Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-09-10
Our Public Schools.
MEETING OF TIE BOARD OF TRUSTEES LAST


Accommodations ReqUired-TAe Normal School
SHALL German be Taught in the SchoolsS dc.
A meeting Of the board Of public school trus-
tees was held last eyemng-Messrs Hart, Stu
rlck, Rhees, Dulin, French, Scott, Allen,
Moore, Champion, AtLee, and Wilson present.
Primary 10. 3, first district s Mis- sM% afS' or
Scott, Of Secondary No. 9, third district: and
Georgeanna Nicholson, Of Primary No. II, third
district, were received and accepted.
A NUISANCE COMPLAINED OF
MI. champion presented petition from the
teachers Of the Jefferson school building. fourth
d'strict' calling attention TO the continued bell
from the locomotives of the Baltimore, and Po-
tomac railroad, whose depot and turn-table are
ulrectiy under the windows of the school. They
state that they have waited somewhat impa-
tently during the whole of last school term for
some abatement of this nuisance, so thoroughly
uesuuctIve OF their labor, in the hope that when
the trustees we're interrupted in their last an
nual examinations, and were frequent obliged
10 suspend the exercises because neither pupils
nor examiners could be heard, the petitioners
would not agam be subjected to this
DRAFENING CONCENTRATION
OF ringing bells, steam whistles and train rat
ting at the same time. AS the railroad CON-
pany has housing for more than a dozen loco
motives, which require a corresponding num-
Der of tracks, sidings and switches, and a large
portion being used during school hours, the
erect Is that the petitioners cannot hear the
answers to questions given the pupils, and thew
do not hear, or they misunderstand and thu
IAN In their recltations, the idle and inattentive
THE NOISE AND CONFUSION
as an excuse for their failures, thus enabling
them to shirk recitations which silent school
room would elicit. The increased business of
the railroad company since the completion OF
the Baltimore tunnel has produced this year a
corresponding increase in the noise under the
windows, SO that it has at least doubled since
the close of the last school term" The COM
municaion was referred to the attorney Of the
District.
APPLICATIONS FOR TKAcHERsHIPs.
superintendent Wilson presented the follow
irg applications for teachers positions; which
were ordered to be filed: p. III. Beemer, of New
Jersey; Nellie L. Knox, of New York; Elsie G.
Justice, of Washington, and Theresa s. Cush-
man, of Nebraska; referred.
THE DAILY RECORD OF REGULATIONS.
superintendent Wilson submitted resolu-
ton, which was adopted: That permission be
given to the teachers of the grammar schools to
omit during the present school year the daily
record OF recitatiOns now required by the rules
OF the board; provided in lieu thereof, they shall
hold monthly written examinations on the seye-
raj studies pursued, examine and mark the
value OF the work done by the pupils, record the
percentage obtained by each pupil in the
the parents or guardians; and further, that a
copy OF the questions used each month shall be
sent to the superintendent.
NOMINATIONS CONFIRMED.
Mr.. Hart, for the sub-board of the first dis
tIiet, submitted the following nominations
which were confirmed: Nellie F. Reed. tempo
rsrily transferred to Female intermediates No.
Smith, transferred to the Normal school tempo
rarliy as acting teacher. Kate f. Rawlings
temporarily transferred to Secondary No. 2.
transferred to Intermediate No 2 Annie IT,
Sargent, acting teacher Primary No. 1, in place
OF Hannah r. Hudson, who was unable to as
sumo her place. Mary s. Shields, acting teacher
Primary No. 4, IN place Of Kate E. Rawlings.
temporarily transferred to Secondary No. 2
Annie M. Dutton, acting teacher Primary No.
II, in place of Ellen L. Hamlet resigned.
ADDITIONAL SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS.
The sub board of the first district reported
that on the list instant there were ,979 pupils
enrolled, and large number of tickets of ad-
mission had since been issued. Not being able
to procure rooms for so many, the b-board
ask permission to open one additional secondary
school, and purchase set of furniture; referred
TO the committee on schools. Mr.. Woodward,
from the sub-board of the second district, asked
permission to rent a room in the Congregational
church for secondary school, at a rental of
nlture for the same; referred to the committee
on schools.
NOMINATION AND TRANSFER OF TEACHERS.
He also made the following nominations: Miss
nj. King, transferred to secondary No II; Miss
F. Wiggin. as acting teacher of secondary No.
10; Miss Emma Bond, transferred to primary
No. 4; Mss Ida Rhees, to primary No. 8; Miss S.
Porter, II primary No. Ii; recemmittcd.
MI Dclin, OF the third district, reported the
following nominations, which were confirmed
Miss Mary Morgan, teacher of secondary No. 4,
II transferred to Sc yondary No. Q; Miss NJ. E. Arm
stead, transferred from secondary No. to sec
ondary No. 4; Miss Mary A. Dodge, teacher of
primary No. IL to secondary No. I; Miss f. Z.
Crosby. appointed teacher of primary No. 10.
The sub-board of the fourth district were su-
thoTized to have wire screens placed in front of
the lower windows Of the Jefferson school
building.
MORE SCHOOLS TO BE OPENED.
MI. Scott, from the committee on schools
report, which was adopted, author
izing the sub-board of the first district TO open
r ~. hak nA
secondary No. II, and to purchase a set of school
also, the sub board of the third dis
triet to open an additional primary school, to be
known as primary No. 10; adopted.
THE NORMAL SCHOOL.
Superintendent Wilson, from the special com
mittee on the normal school, submitted the fol-
lowing report; which was accepted:
1. The number OF pupils in the normal school
shall be limited to twenty.
2. Each candidate, before she is admitted to
the school, shall be required to sign pledge,
setting forth her intention to complete the pre-
scribed course of study and to devote herself to
the work Of teaching in the public schools of
3. All text books, books OF reference, Charts.
apparatus, &C., used by the school, shall be pro-
yided by the board.
f. The following subjects shall be taught in
the schools, viz:-Reading, spelling, penman-
SHY, drawing, vocal music, theory and art of
teaching, practice in teaching, phonetics, object
Lessons, physical and vocal culture, botany,
Zoology, English grammar, English literature,
composition, map drawing and geography, his
tory, mental philosophy. All these studies are
10 be pursued with special reference to the best
methods OF teaching the same.
5. Mits Lucilia E: Smith, teacher of female
Intermediate school No. 2, LIST district, shall
be transferred to this school as acting teacher
THE STUDY OF GERMAN. i
The subject Of continuing the study of Ger
man was taken up. For the resolution to dis
peDse with the study offered by Mr.. Alice, MT.
Dulin having offered substitute providing for
he appointment of one assistant teacher for
Zach male grammar school in the city, said as |
dstant teacher to teach the German language, |
n the Grammar schools of the city, the cues.
ion required on the adoption of the substitute. |
Mr.. Stuart thought that the board had not |
been given an equivalent for the expenditure: |
he teachers had been paid too much money for |
90 little instruction. He would favor the con |
inuance of the study IL it could be properly |
'onducted, and suggested 1.-The reference to q /
committee.
Mr.. Hart thought that too much has been ex- /
,ected of the pupils, and spoke OF the Difficult |
les in the way of acquiring foreign language
But he did not altogether disagree with the /
tatement that they pay too much for the IN /
eiyed several letters from prominent citizensr
rging the continuance of the study; as also a /
'etition signed by over five hundred persons, |
md among them not five Germans. He urged /
hat it be continued, for it would prove q store
louse Of valuable practical use to the student |
VIEWS OF OTHER MEMBERs.