The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1921-05-06
Board Of Education Conducts Ex.
tensive Probe Of Cnarves
Against chIekssha HIoh
School Players
BOARD MEMBERS WILL
co TO BOARD CONTROL
To ststs Conditions Exactly ~
Found; Find Grades Raised;
Principal will Not be
Reelected

Following probe OF Chickasha
high school athletics. conducted by
the Board of Education. II was an.
nounced today that the charges that
certain Ineligible players we're used
en- the football team last fall were
sustained In several cases the re.
sponsibility OF ne violation Of the
rules OF the sts0 High School Ath.
leilc Association being checked up
to Lanson ID. Mitchell. principal of
The local school. who. II was further
arnounced. will not be reelected In.
asmuch as the present tern of
school will close next week. Il was
not doomed advisable to make a
change in the principalship ~ this
time. II was stated.
The charges against the chlckasha
school were filed with Tho board of
control OF the state association last
tall and resulted in tlie-suspensiou OF
the school from the association. Il
was alleged that several of the
Chickacsha players did not make tho
required three credits during the
second semester last year and were
therefore not eligible as members OF
the 1920-21 football team. After the
suspension OF the team correspond
ence with the board Of control fol.
lowed and steps wero started looking
to an investigation by the local board
but, due to various causes OF delay,
arrangements for tho inquiry were
not completed till the latter part OF
last month. The witnesses summoned
Included @. l.. Honnold. former prin.
c'pal OF the school. several teachers
who we're employed last year but are
not connected with the school this
year, Supt Montgomery, Mr.. Mitch.
ell, members OF the present faculty
end students whose records were
questioned. Three sessions OF the
board we're held, the inquiry running
cYer into this week. A committee an.
ptinted to prepare summary of the
testimony has not completed its
work but 1t is stated that the find
ings of the board were: that. Prlnci.
pal Mitchell certified tho list of
members of the Chickasha football
team to the state association with
out having examined the records of
the school, but merels taking the
statements of the students that they
made passing grades in the required
number Of units; that the grades OF
certain students as they appeared
on the permanent records were
changed by Mr.. Mitchell who stated
that he later conferred with their
teachers and verified the changes he
made. In one case, It was brought
out, grade was changed after Mr..
Strauss, athletic coach had examined
the student, giving him a passing
grade although he had failed In the
subject during the preceding semes-
ter In one or two other cases, the
inquiry 1t was stated, showed that
the principal had no authority for
changing the grades except the
word of the student, which was not
deemed sufficient.
Mr. .HonnoId, former principal.
testified that he called the attention
Of Supt Montgomery to the fact that
ineligible players were being used
and Mr.. Montgomery testified that
be took the matter up with Mr.. Nit
chei!, requesting him to look into
II and that the latter subsequently
reported that all the players were
eligible. Mr.. Montgomery stated that
the principal was authorized 70 make
corrections in the records, based
upon the statements Of teachers that
the recorded grades we're erroneous.
but that the principal was not au.
thorized to change grade other
wise. Mr.. Mitchell testified to the
same effect but stated that he be-
lieved the students were entitled to
the grades he gave them. 1t de-
veloped that sheets containing the
original reports of teachers were
missing. Nj. Honnold testified that
he left these records in q desk at
(Continned on Pare Three)