Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-11-20
REASONS gOR CONGRESSIONAL AID.

REASONS gOR CONGRESSIONAL AID.
The REASONS tor asking Cong to AID in es-
tabIshing and supporting a system OF public
schools TOR the District OF Columbia NAV BE-
briefly stated a. fC!lOws:-1. About one third of
the school population IS CGlOred, composed
largely OF the wards OF the nation" who have
come INTO the District during and since the war.
They add cUt little, If anything, 10 the school
Revenues. z. About thirty per cent. of the en-
Tolment in the white schools il composed of
children whose parents or guardians are in the
employ o. the nited States government, aut
the school revenues receive but little benefit
from these residents. 3. The United States gov
errment is the owner OF all the real estate IN the
District OF Columbia. +. The government has
from time to time made most Ioeral donations
of pubic LANDS 10 aid in est .blshing and sus-
tanning common schools in AL the territories as
thel tecame states. Inc District OF COlumoi
the perInarent g at OF the government, over
when Congress exercises exclusive legislation
IN AT cases whatsoever, has had no share in the
Ci-t'lhutlOn or these educational benefactiOns.
PEEsENT CONDITION OF SCHOOLS.
In considering the future government of the
schools the committee has n0t lost sight OF their
present condition. There are now In the Dis.
tTIct white and coiOIed city aud county schools,
ana these conditions must be regarded in form
lne an efficient organization for their manage
ment. The committee therefore recommend a
general board OF education for tie District of
Columbia. which shall exercise q general and
uniform control over all the schools and have
power to create such So hOOi districts aud sub
ordinate boards OF trustees TO attend to the
local duties Of these districts as tue conditions
above slluCed 10 may require.
NEW ORGASIzATION RECOMMENDED.
The following outline Of such an Orgauiza-
ton IL therefore suggested: a board OF educa-
ton TOR the District of COIumb ia to consist of
seven MEMBER to be appointed by the exe,u-
tive OF said District, and be d yIded into three
classes-the first and second classes to consist
OF two members each, and the third class of
three EN- bers-one class TO be appointed each
year, and the term OF Office to be three years
The board of education 10 have full control OF
all public school property, and of all funds col
leCfEG ir in h
Distinct OF Columbia, and TO have power TO ap-
point secretary, at q salary OF not exceeding
Sly5CO per annum-said secretary, in addition
20 bis other duties, to make the disbursements
ana Keep the accounts OF the board; to con-
time and establish schools for the free educa-
uOn OF all youth of school age resident within
the District of Columbia TO fix the number
ard salaries Of teachers and decide upon their
qualifications, and to confirm the appointments
OF all teachers and remove them at pleasure;
to ny the number and salaries of isniCOrs and
other employees TO make proper rules and reg
uiatlons tor the government OF the schools, pre-
scribe course OF study and adopt textbooks
Tor the same; to appoint superinte ndents OF
schoOlsJ one or whom shall be assigned. to the
C1lored schools of Washington and George
town; TO divide the District OF Columbia into
school districts, the cOlOred schools OF Wash
ington and Georgetown forming one district,
and to appoint in each district officers to be
desiR grated trustees, who shall have charge of
the schools in their respective Districts and
perform such duties as may be prescribed by
the board 10 cause 10 be taken, once in two
years, az enumeration OF all unmarried youth,
noting race, sex ana age of each youth be-
tween SIX and twenty-One years old, inclusive
1t should be the duty of the board Of education
to disburse ali funds Appropriated Tor the use of
the public schools Of the District of Columbia,
so thar the schools Tor the eoiOTed children shall
receive "such a pTOportiOnate part of all
moneys received or expended for public school
or educational purposes, including the cost OF
sites, buildings, furniture, books, and ali other
expenditures On account of schools, as the coll
OTec children between the ages of six and six
teen years Inclusive, in the District OF Colum-
bia, bear TO the whole number OF children,
white and colored, between the same ages aud
no discrimination shall be made in respect to
The time when payments to white and colored
schools shall be made; TO annually make TO ths
executive OF the District of Columbia a full re-
port OF their proceedings for the preceding
year, rendering a fun account of the condition
Of the schools and the expenditures for the
same, and giving an estimate In detail OF the
amount OF funds required duringthe next sue
ceediDg school year, and TO furnish such in-
formation a. may be required from time to time
by the executive of the District.
Mr.. Dyer urged that IL was important, for
such q report as this to be effective that is
should receive the unanimous approval of the
board; and moved that it be adopted unsLi-
mcusly.
Br. Woodward said that there might be som,
portions ne could not approve OF, and would
consider 1t carefully, but he wonli not make
any opposition 70 u although, as he had heard
IL read, he could not approve OF some portions
Dir. LLOYD remarked that he did not zee m =.
the proposed plan for a board of eiuostIon
would meet with such an approval as could bs
wished for, and he proposed the folio giuy
amendment 70 that portion Of the report: "Thas
the executive OF the District or CoIum bIa diyijs
the District into school districts, and thst
trustees Re appointed 70 each OF said school die
triets, and that the colored schools OF the D.s-
tTict eft Columbia be made and constituts ons
OF said school districts; that there shall be or
gsniztd hoard OF education, to bs composed
OF one member from each school district 10 be
selected by majority vote OF each respective
school district"
Dir. Lloyd urged that by hIs amendment thu
people would be better repfes :nte6 than by the
plsn proposed.
Mr. Horey urged the adoption OF the plan as
proposed In the report, and said that there sas
but little doubt that the very best men would
be selected by the executive.
The amendment Of Mr.. Lloyd not having been