The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-06-12

since her appointment to the public
school system in 1908, thirty years
ago.
She has played an active part
among teachers in the struggle to
save the nine Scottsboro boys-an
activity which has not escaped the
spy-infested Board Of Education.
Since then she has taught for more
than Is years, with gaps in her SER
vice-reeord only during the years
when she was bringing up her four
children.
Mrs. Burroughs, now under sus-
pension without pay, together with
Isidore Begun, another teacher ac-
tive in the teachers struggles, told a
representative of the Daily Worker
the story of her suspension. 1t hinges
on the recent dismissal of Isidore
Blunherg, teacher whose activities
in the salary fight, as chairman OF
the Teachers Committee to Protect
Salaries, was the excuse used by the
Tammany board in an Unusually uR-
demanded example of academic
frame-up
400 Teachers Present.
An open hearing at the Board of
Education Building, 500 Park Ave,
on May %, at which the BlumbeFg
case was to be acted upon, had been
announced.
Il was there" Mrs. Burroughs told
the Daily Worker, las secretary OF
the Isidore Blumberg Defense Com
nittee, There were between 500 and
400 other teachers present, many of
them jobless.
MY purpose was to ask that Mr..
Blumberg be given another chance,
since the unsatisfactory rating (the
excuse used to GUST him from his
position) was the first he had ever
received. 1t is customary to do this,
Had High Record.
Mr. Blumberg had previously
served three terms at P. S. SO, Bronx,
where he had been praised by DR..
Chatfield, Bronx Superintendent of
Schools, for his splendid influence in
the character building of children
Miss Stewart, principal of P. 8, 90,
had even expressed her admiration
for his work.
Then his prominent role In the
salary fight caused his transfer to
P. S. %, Bronx, where he was given
a class composed of subnornal un-
derfed, nervous children, whose pow
erty and home environment had re-
tarded their development. Such a
class is terrific strain even on :
psychiatrist. At the end of four
months Mr. Blumberg was given his
unsatisfactory rating.
Counsel Scores Board.
"We waited in the room outside of
that in which the Board was meet
ing. I sent in my name, and asked
that I be called when MIR. Blum
berg's case came up for discussion. I
ascertained that it was fifty-first on
the order of business, although an
office clerk evidently instructed to
do sol denied that there was pre-
arranged order of business.
When No. 81 was called out, Mrs.
Burroughs arose and demanded the
floor as secretary of the Blumberg
Defense Committee. DIR. Ryan, head
of the Board of Education and big
real estate owner, kept pounding with
his gavel in an effort to stop her.
Make that -" he hesitated
for moment and then went ON,
woman sit down."
The entire place was In confusion
by this time, caused mainly by the
rsnzied pounding and shouting of
DR.. Ryan, purple with anger,
"Other teachers" Mrs. Burroughs
continued, realized by then that, de-
spite the newspaper announcements,
this had not been planned as an
open meeting. They, too, tried
vainly to get the floor. Isidore Be-
gun, who was sfterward suspended
with me, began to speak.
Ryan Calls Police.
Ryan ordered the room cleared
and when we refused TO leave before
we had been heard he called the pe-