Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-11-17
r O G. A L n & w S

CONSULTATION ABOUT OCHOOLS.-lDere
were present at the Council Chamber last
night, the Mayor, the Superintendent Of Pub
lie Schools, Messrs. Wheat and French of the
Committee on Public Schools. Messrs. Snow.
Board, and the following Trustees under the
new system, viz: MIR. Entwislo of SnoWden
District; Messrs. Wilmington, Hopkins aud
Kell of GUSTS District; MesSrs. Addison, Wit
mer and J. S. Beach of Hallowell District, and
Messrs. Blackburn and WhitteSey Of Wash.
ington District At the suggestion of the Su
perintendent, Mayor Latham took the Chair,
and Mr.. Beach acted as Secretary. The Su
perintendent then stated that he had called
the meeting for general consultation on
school affairs; that there would be nearly
$1,000 due the county from the State, and
that, with the result of the county tax just
voted, more than $4,000 would be at the dis
posal OF the Trustees, of which the city would
get about $1,000; of this $4,000 would So to
the white aud $4,000 to the coiored schools,
that being about the relative proportion OF
white and colored childreo. AS Chairman OF
the Washington School Board, be stated the
intention of the Guardians to mako that @
school of higher grade than at present, send
ing the youngest boys 10 the State schools and
dispensing with the services OF the assistant
teacher, thus reducing the expense 10 The
city $4O0, while auothcr four huudrcd could
be saved by placing the Female Free School
under the charge OF the District Trustees thus
afiording almost enough to rent rooms for the
public schools. In conclusion. he suggested
that the District Trustees should determine
the number oil teachers to be appointed and
fix their salaries, and he asked the Committee
90 Public Schools to Obtain all appropriation
from the Ci.y Couooil not exceeding 500, to
provide the record anu moucy books for the
District Clerks, and to pay Tor taking the cen
sus OF children, now In progress
After full and free consultation, it was de-
termined, unanimously, to have two white and
two colored schools in the city: the white
schools to have each fou: divisions; one Tor
large boys uader a male teacher; one for large
girls, aud onc for small boys aud ono for small
girls each under the charge of a lady. The
number Of teachers required for colorcd schools
being uncertain, and the salaries Of sucl teach
crs beiug necessarily dependent on their nun
ber,it was decided not to fix either until proper
statistics could DE obtained; it was, also, de.
cided to engage teachers for the white schools
by the month only, until it could be deter.
mined, by experiment, whether eight teachers
were necessary.
As to Salaries there Was some difference of
opinion. The Superintendent suggested $500
and $500, 10 which the two lower wards agreed,
but Mr.. Blackburn was of opinion that compe'
ten. teachers for the higher schools could not
be procured for less than $780, and advocated
5000 and s4O0. Mr.. Wilmer was. also, of that
opinion, and tho upper wards dissented from
the Superintendent proposition. Mr.. Wheat
ADD Mr.. Soowden both advocated lower sal.
aries at first, urging that the pay could be
gradually increased as the services OF the teach
ers became more valuable through their eX-
perience, and that it would be easier to raise
than to lower salaries but both the Trustees
and the Superintendent were much impressed
by the force Of Mr.. Black argument, and
it was finally decided to pay tbs higher teach
ers $3.50, and tho lower $3.50.
The question of school houses then arose.
The Superintendent stated that, for the col
ored schools, arrangements could be easily
made, the trustees Of the present co!orcd school
houses on Alfred and Pitt streets offering TO
rent them both, all their furniture, &C., Tor
moderate price, which, however, they had not
yet named About the accommodation OF
white schools there would be much difficulty;
by putting another story on the Washington
school house, and parttioning it off, six good
rooms would be afforded, which would suffice for
that end ofthe city. For theCusis andH allowel
Districts, he knew of NO good location, unless
Council would pay the comfy for its share OF
the Court House and give that to the schools.
Some difficulties were suggested about this,
and, finally, Messrs French, Hopkins and
Addison, for the northern districts, and Messrs
Wheat, Eotwisle and Whttlesey for the south
err, were appointed to ascertain what suitable
rooms could be obtained for the present, and
at what rents. 1t was generally agreed that
the schools could be opened on the lst OF
January.
The ANNUAL MEETING of the Agricultural,
Horticultural and Mechanics Institute OF Fair