Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-06-30
POLITICIANS PLOT
T0DESP0|L SCHOOL
SYSTEMS CHARGED
California Superintendent's
Address Creates Sensa-
ton at N. ETA. Session.

Sensational charges by Fred w.
Hunter, superintendent of schools of
Oakland, Calf, of attempts by po-
litical organizations to undermine the
integrity of the public schools Of the
nation created stir at the initial
session of the general assembly oil
the National Education Association,
which formally convened in siXty-se =
ond annual convention today in the
CO ntral High School auditorium. DR..
Hunter concluded his unexpected
revelations with an earnest plea for
sound teacher legislation which would
entirely divorce education from poll
tics.
Supt. Hunter, reporting for the
committee of 100 on teachers tenure,
cited a number of specific cases
where superintendents of schools, as
well as teachers, are said to have
fallen victims of great political ma
chimes He mentioned specifically
Thomas Il. Finegan, former state
commissioner of education of Penn
sylvania, and William L. Ettinger.
former superintendent of schools of
New York.
Cites Chicago Schools.
Sixty-eight teachers in Chicago
were recently dismissed for political
causes, said DR.. Hunter. During a
summer vacation seventy-six teach
ers in San Diego, Calf. were dis
charged without warning for the
same reason, and as a result the
school system was almost wrecked,
he added.
The speaker pointed out that the pro-
posed teachers tenure legislation is de-
signed not only to protect teachers from
political spoilation, but to protect the
public schools as well. Although a su-
perintendent of schools himself. DR..
Hunter voiced the opinion that these
school administrators should not be al
lowed to hire and fire at will.
Plen Made for Harmony.
Pleading for harmony and concerted
effort during the five-day session of the
general assembly. Miss Florence NJ.
Hale, state regent for rural education of
Augusta, Me-. formally opened the sixty
eighth annual conclave of the nations
teachers this morning shortly after 9
o'clock. Twenty-Five hundred teachers,
representing every state in the United
States and its island possessions, crowd
ed the Central auditorium to capacity
for the opening session.
Acting as chairman of the initial
session of the general assembly, Miss
Hale admonished the delegates not to
give vent to their emotions on the
convention floor. IF the teachers at
home read in the newspapers that we
can't hold our temper" she declared,
they are not going to be very enthusi-
astic about the N. +. A. Moreover, they
say We fight enough at home"
Miss Hale outlined briefly some of
the recent events which brought teach
ers into the limelght. Special mention
was made of Marion /. Burton, presi-
dent of the University of Michigan.
whom President Coolidge selected to
deliver the nominating address at the
Republican national convention in
woodrow Wilson as ''the illustrious
school master" provoked applause.
Cabinet Post Issue Up.
The three most important problems
confronting American education to-
day-retirement allowances, teachers
tenure and the education bill which
would create department of educa
tion under the federal government
were formally presented to the as
senbly for consideration as the chief
business of the opening session. A
short discussion by the delegates fol-
lowed the presentation of the re-
ports.
The report on retirement allow
ances was. submitted by Philip f.
Carlson, principal of Roosevelt High
School. Minneapolis. Minn. George
d. Strayer, professor of school ad-
ministratin Of the Teachers College
of Columbia University, made the re-
port on the education bill
Although the program of the gen.
eral assembly is crowded with bust
ness, an adjournment was taken
shortly after I o'clock this afternoon
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