Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-23
CAUSED A SENSATION
Miss Eva Maria Pitts Dropped as q High
School Teacher.
Difference of Opinion Over a Matter of
DISQUALIFICATION of the
Authorities.

sensation was caused in the Central
High School this morning when it became
Known that Miss Eva Maria Pitts, for
twelve years teacher at the Central
school. had been summarily dropped from
the rolls for refusing to obey the instruc-
tions of Mr.. Percy NJ. Hughes, the prin-
cipal of the school. The alleged insub-
ordination occurred one day last week but
it was kept secret until Miss Pitts on
taking leave of her pupils on account of the
closing of the school year, referred to the
trouble, and stated her side of the case.
This took place last evening. when she
CO lied her classes into study hall . closed
the doors, and related the whole trouble
TO them. The students were much moved
and among the girls. who esteem Miss
Fits much. there was scarcely a dry eye
when she finished.
The story, briefly, is that Miss Pitts re-
fused t. grant permission last week for
Mr.. II. b. Farrow, a fourth-year boy, TO
leave the room some trivial matter.
Mr.. Farrow declared he would leave any
how. This happened last "Wednesday. He
walked out of the room and Miss Pitts re-
ported him to Principal Hughes. She ask
ed that he be compelled to come to the
matinee. or that he be expelled and a
diploma refused him. Mr.. Farrow is one of
the class that will graduate at Convention
Hall tomorrow evening. Mr.. Hughes con-
sidered the punishment too heavy, and he
said He considered that Mr.. Faro "
had simply been guilty of impoliteness, but
that he should not lose the reward for four
years of earnest study.
Miss Pitts. 1t Is alleged, resented this
statement of Mr.. Hughes. She indig-
nantly left the study hall. and went to a
vacant class room. She then wrote a
note to Mr.. Hughes, in which she stated
that she would never again enter her study
hall until her powers had been either af-
firmed or denied. Mr.. Hughes replied
by ordering her to at once take charge
Of her classes. She again refused Mr..
Hughes thereupon sent another teacher to
take charge of the study hall. and report
ed the matter to DIR. +. r. Lane, director
of the high schools. What recommend l.
ton he made is not known, but the next
day, Thursday. a special meeting of the
committee on high and normal schools of
the school board was held a the Franklin
School. DIR. Lane was in attendance and
made a report to the committee. BY a
unanimous vote the committee passed A
resolution to the effect that as Miss Pits
had willfully declined to perform the duties
for which she was employed the COM
mittee considered that she had rendered
her resignation teacher and accepted
it The action of the school committee 1t
is said. took place within twenty-four
hours of the commission of the alleged
offense
The affair was not made public to the
school until this morning. and even then
considerable secrecy was maintained by
all the members OF the faculty.
The students of the school sympathiZe
deeply with Miss Pitts. Her long record
of twelve years as teacher of English and
Er slish history mas been an excellent one,
and she has been highly respected by all.
1t is admitted, however, that she is of
ervous disposition, and rarely recedes
from a position once assumed. Her place
will be filled at the next meeting of the
board of school trustees, when the coi.l-
mittee on high schools will doubtless make
u full report.
Both DIR. Lane and Principal Hughes re-
fused to make any statement until the
school board has a meeting to consider
the matter.