Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-01-08


history of the District public schools,
will be conducted by the Board of
Education to prove or disprove the
charges of Capt. Julius |. Peyser that
James T. Lloyd is using his office as
president of the board to advance his
business interests.
Stunned over the accusations OF
Capt. Peyser, made verbally at the
uproarous meeting of December H.
the board yesterday afternoon voted
to sit as committee of the whole
and sift to the very bottom the sensa-
tional charges The inquiry will
amount virtually to trial. Capt
Peyser, a practicing attorney, Will be
called upon to submit evidence in
substautiation Of his charges Mr..
Lloyd. also a lawyer, and a former
member of Congress from Missouri
will appear as the defendant. Neither
will occupy seats on the board during
the inquiry, the committee of the
whole and the court consisting of the
seven other members of the board
with Vice President Ernest Green
wood presiding. A similar procedure
is unknown to veterans in the school
service.
Date to BE Fixed.
The date for the inquiry will be set
by Mr.. Greenwood shortly. At that
time he also intends to announce
whether the investigation will be con-
Quoted publicly or behind closed
doors.
Rev r. l. A. Bennett. who made the
motion for the sweeping probe. eN-
planned his action by pointing out
that he did not wish President Lloyd
to remain under the stigma of Capt.
Peyser's charges. They should be
withdrawn or supported" he declared.
NTr Greenwood immediately
onded Mr.. Benefits motion. AL
though a close personal friend of
Capt. Peyser, the boards vice presi-
dent said if the accusations are ig-
nored, it simply meant that the board
acquiesced to them
All members of the board. with the
exception of Capt. Peyser and Edwin
c. Graham. voted in favor of the mo-
ton. Capt. Peyser did not vote, and
Mr.. Graham cast the only negative
ballot Later, Capt. Peyser voted in
the affirmative and Mr.. Graham
changed his vote. making the ballot
unanimous.
Meeting il Quiet
In sharp contrast to the turbulent
session of December Il, the meeting
yesterday-the first in the new calen-
dar year-was tranquil and serene.
Only once did Capt. Peyser raise a
point of order, and that was sustained
by President Lloyd.
Outstanding among the voluminous
business transacted was the appoint
ment of Miss BERTHE Backus, assist
ant principal of the high school of
Easton, Pa, to be principal of the new
Powell Junior High school which will
open at the beginning of the second
school semester. February ,. Both
Capt. Peyser and Mr.. Greenwood OBJ
-. ~ 40.
giving important positions in the Dis
trict schools to persons not within the
system.
Capt. Peyser said he did not think
ii necessary to go outside of the Dis
trict for talent and TEACHERS" He
mentioned the names Of several teach
ers in Washington high schools whom
he thought qualified for the Powell
principalship. Mr.. Greenwood re
marked that it lis very discouraging
and distressing to learn that out of
the 5000 employees in the District
schools, not one is sufficiently quail
fed to be a junior high school princi-
pal.
BaIIOu Defends Appointment.
Prior to recommending Miss Backus'
appointment, Supt Frank w. BallOu
submitted to the~board compreh en-
sive statement outlining the stand
ards of an efficient junior high school
principal in Justification of his pro-
posal to fill the Powell office with an
out-of- town teacher. II stand square
~ on the policy of adequate academic
and professional preparation on the
part of all appointees, whether teach
ers, principals or administrative or
supervisory officers" said the super
intendent Where the character of
preparation submitted by person not
now in the service is more definite,
more scholarly, more serious than
that of those within the service and
TO this preparation is added an out
standing successful experience in ad
miniStration, the executive of a school
system must construe that it is his
duty to obtain for the system, the
person who promises the best service
for the advancement of education in
the community which he serves.
Comes Highly Recommended.
DR.. Ballou explained that Miss
Backus was recommended by the bu-
reau of educational service of the
Teachers College of Columbia Uni
versity Testimonial letters also
were furnished by Profs. Briggs and
Fitzpatrick of the Teachers College.
the former superintendent of schools
of Huntington, w. Va, where she
taught; the secretary of vocational
education in West Virginia and the
principal of the high school, where
-