Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-28
HIGH SCHOOL TROUBLES.
The Fight Against MI. Sites Recalled
by the Present Case.


To the Editor of The Star:
Our own particular Eastern problem re-
minds me Of the fact that "once upon a
time" as the story books say. there was a
principal in charge of the Eastern by the
name of c. NJ Lacey Sites. He was a fine
character. ripe scholar and a man Of
force. Having been put in charge of the
school at its birth. he nursed it so success
fully that it grew into formidable rival of
its parent The faculty were exceptionally
able and faithful. and so harmonious that
even temporary detail to another school
was looked upon as a grievance. There was
an atmosphere of earnest endeavor through
out the building, which was felt as soon as
one entered. and imbued one with an ardent
desire TO join in and do ones share also
Pupils from other parts of the city came in
squads, and when competition of any kind
between the different high schools took
place the Eastern was certain of carving
on more than its share Of honors Although
l have not been able to follow the course of
all its graduates of those years l vet know
that an exceptionally large proportion have
become successful and even distinguished
IN consideration of those facts one would
suppose that a man who obtained such re-
suits would have been IGNORED and show
cred with gratitude; but, alasi he had never
learned that distinctions must be made and
discipline graded according to the standing
anu llHut4lCt OF tEt people concerned. He
held the obsolete opinion that all pupils
must obey the rules; and when angry pa
rents Of justly disciplined angel children
came TO show him the error of his WAYS his
bow was. ] am sorry to say, anything but
at an angle of foTty-five degrees Moreover
he held to Il that he. knowing all the facts
was best able TO judge the case. Naturally
the angry parent was outraged by such
crude sentiments and forthwith vowed ven
geance. Well. to make the story short a
few men who felt that they were IT. with
the largest kind Of a capital, inaugurated A
warfare and nobly succeeded in robbine the
school of its best friend.
one OF the graduates of those DAYS. on the
way TO his post at Picking, met at Shanghai
among the speakers at a banquet given in
honor OF our minister to China, his teacher
of former days, and was delighted to find
that China had healed the wounds which
Washington had made-he found him the
honored head of successful college and a
teacher of wide renown.
The history of the Eastern since the time
referred TO IS well known Just now a
repetition OF the old play Is on the stage.
and while the authorities have not ousted
Mr. Swartzell but have only said. You
are innocent, but don't do it again," they
have practically destroyed his usefulness
and left him nothing to do except to seek
new field of labor. while they themselves
are the ones who have really caused the
trouble. When that callow youth at the
Western referred insutingly to the Pres
ident and the principal took the only stand
possible for a right-minded person to take
they, instead OF unhesitatingly sustaining
her. truckled to the influences brought 10
bear. and dealt a deadly blow at all au-
thority. With such an example before
them, is ii a wonder that our boys, in the
arrogance Of youth and inexperience, came
10 believe that nothing could bend their
vii and that. no matter what they did.
they would be upheld by the powers that
be?
When they complained that one of the
teachers had stamped on their champion
ship ribbons they forgot that they by their
own actions. had so dishonored those sym
bols of success that they had become a
badge OF disgrace and only ht for place
underfoot. Since the first duty OF a sol
der Is Instant and implicit obedience, in
subordinauon like theirs made them mu-
tineers. and as such deprived them of all
standing.
The captain, who. l am told was fully in
sympathy with their actions. but calamity
slipped out by the back door, should have
been dealt with at once. since, had he had
a particle of soldierly spirit, he would have