Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-29
PROF. SITES CASE
It Will Be Decided Tomorrow by the Sohosl
Trustees
Strong Efforts Being. Made to Have
Hin Retained In the Eastern
High school.


other employees of the public schools for the
next fiscal year will be officially announced.
The proceedings Of this meeting will oe Of
more interest this year than usual. in con-
sequence Of the earnest opposition that is
being made against the contemplated
change in the principalship Of the Eastern
High School. now held by Prof. C. NJ. Lacey
Sites. 1t is said that the board will not
make that appointment the subject Of re-
port or discussion, but will merely vote
upon the recommendation Of the commit
tee on normal and high schools which is
charged with the duty of filing the offices
In the high schools. 1t has been decided.
however, to give the friends CT Mr.. Sites
ample opportunity to present arguments for
his retention in his present position to the
board prior to its action upon the recon-
mendation of the High School committee.
The action Of the board. in approval or
disapproval Of the committees recommen-
dation for a change in the Eastern High
School, will depend mainly on the strength
OF the arguments submitted by Mr. Sites
friends In support of his retention, despite
the opinion Of the High School committee
that the true interests Of the school can be
test subservad by change in that school.
Taking the Professor's Side.
Mr.. Sites interests in this matter are be-
irg looked after by committee, consist
L
r. A. Church, P. J. Lochran and q. w.
Byrn. which CON mittee has addressed a
lengthy communication to the board of
school trustees in support of the admins
tration of Mr.. Sites and enumerating strong
reasons why he should not be displaced.
In view Of the history and exceptionally
high standing of the school and its remark
able success under the impulse and guild
ance OF Mr.. Sites" say these gentlemen.
RI, nf fho fa bot
action seemed illogical and unprecedented,
1t was deemed we'll en- the part Of the pat
rons of the school to inquire into the facts
that threatened to deprive our children of
an elncient instructor and thus address a
deadly blow to the cause Of education in
our midst. Moreover, since your commit
tee had avouched his character. and con-
coded his learning. that innate sense of
FAIR play that Is elen,o ntal in mankind de-
manded not only a hearing for Mr. Sites,
but also an assignment Of the reasons for
what appeared to be both needless and
unwise To this end, at a meeting of pat
fons OF the Eastern High School and of rep
rssentative citizens of East Washington,
presided over by Col. Robert F. Hill, chair
man Of the school committee of the East
Washington Citizens Association, We as
patrons Of the school, were appointed a
committee representing the inte1es most
substantially concerned, and were author
lied to call on Prof. Powell and the board
of trustees, with a view to effecting
move Mr.. Sites. or reopening of the case.
with a coherent statement Of the grounds
for removal, and an opportunity 10 him to
interpose an adequate defense"
The Committec's Position.
In their letter to the school board the
citizens committee recite the efforts they
lave made to induce the High School COM
mlttee to reopen the case of Mr.. Sites, and
allude to the statement of the president of
the board that 1.-THE only question at issue
to be decided next Tuesday evening is.
Will the recommendation OF the committee
on normal and high schools be approved by
the board?''
The committee then state their position
follows: a..
so then, your Recommendation being
se!f-confessed, if public runner lie correct
that on last Tuesday night, the 23d instant,
your committee held a secret executive ses-
sion, at which you definitely agreed upon a
certain gentleman successor to Mr..
Sites, your refusal to offer Charges or per-
init them, or to suffer debate, or inquiry.
ceases to surprise US. But to appear be-
fore you1 board under these circums ances
would be the merest farce on our part and
an insult to the intelligence of the public
mind.
The board of trustees is composed of
eleven members, one of whom is absent
from the city. AS the only question to be
decided Is, as you say, whether the recon-
committee will be approved by the board"
said committee, whose recommendation is
to be approved, being six in number, it is
safe to assume that the recommendation
viii be approved
I'VE therefore denied a hearing by your
prearrarged action can only withdraw
from further connection with the case
1t is therefore uncertain that the commit
tee will appear at tomorrows meeting of
the school board.
What Mr.. Sites Says.
Mr.. Sites himself has also written a let
ter in regard to the matter. 1t is address
ed to the citizens committee above referred
to, and is partly in answer to the refusal
On the part of the school trustees to act as
a trial board or to specify the charges
against him. Were opportunity offered to
meet allegations against me- says Mr..
Sites, Il am DESTROYS, as you are, and as
we have beer from the first, of meeting
them in any fair and proper way. l do
not. however. think that any statement
you may make on this occasion will change
the action to be taken in my case, but 1t
may be Of beretit in the future to the
Eastern High School,
Mr.. Sites concludes his letter to the COM
mittee in the following words:
IF there were grIdges nursed against
me by pers ons of vindictive nature for rou-
me, they grew and blosSomed. Every petty
grievance, covered with the dust of years,
would be brushed off and made new. The
down-hill impulsion given me by the COM
mittee was invitation to any person
cherishing a secret animosity to accelerate
my fall 1t was an experience new and I'M
expected to me. Judge, them my gratitude
for the timely esteem, confidence and
friendship toward me evidenced by you,
the teachers and nearly all the patrons
and pupils of the school. Not only in your
public Endorsement, but in private assur-
ancas that have come to me from sources
SO widespread and in terms positive that
l could not resp nd to them as l would
you and your fellow-citizens have testified
your confidence with, ai'grateful cordially
that 1 never can fotget. I should indeed
be wanting in human sympathy did l not
appreciate more deeply than any other ex-
preston that of the graduating class, with
whom I have been associated on terms of
comradesfip during four years of happy
work. Their testimony Ito the strength Of
the school spirit and buoyant healthful
vigor so proper to American youth will be
one Of the pleasantest recollections, to my
mind, Of the school to whose upbuilding
nave devoted six years of my best energy
and enthusiasm. ~, d
You and they have been magnanimous
enough to forget and forgive mistakes and
mi tod