Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-20

last one additional school was orpani xed, max
ing total Of 1874. Although the Law provides
for only eight te achers of the fifth, third in
ttrmediate grade, 10 was necessary to increase
the number, ~ I6s pupils were found qualified
for promotion or admission to this grade. Six
additional classes, three OF them making full
schools, were therefore formed; and teachers
APRON ted to I'LL places in the secondary grades,
and receiving only the lower salaries allowed by
law 10 lower grades, were assigned to these
sci ools. If tie trustees had the power to fix the
salaries eff teachers, as they should have, this
unjust determination In the salaries of equally
meritorfous teachers employed in the same
grade, and performing precisely similar duties
would not be made. OF the 1874 schools, 1902 COM
me need the year with only one class, or pupils
Of single grade, and 80 had two classes.
TEACHERS.
During the past year the number of changes
IN the corps OF teachers was greater than usual.
II e.e may be classified as follows: Resign ed,
10; died, 4; r, tired. 4; total, 81. The commit
tee on tea chers held four examin atoms, at which
III candidates for appointment or promotion
to those who passed successfully, rs follows
Primary, SO; secondary, Is; intermediate, s;
grammar, o; total, 50. Upon my recommends
he paid to those teachers of Primary schools
who have furnished satisfactory proof Of sue
cessfnl experience, was granted by the board to
the following teachers; Mis- Frances K. Julien
Miss Maggie Walsh, Miss Martha E. Armistead
Miss Ellen T.. Halliday, Miss Laura NJ. Bland
and Miss Margaret f. A Sheck.
The new course of study advanced the limit
in some of the studies and INTRODUCED new eie
ments, which imposed additional labor upon
the teachers. The statement that they
met all of its requirements in the most satisfsc.
tory manner is due to them. The years work
was the best that our schools have ever done
The general desire for professional improve
nent was most communicable. During the year
nve sessions of the Teachers Institute were
held. Two OF these sessions were taken up with
general instructions relating TO the new course
OF study The discussion of the following sub
jects occupied the other SESSIONS Teaching
language" by the Hon. Il. G. Northrop;
"DrawIng,n by Miss Susan f. Fuller; and
Teaching Physics in Public Schools" by Prof.
q. l.. HotZe. The teachers also attended
course of six lectures on "Lght," given at Lin
coin Hall, by Prof. John Tyndall, of London,
The tickets for their use having been purchased
by II e board. The usual normal class in pen
manship was attended by thirty six teachers.
linn ediately following Miss Fuller's lecture be-
fore the Teachers Institute, twenty-six teach
under her tuition, and they received a course Of
twenty lessons.
A table exhibits some Interesting facts con-
corning the place of education and length Of
service, reported by the teachers in September
last. At the time the table was prepared there
were 1874 regular and special teachers and
teachers. OF this number were males, and
1856 were females, 81 were educated in the pub
lie schools of Washington, and only were edu-
Gated in normal schools; IS had not taught be-
fore, and the average period OF service for each
teacher was 81 years.
NORMAL SCHOOL.
For several years past the trustees of the pub
Tic schools have appreciated to some extent the
value of professional education for teachers.
From time to time a number of graduates from
the normal and training schools of New Eng
land have been appointed teachers in our
schools, and they have given practical evidence
of the worth of such an education. The sub
ject has frequently been discussed, and on more
than one occasion the board has asked for ar
thority to e,tablish a normal school as a part of
our system. This request was granted by an
act OF the Legislative Assembly, approved June
%. 1873, which wi be found in full in the aI-
/ endix; and the trustees were fully authorized
TO establish q normal school for the purpose Of
specially preparing for their work young ladies
educated in our own schools, and desiring to
gsniZing this school was intrusted to a special
committee of the board, consisting of Trustees
Harris, Randolph, French, Champlin and the
superintendent and on the LIST OF September
last the school was opened, with twenty pupils,
in charge OF Miss Lucilla L. Smith, a graduate
of the state normal school at Far mi gton, Ne.
and teacher Of several years successful expe-
rience In our own city and elsewhere. The
school is now placed permanently in charge of
a standing committee of the board, 90 The COM
mittee on normal school aud Teachers
The female teachers In public schools of this
city now constitute ninety-fiye per cent or the
entire corps; and the demand for male teachers
i. therefore, 50 slight that no necessity exists
for any provisions for their ed Icatlon In the nor
NAL school. Twenty young ladies, not less tina N
sevent, en- " airs OF age, and with scholastic at
tainments sufficient to quality then to teach,
a
strictly professional course of instruction for
one year; and II is expressly provided by law
THAT the graduates of this school shall have
prefere nee in all cases when Appointments of
teachers for the public schools are to be made.n
The average number of new teachers required
annually during the past three years has been
from fifteen to twenty, and if the normal school
is literally supported, and conducted with
efficiency, ii Will, without doubt, supply a suf-
fcient number of well-qualifed teachers to
meet the future demands of our schools.
u n
From the year lS45, down to 1869, the entire
management and supervision OF the public
schools were cOntided to board of twelve trus-
tees, who received no compensation for their
services. at the last named date the Off &c OF
Superintendent was created, and it was IN ade
the duty of this officer to exercise general SUI
the rules and regulations of the board were car
ried out. In ISL, shortly after the new District
government went into operation, the number of
trustees was increased to twenty. But what
ever number OF members may hereafter consti-
tute the board, We have now reached point in
the progress OF our system when certain duties
that have hitherto been performed by the trus-
tees should be transferred to officers appointed
for their special fitness for the work, and paid
for their services. With 5000 pupils on our
rolls, it should not be expected that trustees
serving the public gratuitously, will give the
time daily required to attend to the many de-
tails of school business, such as admitting and
transferring pupils, attending to cases Of dis
ciplne referred by teachers, furnishing in de-
intending the examination of schools; in short,
to the constant daily supervision required by
1874 different schools or classes scattered over a
Wide extent of territory. Many Of these duties
in other cities are performed by principal teach
ers, and it is no longer possible to have them
attended to here, as the best interests of the
schools require, unless a similar plan is adopted
This work demands not only large amount of
time, but also professional skill and experience.
The Superintendent says: GAS the first step
towards remedying this serious defect in our
present system, think that an assistant should
be given to the principal of the male grammar
school, in each of the four school districts, and
that the principals should be required to teach
not more than two or three hours each day. and
TO devote the remaining time of the school SEES
sions to the performance OF the duties mentioned
above. An act OF the city councils, approved
January22, 1870, authorized the appointment of
the assistants; but the salary ixed-sSOO per
snnum-will not pay for the services of teachers
competent to I'LL the positions. In fact the sal
aries of the principals as well as the assistants
on ght to be increased.
The cost Of the supplies, such as books pens
ink, stationery, and house furnishing articles
for the schools now amounts to several thou
sand dollars each year, and these articles
should all be received at one central Office and
thence be distributed to the schools. They are
usually furnished by contract, and in the way
suggested they can be inspected properly, and
such an account of the articles received and
H. ~