A Tacoma School Inquiry Ends in a Hallway Brawl
A closed-door investigation at Tacoma High School spills into a physical confrontation between a professor and a Chamber of Commerce committeeman.
TACOMA, May 10.—Special.—Another chapter in the high school scandal was enacted at the high school building yesterday. Prof. Robertson, of the high school, had been the subject of an inquiry some weeks ago, and there was an investigation behind closed doors by the board of education; no report has yet been made public.
The matter attracted much attention. At the Chamber of Commerce one evening, J. Thompson made remarks about the trouble and about Prof. Robertson. Yesterday afternoon the two men met at the high school building. Mr. Thompson was with other members of the Chamber of Commerce committee that had been appointed to inquire into the trouble. Coming down the stairs, Prof. Robertson stepped in front of Thompson and said something about his closing up his own back yard before he criticized others. Thompson turned and struck at Robertson. The latter ducked and started to counter, when O. Strong of the committee grabbed Thompson and pulled him back. This ended the row, but Robertson got in a few more angry words to Thompson before the committee left the building.
“Another chapter in the high school scandal was enacted at the high school building yesterday.”
Public schools were then, as now, arenas for fights over reputation, oversight and who gets to speak for the institution. A closed-door inquiry that spills into a hallway scuffle is a reminder that school governance is never only bureaucratic.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.