Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-15
THE CASE OF MIR. SITES.
His Friends Making Strong Efforts to
Prevent His Removal.

The friends Of Mr.. G. M. Lacey Sites, prin-
cipal of the Eastern High School, are max
ing strenuous efforts to secure his retention
in that capacity despite the recommends
ton Of the committee on normal and high
schools that he be transferred to another
and more subordinate sphere of usefulness
The teachers and pupils of the Eastern
High School are most loyal to their prin-
cipal, and they are leaving nothing undone
that can possibly lead to q reconsideration
Of the action of the school committee.
Pressure is being brought to bear upon the
school trustees. individually and collective
ly. and no argument is omitted that can
tend to demonstrate the success and pro-
ficfency of Prof. Sites administration and
the folly Of a change.
Miss Florence s. Shipman, teacher of
Latin in the Eastern High School, has
written letter to the board of school
trustees. which letter has been given to the
press, in defense of Prof Sites method of
dealing with parents and pupils in his ca
pacity as principal of the High School. She
asserts that, although reserved in manner,
Prof. Sites has always been courteous and
considerate in his treatment Of parents and
pupils. She says that in many cases of dis
cipline he has been firm, but not unneces-
sarily severe while in others he has been
unusually lenient. In regard to the alleged
severe treatment of ArtIey B. Parson, Miss
Shipman says that that youths conduct
has never been above repro ach during his
WnOle career IN Inc SCHOOLS ne having Deen
almost continuously in trouble with the
various teachers under whom he has
studied. He has continually given trouble
to his teachers in the High School, she
says and has been suspended for disobe-
dience and insolence Notwithstanding his
record, Prof. Sites is said to have been I'M
usually lenient with this lad and to have
given him every chance to keep up with his
class.
'In the matter of discipline" says Miss
Shipman, Il have only to say that visitors
Including parents and teachers of other
schools, have, with one exception, uniform
ly commended it and have remarked how
attentive and interested the pupils APP
peared.
81 understand that it is vaguely alleged
that Prof. Sites has not been following up
the methods of the superintendent. On the
contrary, Prof. Sites has always been care
full tos see that these methods are carried
out and. in order to secure the co-opera-
ton of his teachers. has held weekly teach
ers' meetings, in which methods are dis
cussed and Prof. Powell's methods en-
forced"
AS indicative of the high standing of the
Eastern High School under Prof. Sites
management it is stated that its cadets
have won the annual competitive drill
three times and that the first four gradu-
ates of the Normal School were pupils of
Mr.. Sites in the Eastern High School. a
meeting of the board of public trustees will
be held On the Odd instant for the purpose
Of considering the recommendation of the
High School committee for change in the
principalship Of the Eastern High School.
Inasmuch as the committee constitutes a
majority of the board. and as ,the members
of the committee say they are unanimous
in the belief that the real interests of the
schools can be best subserved by the trans
fer of Mr.. Sites to another position of less
authority. they do not believe it at all
probable that they will be overruled in
this matter.