National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-08

The reasons for asking Congress to aid in estsb
fishing and supporting system Of public schools
for the District Of olumbia may be brief stated
as follows:
/. About one third Of the school population IL
colOred, composed largely Of the wards OF the
nation" who have come into the District during
and since the war. They add but little If any5
thing, to the school revenues
?. About thirty per cent. OF the enrolment I'm
the white schools is composed Of children whose
parents or guardians are in the employ Of the
UDited States Government and the school reye-
nues receive but little benefit from these resi-
dents.
8. The United States Government IL the owner
ofa6out one half Of all the real estate in the Dis
trict Of Columbia.
4. The Government has from time IN time mazda
most liberal donations Of public lands TO aid In
establishing and sustaining common schools In
all the Territories as they became States The
Government, over which Congress exercises sT
elusive legislation in all cases Whatsoever has
had no share in the distributions Of these educa-
In considering the futute government of the
schools the COMMITTEES has not lost sight Of their
present condition.
There are now In the District white and eolored
schools city and county schools, and these eondi-
lions must be regarded In forming an efieIent or
gsnizatlon for their management. The commit
tee recommend general board OF education for
the District OF Columbia, which shall exercise a
general and uniform control over all the Schools
ana nave the power to create such school dis
tend 70 the local duties OF these districts rs the
conditions above alluded to may re0uIre
- Inc loIloHlng outline Of such an organization l.
A board Of education for the District OF Column
bia, to consist Of seven members 70 be appointed
by me Executive Of said District, and be divided
into three elasses-the first and second classes 10
CONSIST OF Two members each, and the third class
OF three members, one class to BE- appointed each
year. and the term OF ONCE to be three years
This board OF education 10 have flil control Of
All pubic school property and Of all funds col
Ieeted or appropriated for public schools in the
District OF Columbia; and to have power
To appoint q secretary, at q salary not exceeJ-
Ing hfteen hundred dollars per annum, said see
rotary, In addition to his other duties to make
board
To continue and establish schools for the free
saasati0n 81 All youth o. school age resident with
In the District OF Columbia:
To NJ the number and salaries Of teachers and
decide upon their qualifications and to eo16rn
the appointments OF all teachers and remove lhem
To M the number and salaries of janitOrs and
10 make proper rules and regulations for the
government Of the schools, prescribe q course Of
study and adopt text books for Inc same
70 appoint suPerintendents OF schOoIs one Of
WHuh,SL Pc assigned to the eolored schools Of
10 divide the District Of Columbia into school
districts the eOlOred schools or WashIpgtou AMI
~ s sIEHn iorminE one district and @ appoint
n eaeh district officers TO be designated trusi ees
nno snali nave charge Of the schools In their re-
pectlTe districts, and perform such duties as may
F-S1~AAeoA " the
10 cause % be t1ken, once in two years An Gnu
meration Of all VI married youth noting ra,,e sex
and age Of each youth between six and twenty
one years Of age, inclusive.
II should be the duty Of the board Of educa-
tlon 70 dtsourse all funds appropriated for the
use Of the public schools Of the District Of Colum
ola so that the schools for eolored children shall
receive such proportionate part .of all moneys
received or expended for public school or eduea-
tion9l purposes, including the cost Of sites,
buildings, furniture, books, and all other eXBsn-
ditures on account OF schOols as the coored chill
drea between the ages Of SIX and sixteen years,
inclusive In the District Of Columbia bear 10 the
whole number Of children white and eOlored be-
tween the same ages" and no discrimination
shall be made in respect to the time when nay
ments 70 the Ehise and eolOred schools shall -
made.
To annually make 10 the Executive Of the Dis
triet Of Columbia full report or their proceed
lngs Ior the preceding year, rendering a full ae-
eoant o. the condition Of the schools and the ex-
Penctufes Tor the same, and giving an estimafe
n detail OF TIE amount Of funds reqnlred duFinr
ne next succeeding school year, and 10 furnish
snen information - may b required from time
70 time by the Executive Of the Districf
Respectfully submitted, W. W. CuRrR,
JOIN II. Brooks, Secretary. A''