Samuel Monroe Graves (September 11, 1878 – December 20, 1943) was an American educator who served as Superintendent of the Wellesley (Massachusetts) Public Schools and became the central figure in a widely publicized controversy in the late 1930s over his attempted ouster.
Early Life and Education
Graves was born in Redfield, New York, the son of William Graves and Frances Maria Freeman Graves. He attended Colgate University, graduating in 1902. Following graduation, he accepted a missionary teaching position in the Philippines, which had recently become a U.S. colony after the Spanish–American War. He was soon appointed Superintendent of the Philippines school district where he taught. Returning to the United States, he earned a master's degree and then a Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1913.
Career
In 1914, Graves was appointed Superintendent of Schools of the Town of Wellesley, Massachusetts, and also began teaching part-time at Wellesley College. He served in this role for 22 years. During his tenure, he also served as president of the Massachusetts Schoolmasters Association, the Massachusetts Superintendents Association, and the Norfolk County Teachers Association.
The Wellesley Controversy
In early July 1935, the Wellesley School Committee asked for Graves's resignation. He refused. After an uncontested town election in February 1936, the committee announced a hearing to oust him, effective July 31. The legal controversy centered on whether the committee could remove him without cause.
The School Committee filed thirteen "secret" charges against Graves, most of which were vague. They included accusations of failing "to create and maintain the school system as one continuous whole," failing "to cooperate," "to deal frankly," "to inspire," and "to exercise sufficient supervision."
Over 3,000 people signed petitions against Graves's removal in a town of about 6,000 voters. Despite this, the School Committee voted to remove him on April 27, 1936.
Graves brought a lawsuit and was defended by former Massachusetts Attorney General James M. Smith. On December 28, 1937, the State Supreme Judicial Court ruled in Graves's favor, stating the removal was illegal because the committee had introduced no witnesses or evidence. After a second hearing and another removal vote, the court again ruled in Graves's favor, with a special master's report "bristling with denunciations" of how the hearings were conducted.
Underlying Issues
Contemporary reporting suggested the charges were pretextual. The Boston Globe reported the controversy may have originated when parents became indignant over reprimands given to their children for poor scholastic standing and rule infractions. There were also allegations of racial and social discrimination: James Bresnahan, chairman of the Isaac Sprague School PTA, claimed Graves was ousted because he refused to implement a redistricting plan intended to segregate certain children based on social and financial standing, particularly targeting Italian-American children. The zoning plan led to a five-day student strike.
Outcome and Legacy
After the court ordered Graves's reinstatement, the Town of Wellesley had two school superintendents. An agreement was reached: Graves received lost wages of about $15,000 and resigned the position. He died four years later, in 1943, at age 65. His health may have been weakened by the stress of the ordeal, including limited income during the Great Depression.
In the 1960s, his daughter Rose Christine Graves Heiberg was elected to the Rockville Centre (New York) School Board after a campaign supporting inclusive school policies.
