McAndrew, Continued

Crunch-crunch went pretzels in the mouth of J. Lewis Coath, president of the Chicago Board of Education. Mr. Coath was presiding over another session of School Superintendent McAndrew's "trial" for insubordination (TIME, Sept. 12, et seq.). Although Superintendent McAndrew was absent from the hearing, 17 Chicago school teachers, principals and district superintendents, were present to call him a "Simon Legree . . . a faker . . . a cruel task master," because he had obliged them to exact perfect answers from their pupils before permitting the pupils to continue to subsequent lessons.

Complained Harry G. Clark, a district superintendent: "We were told that if we did not reach perfection in these tests instituted by Mr. McAndrew some one else would be found to take our places. . . . The result of Mr. Andrew's ironhanded methods were found in cheating and dishonesty in the students and teachers." Others testified similarly.

When they were done Mr. Coath, still eating, declared: "I cannot but remark on the beautiful sentiment of simplicity, honesty of purpose, and integrity demonstrated here tonight in the hearts of the men and women who testified. It is one of the most gratifying spectacles in the history of my school board experience of six years, and thank God for the real, human, honest people in the Chicago public schools!"