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

rigid economy. and governed themselves &C.
cordingly.
PuBLIo SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT or ooLun-
The four independent systems OF public
schools IN me District OF Coum6,a are stu con-
managed by q board of twenty trustees, the
Governor of the District being ex icio presi-
dent of the same; the white schools of George
town, by q board Of five trustees; the coiosed
schools of Washington aud Georgetown, by a
board OF nine trustees; and the white aud the
colored schools of the county, by board OF seven
trustees. By an act Of Congress, approved
March 8, 1873, the number of trustees Of the
colored schools OF Washington and Georgetown
to appoint these and the officers of the board
was vested in the Governo He now appoints
the trustees constituting the four boards, forty
nine In all, and the superintendents, secretaries
The following is q summary Of the general
etatstics Of all the public schools in the District
Entire population, ~. 8. census, 1870, wash
ington, los, ies; Georgetown, IL 1854; County.
School population. agee to II years, inclusive,
o. s. census. 1901 W sshington, IS 935; George
town, 2. $50; County, q 5l-tOtai, 81 ,61i.
lie scSoe s s pSs
town, ,1s4; County, 1,SlI-total, 1910.
Average number of pupils in private schools,
Report of U. s. Commissioner Of Education,
Whole number of seats provided for pupils
in the public schools, lsI2-'73 Washington,
ii.elo; Georgetown, 1,l'a; County, 1,ii2-total,
whole number of teachers in tle public
schools, 1872 73, Washington, 20 Georgetown,
20; County, 3l-total, 27f.
Washington. 81 900 ,OCO; rgetown Sc 800 900;
County, ss eco ,OOo-totsl, ss7 800 900.
School tax, (per cent y lS72-73, Washington
.OC33; Georgetown, .OO5S; County, .Oo5O
Total receipts from school tax, &C., 1S72-73,
Washington, sl7s, o53 OS; Georgetown, $50 1881;
County, 500 ,iS5 9l-total, 500, 5iil5.
Total payments for public school purposes,
1S72-'73, Washington, $3.50 .S57.76; Georgeto IN,
sl3,I73.3Si Count 1874, go 2S-total, sos 2S1i2
Value of public school property, 1878, Wash
S54, CO0-tOtal, 81 { Of. 407.
The foregoing statements show progress dur
ing the past year in the following RESPECTS: In
crease in the value of school property, s53,7O7;
in the number of seats provided for pupils, $50;
in the number of teachers employed, s; in the
whole number of pupils enrolled, LIS.
The experience Of another year has strength
ened the opinion expressed In my last report,
that a Board of Education for the District of
have corporate powers; the custody of all the
school property and funds, and authority to ap-
point its own officers, to determine within pre-.
scribed limits the rate Of school tax to be levied,
to purchase sites and erect school buildings. to
establish new schools, to fix the salaries and de-
eide upon the number and qualifications OF
teachers to be employed; and thus it should
have general jurisdiction over all the public
schools of the District. Seven members would
be a suffi cient number to constitute this board,
and they should be SO selected as to fairly rep
resent the interests Of all the public schools in
the District. To this board should be trans
TERED the powers relating to schools that are
now vested in the legislative department of the
District government, and such powers now ex.
ercised by the trustees may be necessary to
secure uniform and efficient administr alton OF
the several systems; but it would not be advis-
able. for a time at least, to have it entirely su
persede the present organizations.
When the District was governed by three cor
porations, the legislative body Of each held
weekly meetings; and the trustees of the schools,
at any time, could make known their wants to
these bodies. Now the Legislative Assembly of
the District holds but one short continuous ses-
sion each year; and experience has taught us
that it is impossible to get for the schools that
consideration which their Importance demands.
During the intervals between these sessions,
contingencies may arise that will require action
for which there is no authority of law. In fact,
the trustees have already been greatly embar-
raised by the state of things, and in few in
stances important interests of the schools have
required them TO assume the responsibility of
acting without any legal warrant. The powers
of the several existing boards might be some
what enlarged, so as to remedy some of the evils
alluded to- but such measure would tend to-
ward wider separation rather than a closer
union of the systems; and their complete unity
directed.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
have to submit for your special consideration
the following recommendations, which require
additional legislation:
First. That provision be made, at the earliest
practicable moment, for the purchase of site,
and the erection of a suitable school building,
in the second school district, to accommo date
the six or eight hundred girls who are now oc-
cupyiDg rented roorns
Second. That boys high school be estab
lshed, and principal teacher be employed ut
a salary of ~, 800 per annum.
Third. That a special teacher of drawing be
appointed, at salary not exceeding 81, 200 per
annum.
Fourth. That authority be obtained to estab-
lsh sixteen additional inter mediate schools.
Fifth. That the salary of each principal OF a
male grammar school be fixed at 81 500, with
an annual increase of Sl00, until it reaches
maximum OF 70 900: and the salary of each as
annual increase of 800, until it reaches max
imum Of 81 400.
sixth. That the "Fund to endow the Public
Schools" now amounting to about $4,000, be
used to purchase a site and commence the erec-
ton of a building fer high school.
Seventh. That vigorous effort be made to
give some aid, either by a donation of public
lands or money, to the public schools of the Dis
trIct OF Columbia.
CONCLUSION.
The year that has passed since the date of my
last annual report has not filled the full meas
ure of our expectations. Nevertheless it has
the schools. More than a thousand pupils
have been added to the whole number en-
rolled, new and better course of study has
bad successful trial. the grading Of the
crowded condition would permit, the methods
of teaching drawing and vocal music have been
revised and improved so that these studies will
receive due attention in future; a normal
school flor the professional education of teach
ers for our own schools has been established,
and the advance made by the public schools of
Washington has been recognized at the Vienna
Universal Exposition by the award OF "Medal
for Progress"
The want of sufficient means must be our
apology for not accomplishing more. This state
ment does not imply neglect of duty on the part
of the Taxpayers, or of the government of the
District. The tax on each 800 of valuation,
paid during the past year fer the support of
schools in the cities named, was as follows: Bos-
ton, 1873 cents; Chicago, 204 cents; Baltimore,
q cents. In Washington, during the first two
| years Of the present government, commencing
July /, 1871, and ending June 80, 1873, the school
| tax on each 500 of valuation averaged 46 )
cents per annum. During the period named the
| District government has expended for the pub
! lie schools OF the city all the revenue derived
| from this tax, and sum over and above this
| amounting to Sl93 S26.73. Since 1868 the city OF
Washington has built up an excellent system of
| public schools for c0lofed children, and there
are at this time over 600 pupils on their rolls
| Besides paying the current expenses of these
schools, 1t has provided for their permanent use
sites and school buildings now valued at $3.50 600
u