Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-02-19
LOCAL INrGLLIGENCg.

mon Council on last Monday, by the industrious
and eneYgeti, member from the Third Ward, J /.
r. Brown. II Is Of vital importance to our free
school system that there should be at its head
man ''skilled In the art and philosophy Of teach
ing" and capable Of elevating the schools to the
high standard Of usefulness attained in New
York and New England. We are happy to lea
that the Mayor has IL now in his power IL the
bill becomes q law, to secure the services of a
gentleman whose whole life has been devoted to
the cause OF popular education, and now hlls one
Of the most important positions connected with
free schools, in the Union We trust the Coun-
ellis will speedily pass the bill. We observe that
the joint resolutions .Pledging the city to raise
S25, UO for free schools this year, on condition
that similar sum shall be appropriated by Con-
gress, has passed the Councils This popular
measure Is the production also Of Mr.. Brown.
AN ACT to create the once and authorize tn. ap-
polntme ut Of Superintendent Of Public Schoo's
In the city Of Washington.
Be ~ enacted, &c, That the Mayor shall az
soon as may be, after the passage Of this act and
every two years thereafter, on or about tine a at
Monday In April, and also when a vacancy shall
occur by resignation, death, or otherwise, ap-
point, by and with the consent of the Board of
Aldermen, competent person thoroue hiy skill
ed in the art and philosophy Of TRACKING as Su-
perintendent OF Public Schools for the city of
Washington, who shall not, whilst filling the
said ONCE, engage in any other business or pur-
suit, but devote bis whole time to faithful dis
charge OF the duties Of said superintendency as
prescribed from time TO time by the laws of the
Corporation or the rules Of the Board Of Trus-
tees Of the Public Schools, and shall before en-
tering upon the discharge of his duties give
bond to be approved by the Mayor, in the sum
Of three thousand dollars, conditioned fer the
faithful performance of the trusts connded to
him, and shall receive a compensation of fifteen
hundred dollars per annum, payable monthly out
of the School fund
SEC 2 And Be IL enacted, That 1t shall be the
special duty Of said superintendent TO visit every
public school in the city often once in each
month, except during the annual vacation.) to
examine into all matters relating to The govern
Inent course of instruction, books, studies, dis
ciplins, and conduct Of such schools the health
cleanliness, mode Of heating, ventilation. and
general condition Of all school rooms, school
houses, play grounds. out buildings, &c to pre-
scribe the proper studies, hours for teaching,
discipline, and conduct Of the schools, the course
of instruction to be pursued, and the elementary
books TO be adopted therein; to prohibit any sec
tarianism being taught, or strictly sectarian
books used in the public schools of the city; to
make a monthly report to the Board Of Trustees
setting forth the actual condition and progress OF
each OF the free schools, with such comments
and suggestions as he NAV deem necessary aud
advisable, and transmit to the respective sub
boards copies Of so much of szd reports as relate
10 the schools under their immediate control;
and generally, by all means in his power, to pro-
mote sound and useful education, elevate the
character and qualifications of teachers, improve
the means of instruction, exalt the standard of
morality. and advance the interests and enlarge
the usefulness Of the free schools committed to
his charge.
SEC }. And Be 81 further enacted, That il shall
be the further duty Of said superintendent under
such general rules and regulations as the board
of trustees may establish, to examine into the
qualifications of all persons hereafter appointed
a. teachers assistant teachers in any of the pub
lie schools OF this city, and to grant certificates,
In The forms prescribed by the board Of trustees,
60 soch persons so examined as may in his judr
taSBt be entitled thereto; said certificates shall
spetify whether the person is capable Of being d
Hprincipal" or assistant" teacher, and whether
in the - district or g primary schools. Said
superintendent may, whenever he deems il neces-
sary, examine any Of the teachers or assistant
teachers now employed in the public schools of
this city, and, il properly qualified, grant certi-
Gates accordingly; or, il deemed by him untitled
for the position held at the time, to report the
fact TO the board OF trustees for their action ard
no person shall receive such certificate of qualin
cation or hereafter be appointed by the board Of
trustees as teacher or assistant teacher in any Of
the public schools Of this city, unless he or she
shall have previously passed an examination sat
isfactory to the superintendent in reading
writing, arithmetic, geography, English gram
mar, history OF the Untrd States, astronomy, and
algebra, as Tar as simple equations inclusive
Sec a. And be 40 enacted, That il shall be the
duty Of the said superintendent to make annually
TO the board OF trustees, at such time as shall be
desig mated by them, report in writing showing
the number Of public schools in the city, the
whole number OF scholars, male and female in
attendance at each school during the past year
the aggregate number Of scholars in the city, and
such other useful Information upon the subject
as may b. required by said board or may seem
necessary and proper to said superintendent !;
and said trustees shall include said report in
their annual communication to the City Council,
now required bv law
Sec S. And b. at enacted That whenever the
said superintendent shall enter upon the dis
charge Of his duties as such, the Office of secre-
taTy TO the board Of trustees, as now created nv
law, shall be abolished. and said superintendent
shall thereafter perform all the service re-
CURED by said secretary, and keep his Office In
the room Of the City all set apart for the of
the board Of trustees
Sec 6. AHd be ~ enacted, That all acts and
parts OF acts conflicting with the provisions of
this law be and the same are hereby repealed.
THE ADDRESS of DIR. ]. c. McCabe, of Balti-
more at the Friendship Lodge Levee is conceded
on all sides to have been exceedingly felicitous
Subjoined will be found a sketch of the line of
thought pursued by the speaker, and we only re-
greet that We unable to give the address in full
He pointed out the practical benefits of the
Order, tracing il from its introdu ction. only
about forty wears since in this country, number
ing then only i've members; now having enroll
ed more than two hundred thousand and extend
ing from Maine TO California; from the shores Of
the Atlantic to the borders Of the Pacific; and
distributing its charities not by hundreds or
thousands, but by millions. The speaker made
feeling allusiou TO The ffty Odd Fellows who
feilby the pestilenee in Norfolk in 1855. and APP
prop lately referred to the fact that, though in
one sense a secret society," ii was entirely discon-
nected with party politics-numbeting among its
membership individuals of all shades Of politi-
cal opinions. IL was a beneficial seelety and
had done nobly in feeding the hungry. clothing
the naked, nursing the sick, relieving the needy ,
sustaining the widows and orphans and pyovid-
ing for the education Of the latter and that while
% was neither Christianity ITS substitute, il
was doing noble duty in the great work Of min
istering to the wants and woes of humanity.
Referring to the motto inscribed on the ban
nefs- Of Odd wshp-''F riendsbip, Love.
aud Truth the speaker remarked Nv hat Is IL
but this oiended and beautiful combination that
nses life, energy, or interest to world, Ban
tsh friendship from our earth, and what would
AZ ~ 4H "a Aceldema, Drive Love from the
bowers she has hallowed, and the streams she
. fno haented the groves she has consecrated and
sfoe teuntd1ns that have echoed to her footsteps
ana der eyaDgri; shear from the brow Of Truth
her Samson locks, and blind her eyes and sti ia e
her lofty breaihings, and our world would soon
20 down In eclipse i"
In concluding the address, he urged upon the
members Of the Order to let their moderation in
things be known TO all men and closed with the
following: 'Let us labor In those great Offices
which Friendship, Love, and Truth call for and
require at our la sds; and. like wonders sbaft.
fthS WaslinDtOn MOnumSnf \ xUh ich all ioli Z