The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-01-26

Sensational charges Of mis-
management and of injustices to
teachers permitted by the present
Board of Education were made to-
day by Capt. julius I. Peyser,
member Of the board, at the open
ing hearing on the Gasque bill for
election Of the Board Of Education.
The hearing was conducted BY
the standing subcommittee on
electric franchise of the House
District Committee.
Expose Promised
Captain Peyser promised the com
rnittee he would expose sthe inside
workings OF the Board Of EducaT
tion." He told the committee Of
several cases where teachers have
been denoted or forced to resign
without hearing and without knowi-
edge of the charges brought agains.
them.
One OF the most fragrant cases.
he declared, was that of Miss Alma
Barker. teacher in Hine Junior High
School, who was ordered denoted
on charges of incompetence.
This teacher told me she had
given Superintendent of Schools
Frank w. BaIlou a certificate
showing her qualifications and dis
proving the charge of incompetence.
said Captain Peyser
She was given no hearing by
the board, and in response to ques-
tons, DR.. Ballou admitted he had
received the certificate but had
misIRid it and forgotten the incl
dent. This lost certificate would
have cost that teacher her position
and her pay il | had not interviewed.
Laws Violated, Charge
Captain Peyser charged that an
other teacher had been forced to
resign when charges were brought
against her. He said the laws
governing the Board of Education
were flagrantly violated in this
case. The teacher, he said. was
denied a copy of the charges, as
provided by, law. and was denied
a hearing and the right of repre-
sentation by counsel.
Utterly unable to defend her
self against the majority of the
Board Of Education, !. she was forced
to resign without an opportunity
to clear herself of the charges, the
nature Of which she did not even
know" said Captain Peyser.
He told the committee that in tn.
three years he has served on the
Board of Education the board has
been dominated by the superinten
dent of schools.
Except for reports which were
prepared by Ernest Greenwood and
myself" Captain Peyser said.
There were no official reports
made by the Board of Education
or any of it's members which we're
not first prepared or approved by
the superintendent or the supervis-
ing principal"
Representative Allard Fl. Gasque
of South Carolina. author of the
bill outlined its purposes in q
lengthy opening argument.
He denied the bill was an open
ing wedge for general suffrage In
the District, and declared residents
of the National Capital holding vot-
ing residences in other. States were
eligible to vote for the local board
of education if they had children
in school here.
He declared the Board of Educa-
ton should be separated from other
civic functions, and the members
of the board made responsible to
the people alone,
He presented tables of figures
showing the results accomphshed
by other cities of the United States
through election of boards of edu-
cation.
Representative Gasque stated his
bill has been approved by so per
rent of the District citizens associai
tions and practically all a. tho
Parent Teacher associations.
The meeting was held in the
caucus room of the House Office
Building before the largest crowd
which has attended the local com
nittee meetings this year.