Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-08-28
Female school Teachers Discussed.

A special meeting of the board of trustees of
public schools was held at the Franklin build
ing last evening, at which Messrs Richards lin
the chair, Hart, Harris, Stuart, Faust, AtL &c,
Scott, Dulin, French, Champlin, Crook and
Wilson were present. On motion of Mr.. Hart,
the report of the committee on prizes and ex-
amiHatOns, made ut the previous meeting, was
adopted. MIR. Scott subsequently gave notice OF
a motion to reconsider this vote. Applications
for teacherships were received from Miss Jennie
McSweeney and others, and referred to the SUI
PerinteDdent.
Mr.. Hart, from the sub board OF the first dis
trict, reported upon the following transfers and
nominations Transfer Miss Fannie L. Julien
teacher of primary No. 2, to No. 6; appoint Miss
Mary T.. Perkins, teacher of primary No. L.;
appoint Miss Hannah Il. Hudson. teacher Of
primary No. 2, in place of Miss julien, trans
ferred, all to take effect September 1, 1872. Mr.
Hart stated that this matter had been referred
this report was signed by Messrs. Harris, Robin
son and himself.
would take no action at this meeting. 1t was
known that charges had BEEN made against one
OF the young ladies mentioned, and although
they were not immoral or criminal, yet enough
had been developed TO deter him from vOtiEr
for the combinations. He moved that the sub
ject be postponed.
MIR. Harris urged Tat any further postpon-
meLt would be an act OF
INJU sTICE TO MISS PERKINS AND TO MISS
HUDSON.
The charges, or rather the destinations, had
~
that he believes them uniounded and he had
signed the report recommending their con-
fTmation. He (Mr. Harris) believed these in-
situations to be unjust from beginning to end
When these ladies were informed OF them they
did not wait Tor the ordinary course of mails, but
telegraphed Immediately, on the receipt of the
information, that Ia, y would start home TO meet
these accusations, anu they did come a distance
OF zoo miles, and no particle Of guilt had been
shown.
Mr.. Hart said that the rumors had never taken
the form OF charges, but an investigation was
had and the young ladies came out clear. a
smaller, meaner, more
CoNTEMPTIBLE CONSPIRACY
he had never seen.
Mir. Stuart said that he did not believe these
young ladies were so innocent that he would
permit them to associate with his daughters and
other teachers. Charges had been made, and
Mr.. Hart and himself had been appointed to In
vestig ate ithem, and he Mr.. Stuart) had come
to the conclusion that there were good grounds
for the charge, while his colleague thought the
conduct OF the young ladies was correct and
proper. One of these girls had been employed
in the I'd district, and the sub board there had
dropped her. He believed if an unbiased COM
mittee was appointed they would report against
her confirmation. He did not believe that they
would find anything against their moral charac-
ter, al he had no doubt as TO their purity, but
thought their conduct was unbecoming, to say
the least.
VOTING ON THE QUESTION.
The motion of Mr.. Stuart 70 postpone was lost:
Ieas-Messrs. Stuart, Faust and Scott.
Nays--Messrs. Hart, Harris, Richards, Champ
lin, AtLee. Crook, Wilson, Dulin and French.
Mr.. Stuart moved TO go into secret session; lost.
Mr.. Harris moved the confirmation OF the
teachers, and demanded the previous question.
The previous question was not sustained, by
the following vote: Yeas-MesSTs. Hart, Harris,
Champlin, AtLee, Crook and French-6. Nays
Nessrs. Faust, Stuart, Richards, Wilson, Scott
and Dulin-G.
MT. Harris moved the confirmation of the
teachers, and said that had the subject been
kept from the public he would be i'll favor OF a
secret session, but as newspaper reporters had
got hold of it, the rumors had been discussed,
and as he was certain as to the result OF inyesti
CATION, he would favor full, open, free discus
sion.
Mr. Richards said that when the nominations
for the second district had been made, he found
that one OF these ladies, Miss Hudson, had been
dropped from the list, and on inquiry, was told
that there rumOrs affecting her character, start
ed by the keeper of boarding house. He eau
toned his colleagues not to act hastily, and he
then heard the other side, when he came to the
conclusion that she had been wrOnged, that the
rumors were without foundation, and that she
was
NOT GUILTY OF AN INDIsCRETIoN EVEN.
He was willing now to undo the wrong he had
unintentonally committed, and could he find "A
vacancy in his district he would reinstate her.
He cautioned the members to be careful to
what reliance they placed in rumOrs. 1T rumors
were what they wanted, they could be found
not only against teachers but trustees.
Mr.. Harris asserted that these teachers had
met their accusers, and they came out as white
as snow in their characters. These charges
but that personal feelings instigated them
Miss Hudson has letter in her possession from
two of the trustees, stating that they would
recommend her as teacher, but suggesting
that she resign. lie asked was il coIsIstency
for trustees TO write letters that party was not
tit TO teach our children, but could 20 elsewhere
and teach? Why are not those trustees (AIessrs.
Woodward and McLellan) present?
MYSTERY.
Mr.. Eaust.-That is mystery.
Mr. Harris continued, asking if they believed
Al how mot lar
ef permitting her 10 resign? he would not
allow a teacher to resign If he believed such
charges respecting her. One Of the charges is
that one OF the girls allowed young man t.
take iamiliarties with her; to place his hand on
her head and imprint kiss en- her cheek or fore
head. This she denies, but admits that
THE YOUNG MAN WHO Is sAIDTo HAVE KISSED
HER
is engaged TO her.
Mr. Faust said that he had received a note
from MIR. Herring, chief clerk in the Second
Auditors OH &c, sUb5tantIating the charges.
Mr.. HarrIs-Aye, Mr.. Herring met these
ladies face to face: Why didn't he substantiate
the charges then?
Mr.. Hart invited any member to point out the
time he had not performed his duty to the
schools, and he had performed his duty IN
this case. The superintendent had informed
him that Mr.. Mcclellan had said there were
grave charges against Miss Perkins and Miss
Hudson, as 10 improper conduct at their board
ing house. When these charges were made he
proceeded 20 Investigate them, and called at the
boarding house and asked Mrs. Moore
WHAT IMPROPRIETIRS HAD OCCURRED.
She said that the ladies were in the habit Oh re-
ceiving gentlemen in the p8Tlor and OF running
out with them when any one came IN; that they
sat with them in the dark; and that they re-
ceiyed young gentlemen in their rooms. When
the ladies concerning whom these things were
said arrived in town, he called at Mrs. Moore
house To invite her 10 meet them, and She then
stated that she had never said any thlng against
the ladies, and that Mary Perkins was the best
girl she ever knew; that the only time she knew
of there being man in her room WAS when she
was 80 sick that she could not be Left alone, and
she asked gentleman to SIT in the room while
She went down stairs for few moments. NJ
Herring, when questioned in the matter, sail
that he knew nothing except what he h All heard
from Others. The whole trouble was that = son
OF Mrs. Moore WAS engaged 70 ayOung lady whJ
was an applicant Tor the position Miss Perkins
held. The young ladies when asked why they
ran cut OF the parlOr, replied that il was be-
cause Mrs. NJ. came in and sat down iii the
presence Of the gentlemen and
PULLED OFF HER SHOES AND STOCKINGS.
She cid not deny il, but claimed that she had
tie right 20 pull oil her shoes and stockings IN
her own parlOr.
Mr.. Faust said he had been told by trustee
that Miss Hudson had said she didn't care ii she
was dropped in the second district, for Mr..
Hart had promised to appoint her in the hrst.
MIR. Harris.-Give his name.
Mr.. Faust replied that he had promised not TO