Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-08-22
GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Investigating Charges Against the
Principal.

The trustees of the public school of
Annapolis, Messrs Ireland, Bells and
Green, with the petitioners and the re-
spondent. met in the assembly room of
the public school building on Green
street this morning at 10 o'clock 70 In
vestigate charges of iucompetsncy, lack
Of discipline and being incapable of im-
parting knowledge. ETC., against the prin
cipal Of the Girls Grammar school, Mrs.
Dorsey. Mr.. Bells was the first trustee
TO put Ia his appearance, soon after
Messrs Ireland ard Green appeared, fol-
lowed by Mrs Dorsey, the respondent,
accompanied by r. Moss. her counsel
In the meantime, number OF spectators
had assembled to hear the proceedings
10 the case, among them DR.. r Il. Green
preaident of the School Board, J. @. Ban
non, school examiner, Justice Thomas
Basil, Sheriff James s. Armiger. Captain
John Mullan, and police officers Watkins.
and Martin. who represented the dignity OF
the law. Mr.. Ireland, of the boa'd OF
trustees, read the petition OF the CON-
plainants with the charges and asked the
petitioners If they were ready TO proceed
with the examination. Mrs. Dawes, who
acted as spokeslady for the petitioners.
stated that they had expected Mr.. Nun
roe, TO represent them, but as he was not
here and the other side was represented
by counsel she handed Mr.. Ireland let
ter from Mr.. Munroe asking postpone
ment of the hearing. Mrs. Dorsey's
counsel insisted upon a hearing OF the
case TO day, and said the petitioners had
been two weeks and more preparing for
this case, and the respondent was ready to
go Oh. In the meantime Mr.. Munroe who
was on his way with some friends for
days outing was persuaded TO come b9-
fore the board and make a statement for
the petitioners, which he did. He said
the petitioners had only called upon him
day or two ago, and he informed them
that Ii would be impossible for him TO
undertake the case without some kuowl-
edge of &C. He said 1t was due TO both
sides TO have full and impartial inves-
tigAtion of the case, and this could not be
done unless time was given 10 see the
parents of the children and get their
testimony.
Capt. John Mullan, said he had volun-
teeIed to speek word In behalf Of the
respondent, and thought In view of the
near approach of the opening of the
schools and In justice to the respondent
and others she ought TO have @ speedy
and impartial hearing, and her reputation
be cleared of these charges. Mr.. Ireland
asked Mr.. Muoroe how long time he
wanted. He said ten days Mr.. Mullan
said that would bring it into the school
year, and he would move TO amend Mr..
Munroe's motion by making 1t ten months
and this would give all parties plenty
of time TO prepare their case. After
considerable argument by counsel for
both sides for postponement, Mr.. Munroe
said If It would suit he would modify his
motion by making the time next We'd
nesdsy. The respondents counsel still
insisted upon a SPECIFY trial. Mr. Munroe
ssid then he would withdraw from the
case and asked to he excused from further
argument, and left the room to meet his
engagement.
Mrs. Dorsey. the respondent In the case
then magnanimously volunteered TO
waive oil arguments OF counsel In her be-
half, and throw her case upon its merits,
and meet her accusers upon the charges.
Mr.. Ireland then read the petition and
charges, and also two counter petitions
signed by parents OF children in the sixth
and seventh grades and citisens and tax
payers, asking the retention of Mrs. Dor
sey.
Mrs. Dawes who acted az spokes lady
for the petitioners, opened the argument
by showing from the school law what the
grade as laid down In the law, and showed
that the principal had not persued these
studies During the proceedings, there
were several manifestations Of approval
and dIsapproval OF the speakers remarks,
which the trustees severely rebuked, and
said II there were any more such man.
Hesitation, they would have to call upon
the officers to preserve order.
Mrs. Dawes said she fully appreciated
her situation In this public matter and
said II was much harder to represent the
minority side than 1t was the majority
side, bat that did not render their cause
any the less meritorious, and she would
endeaYor to show by witnesses that the
respondent had not complied with the
law.
At one O'Clock the board took recess
until 2 p. Nj. At O'Clock the board
reassembed. the same interest being
manifested by the spectators as was In
the morning.
Miss Nettie White, was the first Wit
ness called. who testified as TO the hours
that school was opened, and the hours
devoted to study and the studies persued.
The witness was asked q number of ques-
lions as to the hours of study, and the
lessons pursued, all Of which tended 70
show that the responded had carried on
the rules. She was asked II Mrs. Dorsey
explained the examples to the girls when
they did not understand them, and said
she did.
The witness was asked what was the
punishment inflicted upon the girls when
they recited imperfect lessons, and replied
that they didn't have any punishment.
Was asked II the principal didn't keep
their averages. and replied no-didn't
have any average marks; that It was Gus
tomary for the girls to keep their marks
and give them to the teacher, but Il was
not enforced In history she said they
skipped about; took up geOmetery In Feb
ruary and had gone1over IA pages In four
months--one lesson Q week. The witness
was still on the stand 81 o'clock when
we closed our report. Tomorrow they
win take up the rebutal testimony, and