board ad
journed
Members of the board then began
for the second executive conference
of the day Todd and. Smith halted
Dl. Learned and SuptS SBailou at the
door. which adjoins the boardroom.
and another argument was started.
1t was brief. as the, Superintendent
and DR.. Learned refused to carry on
the verbal battle. They entered DR..
Ballou's Office and closed the doors.
Todd. Smith and about a dozen
the meeting then congregated In the
boardroom for a further discussion.
Janitor Hultze advised them to leave
and another argument ensued. In
about ten minutes. however, the build
ing was emptied. and the board COM