Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-04-07

followlng the regular April
meeting of the Augusta Board of
Education, which was held at tse
offices in City Hall, Monday evening,
1t was learned that the session had
been exceptionally interesting and
had developed some enlightening
revelations in regard to the reportNl
dissension among the members, and
the statement made in the press
over the names of the other seven
members of the Board to the effect
that Frank Hewins had resigned as
chairman of that body and that
those members of the Board feel,
that there is greater harmony and a
better understanding among the
board members since Mr.. Hewins has
made his own feelings SO clear in
the matter"
1t developed that certain members
OF the Board had attributed state
ments to their chairman which he
had not made, and further that they
had assumed things, as the result of
news story on the junior high pro-
position printed In these columns on
Thursday. April .. which had no
basis for such assumption so far as
that article was concerned.
At the session last evening, Chair
man Hewins faced the members of
the Board with certain public state
ments which had been made public
ly over their signatures and obtained
retraction of those declarations.
The situation was considerably clari-
fed as q result of the discussion last
evening. and there is every reason to
believe that the several members of
tn school board and their chairman
better understand each other as a
result.
Following the routine business of
the meeting Chairman Hewins pro-
pounded certain questions to the
members Of the Board relative to the
signed statement which appeared in
the Kennebec Journal of Monday.
April 6. Mr.. Hewins stated that he
failed to understand wherein they
were warranted to issue such Il
statement and wished to satisfy his
own mind that he was not in error
in his Interpretation of the article
in question.
The statement which was the sub
ject OF the lively discussion and ln~
depreciation last evening. was
communication to the Editor of the
Kennebec Journal, and contained
statements which prompted Mr..
Hewins to take issue as they were
not compatible with the news story
of last Thursday. 1t was as follows:
'In Thursdays edition of the Ken
nebec Journal, under Junior HlSh
school projects it is limited that there
is dissension among the board mem
bers. Since Mr.. Hewins, chairman
of the Augusta board of educatlon'
has seen fit to give to the press IN
formation that he has withheld from
the rest of the board members, VIZ
that he has resigned from the board,
we the other seven members OF the
school board, wish to make 1t very
clear to the public through the col
umns of the Kennebec journal, that
there is no friction among us. we
feel that there is greater harmony
and a better understanding among
the board members since Mr.. HeWlis
has made his own feelings SO ciear
in the matter"
This communication was signed py
the other seven members of the board
DIR. r. L. Mckay, Joseph J. Harwood,
Percy w. Morrill,. Cora r. Partridge.
Edith F. Gilmore, Oscar ii. Brann ana
Arthur Tetreault.
Chairman Hewins also prefaced ms
queries to the board by declaring tnat
he wished to reassure himself as 10
lust what did occur at the previous
session of the group, when the uiI-
ferences of opinion were reported 10
have developed, and the extent OF ms
narticipation In the dissension at thal
time. c,,,,r-
Tha several questions which CHAIR
man Hewins put to the board were an
swered by the members individually
and collectively. The questions were
as follows: Ill.,
ct. n not a fact that there was as
sension in the board at the March in
,,astinr. when salaries were dis-
cussed?" The board UNANIMOUSLY
agreed that there was.
NJ uewins' second question was.
.p,d the chairman Of your board nay.
.nrthjnr to do with bringing apou'
the circumstances that caused tue "'
sensjon. or was he In any way a.. p'A AZ
tn the resulting differences! ~ ~
members of the board repileo III Inv
negative. ,,.;.,, or
"Jas there been any dissension OF
friction on the part OF the c''a,t nnam
toward Any member OF the poa'u 40
toward the board itseif up Thrrs.
printing of the article IN .M saa: :,
"Have l stated to any IlleIIIo f,o,,
the Board that would resign irosn
The Board?" was the fourth ques-
ton propounded by Chairman neM new
ms to the school board, ana. ASA"
the answer was in the negative
The story on the school sitn na,; ,
in the Kennebec Journal OF Apf nro ~
stated that Mr.. Hewins wou, nt the
scain be a candidate or accept 'ie
chairmanship." Mr.. Hewlns !" Ct
abatement made to the Jouria, ,san