National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-20
REASONS -FoR CONGRESSIONAL AID.

REASONS FOR CONGRESSIONAL AID.
The reasons for asking Congress to aid in estab-
fishing aud supporting a system Of public schools
for the District Of Columbia may be briefly stated
az follows:
J. About one third Of the school population is
GOlOred, composed largely Of the ''wards Of the
nation who have come into the District during
and since the war. They add but little if any
thing TO the school revenues.
2 About thirty per cent. OF the enrolment in
the white schools is composed Of children whose
parents or guardians IRE in the employ OF the
United States Government. and the school reve-
Iues receive but little benefit from these resi-
dents.
g. The United States Government is the owner
Of all the real estate in the District Of Columbia
T. The Government has from time to time made
most liberal donations Of public lands TO aid IN
establishing and sustaining common schools in
all the Territories as they became States. The
District Of Columbia, the permanent seat of the
Government, over which Congress exercises ex-
elusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, has
had no share in the distribution Of these eduga-
l1Onal benefactiOns
PRESENT CONDITION OF SCHOOLS.
In considering the future government of the
present condition.
There are now in the District white and colored
city and country schools and these conditions
must be regarded in forming an efficient organi-
nation for their management. The committee
therefore recommend general board Of educa-
tiOn for the District OF Columbia. which shall eX-
ereise general and uniform control over all the
schools. and have power 10 Great such school dis
Jricts and subordinate boards Of trustees TO attend
tiCLs above alluded to may require.
NEW ORG AVIATION RECOMMENDED.
The following outline Of such an organization
il therefore suggested board Of education for
lbe District CT Columbia, TO consist Of seven mem
bcrs- 10 be appOln ed by the Executive OF said
District. and he divided into three classes-the
hTSS and second classes TO consist of two members
each. and the third class Of three memberS-0Re
class TO be appointed each year. and the term Of
office 10 be three years. The board Of education
10 have full control OF all public school property
= p rf0r tod To-
public schools in the District OF Columbia and
10 have power TO appoint a secretary. 1t n salary
Of not exceeding 81 500 per au1um-said secretary
in addition 10 bis other duties, TO make the dis
UUTsemeRis ana keep the accounts Of the beard /;
10 continue ana establish schools for the free ed
resident within the District of Columbia
10 TX the number and salaries of teachers and de
eide upon their qualifications and to confirm the
appointments OF al teachers and remove them az
pleasure; 10 fix the number and salaries of iani-
tors and other employees; TO make proper rules
and regulations for the government Of the schools
prescribe course Of study and adopt text books
for the same; to appoint superintendent of
schools. one Ofwbom shall be assigned to the col
ored schools OF Washington and Georgetown: to
divide The District Of Columbia into school dis
triCts. the CUiCTed schools Of Washington and
Georgetown forming one district. and to appoint
in each district officers TO be designated trustees
who shall have charge of the schools in their re-
Epeetiye districts and perform such duties as may
be prescribed by the board; TO cause to be taken,
once in two years, an enumeration of all unmar-
Tied youth. noting race. sex and age of each
youth, between six and tTenty-One years of age,
inclusive.
It should be the duty of the board of education
to dlsburse all funds Appropriated for the use of
the public schools Of the District Of Columbia so
that the schools Cor the coUred children shall re-
eeiVe such pTOpOTtiOuate part Of all moneys re-
eeiVed or expended for public school or educa-
tiOnal purposes including the cost OF sites build
ngs, furniture. books, and all other expenditures
on account OF schools, the CJIOred children be-
tween the ages OF SIX End sixteen years inclusive
in the District Of Columbia, bear to the whole
number Of children white and cOlOred between
the same ages, and no discrimination shall be
made in respect to the time when payments to
white and cOlOred schools shall be made: to annu-
ally make the executive Of the District Of Co
lumbia full report Of their proceedings for the
preceding year, rendering fall account Of the
condition Of the schools and the expenditures Tor
the same and giving an estimate in detail Oh =
amount O. funds required during the next sue
ceeting school year, and to furnish s15h infOrma-
ton as may be required from time to time by the
executive Of the District.
W W. Curtis.
CHAs. +. HOOyEY,
A. HART.
}. ). BROWN,
HENRY JOHNSON,
L. CHANPLIE.
Mr.: Dyer moved that tho report be adopted
Mr.. Woodward could not agree with Mr.. DYER
Mr.. Lloyd opposed that portion of tho REPORT
which referred 10 the board Of education, and
offered as an amendment that the Distrtaf or 20
lumbia be divided into school districts. and that
trustees be appointed TO each or said school dis
tricts and that the cOlOred schools OF the District
school districts; that there shall be orronjzed a
board OF education, TO be composed Of ono Tnem
Der from each school district. 10 he selerted nv a
majority vote Of each respective school district
The amendment was lost, and the report was
adopted.
Mr. French, from the sub-board Of the Third
district, made the following recommendations:
which were adopted: Change tae name oTSecond.
AIRY school No. I 20 Male Intermediate Nh a.
Secondary No. to Female intermediate No Z:
Secondary No. to Secondary No. !: Secondary
No. 10 Secondary No; 2; Secondary No. TO
Secondary No. 4; Secondary No 5 10 Secondary
No. Q; Secondary No. II to SeCOn larry No. :: See
6ndsTy No. 10 to Secondary No. s: Secondary No.
to Secondary No. 9; Secondary No. Il 70 See
Ondary no. 10.
Mr.. Lloyd, from the sub-boaTi Of the Fourth
district, reported the following changes: Sesond-
airy school n c. 10 Female intermediate no :.
Secondary No. to Secondary No. :: Primary
No. ? 10 Secondary No c: Primary 10. t0 SeS
OndsIy Nc. ?; Primary No. Is 20 Secondary NJ. g
MT. Woodward Was excused IRON befns raai-
man q the committee On Legislation. AMI the
chair was appointed in his place.
The board then adjourned.