Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-02-14

ALEXANDRIA WASHINGTON FREE SCHOOL
On Tuesday night, the following report of the
Board of Guardians of the Free School was
submitted to the City Council by that body &C.
cepted, and a vote of thanks rendered the
Guardians, for the efficient and economical
manner in which they have managed the school
during their administration:
10 the Hon., the City Council Of Alexandria,:
In compliance with the provisions of the law
under which they act, the Board of Guardians
of the Free School respectfully submit the fol-
lowing report for the year ending February
the Isl
Upon their appointn cnt in April last, they
organized by eecting Rev G. G. Biting, Pres
ident; Richard l.. Carne, jr., Secretary: and
Captain N. Boush, Treasurer, aud proceeded,
Immediately, to visit and enquire into the con-
dition of the school,
They found the school house in an untenant-
able condition, and hundred and sixty boys,
without suitable desks or other proper accom-
mediation, under the charge of a single teacher,
who, although q young man Of excellent at
talnments and much ability as preceptor,
could not, OF course, instruct so great number
properly.
As the school house required thorough re-
pairs, and as the teacher had notified the Sec
rotary of his intention to decline reelection,
it was thought advisable to deter any alteration
in the existing arrangements until the reopen
ing of the school, in September, and in the in
tervaI Rev. G. G. Biting resigned his position
as member of the Board whereupon Richard
l.. Carne, jr., was chosen President, and Edgar
Snowden, jr., Secretary and the vacancy in
the Board being filled by the election of John
S. Beach
BY your liberality, the school house was pla-
ced in complete repair during vacation, and
having previously advertised tor applications,
they elected Colonel s. King Shay, Principal,
and Miss A. V. K. Shay, Assistant Teacher,
fixing the salary Of the former at five hundred
a year: which though far below the average Of
teachers salaries elsewhere, and much less than
is paid to any officer of the Corporation, per
all they conceived themselves authorized to
give, as no larger appropriation had been made,
ana it did not seem probable that the state of
the finances of the city would justify an increase
at that time.
Thus two teachers were procured for the sum
formerly paid to one, but it was still manifest
that these two could not teach hundred and
sixty boys properly, and the Board was COM
PEELED, though with reluctance, to make a
change in the terms and manner Of admission.
They found, on examination, that Gen. Wash
ington's foundation provided for the education
of orphans only, aud that the Corporation or
dinance only authorized them to provide ''f for
the education of the children Of the poor"
and, as many of those whom they found in the
school, were sons Of men Of property, perfectly
able to pay for their tuition they determined
to admit orphans and the children Of such per-
sons as they believed to be unable to provide
for the education elsewhere, free, and to require
small quarterly fee for the admission Of all
others.
This plan has worked well, and under it
there have been 40 entries, Of which about GO
have been free The entries for the lst Quar-
ter were l27-74 pay and SO free and the aver
age attendance 100; those for the End Quarter
96-47 pay and 40 free; average attendance TO-
There are now in the school &c pay and 80
free scholars, the number having been greatly
diminished by removals from the city, and the
necessity of Withdrawing many pupils to put
them to work. The wards are represented in
the school as follows; lst-ll; Sd; 3rd-
%; 4th-l9.
The branches taught are Reading, Writing,
Arithmetic, Spelling, Geography, English
Grammar and Composition; and at an eXami-
nation recently held, The boys. were found to
have made as much progress as could have
reasonably been expected.
The report of the Treasurer shows that there
has been received from the Jst Ward, $50;
from the I'd, Sc; from the Sd, $3.50; and
from the 4th, sec; in all S205. so, and that
there has been expended for furniture and fix
t1rey So5 25. for books and STATIONERY, $40 90.
for printing and advertisingr SIT; and for mis-,
$l55 Is, which would, under the old arrange
nent, have been drawn from the city treasury.
BY order of the Board:
RICHARD L. CARNE, JR.,
President.
II. 1ntL