The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-11-08
Brutal Acts
Of PRINCIPAL
BaredbyUTA
Mother Named Beggar
by Head Who Takes
Food from Children

Charging extreme brutality by
school principals who do not hest
tate to starve a child into submits
sion, the Unemployed Teachers As
ISOLATION sent a letter yesterday to
the Superintendent of Schools, asked
a public trial of Mr.. Jesse Seehof,
Principal of Public School %, Brook
Ign.
In support of the charge that Mr..
Seehof has been one Of the most
miserable offenders" among prin-
cipals who have used the child's
bread ticket as disciplinary whip,
there is attached to the letter a
copy of record of such cases kept
by the principal Utter contempt
for the poverty-stricken parents who
voluntarily report on their condition
in order to beg help, is noted down
by the principal in such expressions
as, Mother whining beggar" and
Member of a gimme family"
The sheer heartlessness Of this
director of the lives Of hundreds of
children would be almost unbeliev-
able but for the following proof
taken from the record: Cbold-face,
ours)
Monganello, Salv., TAI, 2e4. Was
seen getting his free milk but
never came to class. Not to re-
ceive free milk and bread in tee
future. S.
Frank Titero, Age 7, 2B2, 100.
Clothing received stocking,
trousers, shirts. Truant, not de-
serving.
Santore, Daniel, SAG Manhattan
Ave. Family of II, one brother
in army, only income from him;
Shoes, free lunches. food at times.
Dominick, 8A2. Removed from
Iunchroom by direction of Mr..
Seehof frequent absence
Michael CAB. Removed. Imperti-
nent to helper. Extreme disorder.
Another child who was deprived
of his lunch for disorder" was the
son Of a veteran, father of four chill
dren. They had received shoes, and
the mother had received food when
necessary" A notation on the record
stated that conditions were bad"
Mr.. Seehof had the child removed
from the lunchroom for disorder.
The sheer contempt of this auto
crat, who receives a fat salary of
some $1,000, cannot restrain itself at
the following appeal of Mrs. Cole
santi, written voluntarily with the
help of her daughter:
Father is out of work and six
children in the family. My mother
and father willing to work but
can't find any for a long time
already. We need shoes and
clothing for our clothing is all
torn all of us are undenerished
because we don't get enough food.
When we ask for shoes and cloth
ing they don't pay no attention.
because my sister Gertrude didn't
get enough food she was pale and
thin and anenic and because she
didn't have enough clothing she
got sick was in the hospital and
died Aug. 10, 1884"
The principals comment about
one of the children in this family
was member Of a gimme family!
Withdrawing lunch tickets from a
child of ten, because the two chill
dren did not appear on holidays.
in the true manner of a brutal
overseer, the principal notes down
on the record, Mother whining
beggar."
Other records in the hands of
the Unemployed Teachers Associa-
ton contain further proof of the
arrogance and brutality of the prin-
cipal. The letter, signed by Isidore
Begun, Chairman of the Executive
Board, which asks for a public hear
ing of the charges before the 9oa~d
of Superintendent, also asks firmly
for guarantees that children, parents
and teachers who are subpoenaed
as witnesses, will not be victimized
by reprisals of any kind.