Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-12-05

TRUSTEES OF fHx PrBL1c scHooLs-The regu-
lar monthly meeting of the Board Of Trustees Of
the Public Schools was held at the Aldermen's
chamber, City Hall, yesterday afternoon. Present
MesGs, A. w MILLER, wbyte, Albert, For, w alsh,
Holmead, McKnew, NJ. II. Miller. and lroDside
The Board came to order, Mr.. +. 3. Walsh In the
Chair.
Reports from the several teachers for the pre-
ceding month were received and duly referred
The Chair read a communication from the
chairman Of the committee on public schools In
the Board Of Aldeymen transmitting aletter from
Mr. Steer IN relation to the introduction of sewing
machines in the Public Schools Of the city Of
Washington. The letters were laid on the table
for the present .fta.....
The application of Miss Mary A. Fort for
place as teacher was referred to the proper com
mittee. e...
The Chair announced the committees for, the
ensuing year, as follows: .-- .
On Examinations-F 8. Walsh, Charles Albert,
W. Fort ]. f. willet.
On Text Books-R r. Ironside, NJ II. Miller,
Wv McKnew, J. T.. Holmead- 81 ~
On Rules-F. Whyte, George c. Ames, James
Congressional Conmittee-R b lronside, NJ.
Miller, ". w. McKnew, J. E. Holmead. ~
The Chair resd letter from J.. E., Thompson,
teacher Of the Fourth District School, follows:
.... 80. WAsHINGros. Decs3, 1850.
To the Board Of Trustees of the Public Schools
Of observation-disclosures: By the existing reg.
uIations for the Of the psblic Schools
an appeal to the general board Is not denied to
any teacher citizen when d ffeTences Of opinion
materially dnecnn0 the school interests mise.
After long postponement, am constrained to ask
your I'm partial consideration of the question
whether the powers of each sub-board enable it
to nullify the laws Of the general board. and es-
Iecially whether single trustee Is vested in
school matters with greater powers than the
Mayor1 This notification having been actually
enforced by MIR. WHITE, trustee Of the Fourth
District, ask you TO inform the teachers whether
you expect them TO obey your printed laws or the
verbal decisions Of single trustee, even Of a
sGb-board' You will perceive, gentlemen, that
c1rla L. bapa in@o at fat%b
serve the dignity Of your honorable body or de-
stroy the public school system Of our city. will
present the latest in detail. You are aware
that / was unanimously elected teacher for the
night school OF the Fourth District Knowing
that the general board had decided the hours Of
session 10 be from 6H to OK p. m, and that the
sub board had declined to furnish such Ii 2 hit
would make the school a success In that res pect,
I declined the position did not believe the
hours judicious, but | asked no change on my
account. Judge, gentlemen, OF my surprise when
found that lay successor was permitted to omit
one-third Of the whole teaching time. .s r. F.
Surprising Mr.. Whyte to be ignorant Of hefact
that he lad no legal power TO nullfy your repu-
lations, called his attention 10 them. He then as
serted bis belief that he had the power alter the
general rules II he thought proper, and that he
would submit the question of the hours of session
TO the pupils of the school. Being unable to un-
derstand this novel application Of the % popular
sovereignty" princi pie, naturally turn to you and
ask, Is this the law! Or Is il justice 10 those
teachers who working the full time or to N.Y.
self, who declined the teachership because could
not accept il, and at the same time obey your
rules In order to deprive this statement Of any
personal character, wish to say that 1 entirely
agree with MIR. Whyte as To the expediency of a
two hours session. for the reason that both teachers
and pupils approach their tasks at night in con-
dition for an effective sess of three hours both
having been engaged At labor during the day-to
say nothing of the effect of long night session n
Tepeing that very class Of pupils from the schools
whose presence il is most desirable TO have. Had
this. gentlemen, been the only case In which your
laws have been violated, II might have passed
without appeal Several months since 1 called
the attention Of the Mayor TO the fact that pupils
suspended for misconduct at one school were pro-
NOTED TO hg her school in advance Of the most
meritorOus, although your printed regulations de-
clare that pupil suspended at one school shall
be admitted to another except by vote of the
Board of Trustees Thus you see misconduct in
pupil was rewarded, and good conduct SUBJ
stIntially calamity to the meritoriOus pupils.
The Nayor desired me to brjup the case 10 rour
notice, and remarked at the same time, that he
could not expect either teachers or pupils to obey
therules Of the Board If they were violated by the
trustees themselves. - 20
In order again to show you that this question 10
not raised by me solely in NV own behalf. / will
strre that advanced puITs Of Primary No 4, fourth
district, were transfer ID to Primary No S. a short
time previous to the last annual examination-a
plain violation of your law, which says transfers
shall not be made after January in each year
The transfer was strongly demonstrated against bv
Miss Emma Reed, to whom great injustice was
done The effect Of this line Of action is to build
up the reputation of one teacher at the expense of
the laboE Of another. Now, we must appeal to
you, to know whether you sustain these proceed
ings You hold us responsible for the discipline
Of oar schools. How can We maintain it, il our
hands tied by the favoritism Of inlividu al
trustees-gentlenen who intimate thar teachers
are % too conscientious" and that &c personal
fiends'' of trustees are to be more regarded than
Others, Thus, we are embarrassed in enforcing
the rules against the children Of personal
friends Of members Of the board.
Besides, gentlemen, how Is Ii possible that we
can know who the children Of personal
friends unless a list Of them is furnished These
some Of the evils against which we have To
contend. Do you, gentlemen, say that we must
submit quietly to them, or be removed. / think
you will not say so. think YOU are sincere when
Justice and impaftiality to all, without regard to
religion, politics, social position, and that the
child Of the humblest Individual In this comnu
nifty shall be Of justice, from you, at least
as that Of the most iBffnsntal ''personal friends
with whom your duties, and those Of your teachers
may be brought into conflict. With heartfelt
thanks for the MANY acts Of kindness / hav,
received at your hands during the twelve years
have been in your service, and hoping to rejoic,
with you II the statements made should prove, OF
examination, untrue, or even exaggerated, shall
contfnue to be, with the highest esteem, you
obedieRt servant, J. E. THOMPSON,
- Principal Of Fourth District School
The reading having been concluded
Mr. WHITE stated that he was not prepared 4
90 into the merits Of the presented In tn
letter. III quite taken by surprise by its tone
When it was proposed to organize the nigh
schools, IL was understood that the teachers Of fh
day schools were to be employed at additions
paw. IL the wish Of the sub-bOard Of th
Fourth District that MIR. Thompson should b
EMPLOYED TO take charge Of the night school 4
that district. Meeting with Mr.. Thompson on
day as he was going to his school, the speaker la
expressed this feeling Of the sub-board TO him
and he replied that he was afraid he should hav
70 decline Il account Of the delicate state Of b
health; but on being told that no doubt Al
rangement could be made by which he could n
ceive the assistance Of Mr.. Edison, who lives ne1
by in case OF his being at any time unable 10 pc
form the duties Of the charge, he consented to tr
It for month, and he was accordingly nominate
for the place by the unanimous voice Of the sui
board, and as unanimously elected. The next da
the sub. board met to make arrangements for fu
nIshing light and other matters required for Il
night school, to be opened on the following FIR
day night.
The whole matter seemed to be satisfactory a
round; but the speaker was very much surprised
a few DAYS Afterwards, on meeting DR.. Willett,
hear that Mr.. Thompson had refused to accept a
position because there was gas in the schoo
To furnish gas was impossible. Ii would hay
cost 500 As Mr.. Thompson had declined
- 1917 nost In all