Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-03-01

TEACHER HOLD
CHARGES FALSE
Three Accused by School
Patrons Say Action Is
UnfOunded.
MANY CHANGES MADE

last night were made today by Jessie
J. Smith. principal Of Franklin School No.
80. Capitol avenue and TSSe1ty-Eig nth
street. and Josephine X. Bauer, principal
Of James Russell Lowell School No. 81,
today
Transfer Of Miss Smith, because Of her
alleged unftneSs for the pOsitISG, was
asked in a petition signed by one hun
dred fifty residents of the neighbOrhOOd,
while Miss Bauer was charged with hay
ing sent a girl pupil home and refused
her academic instruction because the
pupil was too poor to buy material for
the sewing class.
"Of course the charges are false" Miss
Smith said. There is nothing to them
at an'
SAYS CHARGE
WAS UNFOUNDED.
When asked how a petition based on
false charges could obtain 40 signatures,
she replied six hundred petitions could
have been obtained had the petition been
justified
NO child was sent home for sewing
materials from School No. 81" Mss
Bauer said. Children should have their
sewing materials by the fifth week Of
the semester so that they and their
teachers can do their work properly.
Teachers Of Indianapolis schools, how
ever, are always more than glad to help
children in unfortunate circumstances
to obtain their materials il they can
not afford them"
When the petition against Miss Smith
was presented by L. o. Snet hen a delega-
tion of about thirty was present.
Board members promised the delegation
that the matter will be considered by
the instruction committee and Z. Z.
Graf. superintendent of schools, and
that the petitioners would be given a
chance to present evidence to sustain
their charges.
LIST OF
CHARGES.
Among the charges contained in the
petition are the following: The prin-
cipsI has failed to cooperate with or
CARNATIONS Of the community in which
the school is located.
Her treatment Of parents Of pupils has
been such as TO discourage their at
tendance at meetings OF the Parent
Teacher Association.
She has not permitted a free choice
Of officers Of the association to be made
By reason OF her age she Is easily
irritated and should not be in charge OF
children.
Teachers under her supervision have
has been impossible for them TO display
any individuality in educational lines.
The pupils Of the school are behind
those of other schools in their work.
Parents have lost confidence in her as
& director Of education Of children.
Her methods are antiquated: she has
lost her initiative and is not progressive.
Mrs. Albert Benjamin, who was a pupil
Of Miss Smith when a school girl, told
the board that the principal had called
pupils before her since the petition for
her removal has been In circulation and
told them that they could not hope for
promotion II their parents signed the
petition. In addition TO this Mrs. Ben
tamin charged that the principal had
made things decidedly uncomfortable for
children whose parents were suspected
OF being interested IN the movement for
her removal, and had told some Of the
children that they had cObwebs on the
brain"
The board was informed that many
parents are in favor Of her removal but
had been afraid TO take an active part
In the movement for fear their children
would suffer in consequence.
Charges that Josephine K Bauer. prin-
cipal OF the James Russell Lowell school,
No. 81, Olney street and Roosevelt ave
nue., had sent a girl pupil home and
refused to allow her to attend classes
because she was too poor to buy supplies
for the sewing class. Was made by a par
ent OF another child attending the school
She insisted that her name not be made
public by the board because she said
that If this were done Miss Bauer would
take it out" on her child. This matter
also was referred to the instruction com
mittee and superintendent Graf after
Bert :. Gadd, a member Of the board,
had insisted on immediate action.
This is a serious matter" Mr.. Gadd
said. Here is a case OF a child being
denied academic instruction because she
has not enough money 70 buy sewing ma
terials. l think we ought TO get to the
bottom Of this Immediately"
The highly advertised policy Of econ
omy and efficiency and OF obtaining
harmony" IN the force OF the building
and grounds department was agai9 eIem-
plifed when eight old employees a. Ar
senaI Technical High School were fired -
and eleven new men employed to take
their places. This action was taken on
recommendation Of George Il. Rickes,
g Nerintendent Of buildings ard grounds,
lose two months in office has been
marked by sweeping and radical changes
When Mr., Rickes was asked after the
meeting as to his reasons Tor making
the changes he apparently was not anX-
fOUs to talk about the matter, but
finally admitted that the changes were
made for harmony" and because he
wanted to make them.
It Is not considered probable that any
OF the men will take an appeal in view
OF the fate Of a number of discharged
men who appealed their cases to the
board recently. The men were given 6
hearing but the superintendent was up
held at every point. President Charles
L. Barry stating that the head OF
department has the right to make such
changes in the personnel OF a depart
ment as might be required and in that
'he is accountable 10 none unless he
usurps or exceeds his authority in some
Sc. -Is manner"
A large number OF delegations were on
hand promptly at S o'clock, the time set
for the meeting, but it was an hour
later before President Barry, W. D. ALI
son and Adolph Emhardt appeared on
the scene after having been holding
caucus OF committee meeting downstairs
AS a result Of this Commissioner Gadd
protested and insisted that hereafter
board meetings. II fairness to delegations
and persons having business with the
board, be held on scheduled time.
The usual number OF petitions for bet
ter school facilities were presented
James A. Collins. judge Of Criminal
Court, and H. G. Roger spoke on behalf
OF patrons Of the Washington Irving
School, No. II, Ohio near Oriental street.
and asked the addition OF four rooms in