Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-12
|)R. TOMK|NS would
|OUST SCHOOL BOARD.
Cave Public Has Right to De-
mand clean-Out and Com
petent Men Named
HITS BACK AT SHALLCROSS

n q scathing indictment OF the Board
Il ~ Education. the KEY. fIoHa W. o'
Tins rector Of Holy Irln'E /. ~,
SSn.oh SnS. TODAY advised that the public
nu', r;cht 10 demand the resignation
va, if not all the members of the
u.nJ o. mr. IN the ground Of Incompetence
oo1T Thc statement Of DIR. Tomkins was
a. noounl 70 an attack which he mad"
w, ,bc hoard at public meeting on
Wednesday, when he said that many oi
W. r,o,,hnrs were in their dotagc.
..r n,y from Thomas Shallcross. board
nou,,bcr that Dr.. Tomkins was of his
.n,ck" and talked too much and also
.ta, bc could demonstrate his vigor by
n.i,orc;np thp rector to foot race or
same Of ouoits and that he should not
.,,,,orfcrc with the board brought about
todav's statement. ,,.,
n.o answer the statement Of Mr.. Shall
,.o,s thc character of which may pos
,ihIv in the Judgment of some. people,
nrovc -hc aptitude of the word ! ON,
,ioyed in speaking of the Board OF
r-dncation or some members thereof.
Board Proved Incompetent
"But seize this opportunity to say
and TO say as loudly ana poSHNclE
&C I can in the name of thousands OF
nororts and teachers in the city of
pbilodclphia-thatt the Board of Edu.
oa,;on rs il is ut present constituted
tos nroycd itself so utterly incomne-
tsnt that the public has y right to de
n,ond TINT many. If not all, Of the
,nc,ohcrs resign. and that tho judges
"nthorizcd TO appoint at once select
,boir successors from the many intel
i;sent and cultivated and public
,nirtcd mon and women of our loved
city. ..
,articulars by way of an Indictment.
Tho history Of the last year alone can
furnish facts 50 large and so eloquent
IN their appeal that one running back
ward can read them.
"A inntor kept in position in spite
of the demand Of fhc people best capa-
lc Of knowing his fitness or untitness
unwillngnCsS TO listen to the public
command voiced by some of the wiscst
and best Of our citizens specially ap-
nointcd committee to secure better
salarics for our teachers; schools left
in such a condition that parents might
righteousy claim damages for the cX
rcsurc of their children.
Scourged by Public Opinion
and a great city. rightly priding
itself upon the ability and character
Of her teachers. waiting month after
month for the selection of supCrin-
lpndpnt Of education, and then. to make
tho obstinaCy.-Or was it stUpidity?-
worse. refusal to listen to the voice
pnd advice of the great and successful
state superintendent. when finally
scourcCd to activity by the public press
trhoing the universal public opinion.
In this speaking do not refer in
any way to the gentleman finally chosen.
do not know him. But | claim tha,
the delayed action of months. followed
bv speedy action after DR.. Finrgan :
suggestion, placcI the board in an un
snvabo position.
Eve want young and enthusiastic
men and women on our Board of Edu-
ration. At eighty n mans usefulness
is limited, if not ended. And | know
am speaking for great multitude oe
tearhcrs-thc nOblcst and most ronse-
Grated to be found in any city in the
porId-and for the childrcn-GOd bless
thPm-and for taxpayers who are free
from political influence. when | call for
a change in the personnel of the Board
Of Education Of Philadelphia.