Evening star., 1901-06-14
The SHIRT WAIST ISSUE
QUESTION RAISED AGAINST EAST
ERN HIGH SCHOOL EOYs.
Case Appealed to Director Lane-Dff-
fereRces of Opinion Among
Officials Develop Today.

The shirt waist question has been pre-
cipitated into the Washington public
schools, and the board Of education Of the
1 District Of Columbia will doubtless be
asked at its next meeting to decide wheth-
er it is proper for a high school boy to at
tend bis class room without coat. The
matter was suddenly and unexpectedly
brought to an issue yesterday in the East
ern High School. when Principal NJ. F. f.
Swartzeu declared against the shirt waist
and sent nearly twenty-five boys to their
homes with instructions not to return
without their coats The boys went home
and have appealed their case to High
School Director Francis r. Lane. DR.
Lane, in turn. viii undoubtedly pass only
upon the question as one of insubordina-
ton, when the matter Will be carried TO
the assistant superintendent, the superin-
tencent and then to the board OF edUca-
ton
There seems to be a strain OF merrinent
in the whole affair, which is participated
in as well by the school authorities as by
the boys with the exception. perhaps, of
Mr.. SWartzeil. The matter came up some
days ago in his school, so the boys report,
by one of the lady teachers giving per-
mission to a boy TO take of his cCGe. This
came to Mr.. SwartZell's knowledge, and
he at once. after consulting with several
of his teachers, decided not TO allow that
style Of dress in the school, and in
formed the boy. The matter at once spread
among the pupils, and il was decided to
make a test case. Accordingly a number
of them agreed to come to school yester-
day in shirt waists.
The Test Case
Flag day was celebrated in the high
schools yesterday owing to the examna-
tions which take place today, and when the
principal learned of the presence of the
shirt waist students he at once sent word
to the teachers in the different rooms in
which TREY were to send them home. 1t
seems this order was not obeyed, for as
the different classes marched in line to
the assembly hall to hear the speakers
from the G.. A. R.. many shirt-Waisted
young men were to be seen Principal
SwIrtZeu hurried to the entrance OF the
hall, and, taking the toung men from the
line, told them to so home and get their
coats.
when appealed to last night by some Of
| the boys, DT. Lane advised then to return
to school. and consoled them good -Tatured-
ly with the fact that the term was prac-
ticaliy at a close nov. 1t is understood,
however. that the boys are holding coun-
Gil Of war, and will appeal the matter SO
as to get a decision from the highest au-
thority, which is the board of education.
CGicin's Dc Net Agree.
There seems to be diversity of opinion
regarding the propricty OF the SKIRT waist
among the school officials. In the Office Of
Mr.. a. T. Stuart, superintendent Of schools,
the young men OF the clerical force are
allowed to do their work in the shirt-waist
dress. MIR. Stuart said to a Star reporter
today that if the question came to him on
appeal from Dr. Lane it would simply be
one of INSTRUMENTATION. and he would
doubtless sustain Ar. SwartgeH in the in
tercst Of school discipline However, Mr..
stuart is not at all shocked at the shirt
waist costume, and. Independently of the
occurrence yesterday, looks on that ques
tion with the utmost liberaIity. He said
he bad not the slightest doubt that il the
boys had presented y respectful petition to
the proper authorities that permission
would have been granted them to leave
their coats at home. provided they came
to school looking neat, and not with one
'galus' on to mar, the beauty Of the shirt
waist.
Mr. Swartzen said today that the matter
was only of slight Importance. and he did
not care to discuss it beyond saying that
nothing serious wAll1 come OF his oldGG q
yesterday. The boys arc not dismissed or
evp>led, but simply ed not TO come
to school without their coats. As today
finishes the quarterly examinations, only
those pupils who did not conclude yestar-
foy in 1tr at ffrI iu11