Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-10-10
So So months kept open, 10.

carried on both occasions. Probable yield $500
collected, Sj25; names Of School Districts,
No: jefferson; No. >, Arlington No. 3,
Washington.
County Superintendent : work-Estimated
mum Der OF days employed: To- miles travelled
| tai expenses. $50; number of letters written
| 50; teachers examined and licensed -; Coun-
ty meetings Of trustees held, ,.
| Ia the Superintendent Of Public Instruction.
In my report as Superintendent of Public
Schools for the city of Alexandria, | have
touched upon most of the points on which you
request information; some, however, which
have been passed over in that report, as map
plicable to Cities propose noticing separately.
Like the people Of the city, those of Alexau-
dria county have aided me in every way, in my
work; and as in the city, the only difficulty
which has been encountered is the want Of sui
table school houses Public sentiment in the
county originally more favorable to the system
as being better adapted to the wants Of coun-
try than Of city people, has, think, become
still more firmly fixed : there being an almost
universal sentiment in its favor All classes OF
society are represented in the schools, there be-
ing 10 private Schools whatever in the county
the colored people, however, have not, shown
rs great adeSrc for education as in the city,
|
the colored population largely out numbers the
white
With respect To changes in the school laws
and: regulations. ! would respectfully suggest
that the distinction created BY the law between
State and county funds is Of no special use rs
4 county can obtain State money without voting
any itself, why then should the treasurer and
school authorities be troubled with separate
accounts? As to district funds, it seems to
nc that there should be 70 prohibition Of their
use for paying teachers: the Inconvenience
arising from the restriction will appear from
the following statement OF the case OF Wash
ngton District in this county. The people
there are about equally divided as to color, and
they desire to have good schools. They have
voted both county and district taxes as great as
the law allows, yet the State and county funds
will not support good schools longer than tive
mouths, while there will be considerable sur
lu. ni' district fund which must remain lln
used III the treasury, though the schools are
closed for want Of teachers. 1t has been found
section nl the law at all, for the reason that our
is VI, We Go not know t. what either even
State or county fund will amount, though all
our bills have been paid except bal lance OF
Sic "a due the city. This difficulty, appre-
hcud, will arise every year. As to abolish
ing votes Oh county and district funds:
| ain inclined to think that such il change
in the law would impair the useful
hess Of the system By rendering it I'M
popular # the school system Is properly con
durttI. il will always command the SUPPORT OF
the people: ii il l., rot ]: does nu; deserve this
support would, also. respectfully suggest
that it is almost impossible for County Super
inendcnts 10 make their reports to the Super
incndent Of Public Instruction ut the time re-
uuired by the 18th clause of the l4'h section OF
the law The iuih clause Of the oath section
provides thai the clerks vi District Schoo!
Boards ahaii make their reports 10 the County
Superintendent on or before that SAME day,
and rs his report is based, in part, upon theirs,
the difficulty is obvious. As Superintendent
Of the smallest county in the State, it Was ony
by working great part OF the night, that was
alb, IL comply with the requirements OF the
law | think that The school year might be
niahr IL end more: conveniently, OH the Dist OF
july, IN which cast. fifteen days could bc al
lowed the clerks and fifteen 10 the Superlnten-
dents, and the reports of the latter could be in
the hands Of the Superintendent OF Public In
struction on the lst of September. In our
ease, too, the concurrence OF the time for open
luz schools, and for making reports, the first
week ui September. is exceedingly announcement,
the constant demands on thu time and attcn'
ton OF the Superintendent and Trustees being
ANYTHING but favorable to that careful conslge-
ration which Is essential Ia the correctness Of
or reports
As to the defeat of the school Tux in Wash
ineton District in November last. ain inform
ed that it happened through representations
made by interested parties; ut the May election,
only three persons voted against what was
probably the heaviest district tax levied in the
State. and these three votes were the only ones
cast in the whole county against the county tax.
Our school houses arc all comfortable; some
Of them neat and even handsome; but in one or
two, TIC furniture is of rather Il primitive char
acter. Time, however, will, | have no doubt,
remedy all defects AS far Us | can learn, our
schools are considered much better than those
which preceded them i'll their respective neigh
borhoods.
As regards improvements in schools, think
the plan you suggest in the September number
fthc Educational Journal, about the best which
could be adopted For several years, when
teaching without assistance, put 1t into prac-
ticc myself and found it to work admirably; the
only trouble is in starting il. The supplemcn-
tai method Of making up teacher pay ! re-
gard as cxccptionablc though in some cases
necessary. Subscribers are apt to interfere in
barrass The trustees
As to the manner in which the record and
account books Of the districts have been kept,
cannot speak NOT having rs yet examined
them. have however, notified the clerks OF
nv intention to do so at an early day i'll com
pliance with the recent order Of the Board Of
Education. The County Treasurer though he
gave ne some data for my report and exhibit
ed his vouchers, has not US yet, given me 4
COPY of his accounts as required BY law. He
promises to do 50 at a very early day and when
received it will be Immediately examined and
forwarded to you append the names and
addresses of the Trustees as requested. ours
respectfully. RIcHARp J.; CakSE'
County Superintendent of Public Schools
ALEXANDRIA, September ODD. ISL.
WAsIlINGToN ITEMsThc Grand Lodge
Of Colored Masons Of this District have dis
solved their relations with the National Com
pact, in session at Chicago
| On Saturday night in Georgetown William