, 1962-02-07
FULL REPORT OF GARDINE'S CASE
RELEASED FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION

RELEASED FOR PUBLIC INF FORMATION
When the AVIS first learned of Mrs. Juanita Gardine's resigna-
ton from the Department of Education. a teletYpe message was put
through TO DR.. Pedro c. Sanchez for information and an appoint
ment was made for a review of the case. During this time. a mem
Der Of the AVIS staff met Mrs Caroline and mentioned our surprise
4u learn Of the resignation. To this Mrs. Caroline replied. that the
AVIS is slipping" a95 9ya.o5
For this we apologize to our readers. since ii is 20 all newspapers
that are able TO have someone behind The scenes TO pass out conf.
DENTAL" information. Also. il has also been our policy to get both
sides OF a s3orv before taking a stand.
After following this same policy. we hopefully awaited word thai
Mrs. Caroline had Withdrawn her resignation, if for n other reason
but dedication TO education. ia
In a subsequent copy of another local newspaper. Mrs. Caroline
wrote TO the Editor: 1T is heartwarning 10 know that in these diff
ult lines there cn be found a newspaper editor that is willing and
able 10 present a persons case in a fearless manner. The public should
know the truth !" Also. a portion of DR.. sanchezs report to the
Governor was published.
Since it is not enough for the public TO know part Of the story, we
have published the full report.
Lest ii be forgotten. the AVIS editoriany urged the appointment
of Mrs. Caroline IS principal of the chrEtiansted High School and also
in its Lighthouse column. cited her record as justification.
Subject: The Case of Mrs. Juanita N. Caroline
Following the conference in your office on the subject, you e
quested that I submit to you a memorandum presenting the back
ground information, with attachments, and comments concerning
MRS. Juanita N. Caroline. Before ! do that, however, I want to ex-
press my thanks and appreciation for your complete confidence and
backing, l appreciated very much your statement: 81 will back you
up on this not 100 per cent but 1000 per cent"
Mrs Juanita N. Gardines difficulties with the Department of Edu-
cation and with the Commissioners of Education have a long history
] just happened to come in at the tail of it. Her issues with the De-
partrnent, as far as could gather from reports, took several forms:
% Alleged mistreatments and injustices : since 1856.
~ Salary - since 1857.
~ Tuition reimbursement since August, 1860.
~ Damp office space = since September 1861.
This memorandum will present each of these separately insofar
as these could be separated. In addition, it will present my side of
the article and editorial in the St. Croix NEWS CURRENT of January
Is, 1861.
l.. ALLEGED NJUSTICES: Over the years, Mrs. Caroline felt
that she had been mistreated by officials of the Department of Edu-
cation. The records in my office 60 back only to 1855. AS far back as 5
years ago, in a letter dated July 20, 1856, to the Acting Commissioner
of Education, she complained that she had never been given the on.
sderation she should when a crisis arises" In reference to DR.. Cotton
former Commissioner of Education, in the same letter above, she
wrote that she "id not believe DR.. Cotton was fair to me and told
him so" (se attachment No. y
In 1860, she wrote to DR.. Moron a letter dated November 18th,
that 1T doesn't seem fair to impose on the same person all the time"
(@e attachment No. 81.
In her letter to the Governor of July IL, 1861. Two months before
came here, she wrote that "over the years / have stood for many in
justices from the Department of Education" (see attachment No. q
Although she knew that Miss Tuitt, then Acting Commissioner, sent
two Change of Status Reports to the Division of Personnel recon-
mending increases in her salary, she nevertheless wrote to the Board
Chairman on September %, 1861, that Miss Tutt is aware of the
situation; but for some reason has resitated to take action" @ee at
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