National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-05-10
THE SCHOOL BOARD.
lnvestigating the syphax complaint-1nfor;
- - m finn for fhA HenatA.

InVesngatng the eyphax Compla1nt-In
sg..- nation for the Senate.
The Board of School Trustees held its regular
monthly meeting at the franklin school build
ing Hast evening. Present Trustees Randolph,
French, Brooks, Champlin, Dyer, JOhason,
Lloyd, Mitchell Packard, Hovey, Ryder, Rey-
burn and Smith. In the absence Of the pres-
dent Trustee Randolph was elected to the chair
Trustee Brooks acted as secretary. .-
The secretary read Communication from the
District Commissioners, inelosng resolution OF
the Senate asking information concerning the
management Of the schools which was laid over
for the time.
A communication from the Commissioners was
received stating that the schedule of janitors sal
aries adopted at late meeting had been ap-
proved, and that 1t would 20 into effect at the be-
ginning OF the next fiscal year.
THE sYPHAx MATTER.
Communication was received from Mr.. Sy-
phax preferring charges against the board of
the Seventh district and Miss Matthews, a
teacher in the colored schools, and asking an in
vestigation. On motion Of Trustee johnson, of
the Seventh district, the matter was referred to
special committee of three, to be appointed from
outside of the sub-board of the Seventh district.
A communication was received from Miss Gym
thia D. Rockwell, renewing her application for
position as teacher in the public schools.
ooLoREp PUPILS VIEWS.
A communication, signed "a Colored Pupil"
asked the board to appoint gentlemen instead OF
ladies as teachers in schools where boys over ten
years of age were taught. The communication
adds that, unless such step is taken, I'VE shall
be obliged TO take the authority in own hands,
and then the ladies, with birch in hand, and tie
backs, will have to defend themselves and take
the consequences. hope the whole board will
take this matter into consideration and not refer
it to the eolored members, for whom We have
proper respect"
AS the communication was anonymous no
action was taken upon It.
Applications for positions as teachers were re-
ceived from Misses Emile Oppreann, Louisa Tur-
ner, Of Cincinnati, Ohio; P. E. Nugent and A J.
UmhOltZ, of Greenwich, Pa.
Trustee johnson, of the Seventh district, pre-
sented the resignation Of Miss Narcissa Joyce,
teacher in that district. Accepted.
The committee on supplies and accounts re-
ported bills approved amounting in all to 50, $685.
80. The bill Of Mr. Rapley for supplies was re-
turned with the Recommendation that it be ap-
proved to the amount of S2j. After some discus
sion, the bill was returned to the District Com
missioners with the Recommendation of the
the committee.
SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES.
Trustee Johnson, of committee on teachers of
the COlOred Schools, made a report recommend
ing that certificates to teach in the colored schools
be given to the following candidates who were
successful in the examination held April ], 1915:
Misses E. NJ. Merritt, Z. w. SomervIlIe, A. VI.
Lane, Amanda r. Bowen, 5. ]. Jones, 5. J. Du-
laney, F. J. Bradford, J. E. Kelly, H. G. Fry and
u. u. Dietz.
THE SENATE RESOLUTION.
The matter of the Senate resolution was again
taken up. The following is the text of the resO-
luton introduced by Senator Edmunds:
ResOlred, That the Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia be instructed to inform the
Senate whether the standard of qualification of
teachers, textbooks, mode of punishment of pu-
pills, rules. regulations. and general supervision
of white and cOlOred schools are the same in
this District and if any discrimination exists in
the management Of said schools in the re-
spects aforesaid, that they inform the Senate in
what said differences consist, and the reasons
therefor.
Trustee Randolph offered resolutions contain
ing the following answers to the inquiry Ofthe
Senate. which, with slight amendment. appeared
as follows:
To the Hon. Commissioners Of the District of
Colombia:
The board of trustees of the public schools, in
response to the resolution by the Senate of the
United States, adopted May =, 1876, would re-
spectfully represent that the standard of qualii-
cation Of teachers, mode of punishment of pupils
rules. regulations and general supervision of
white and colered schools are the same and that
the text books are substantially the same in
every part of this District; that no discrimna-
ton exists in the management of said schools but
that the endeavor of this board has been and is to
equaize the administration Of the several schools
under its care
The resolutions were adopted. AFTER the adop- |
ton Trustee Reyburn offered a resolution, which |
was adopted, that a committee of three be ap-
pointed to prepare more detailed statement in |
relpy TO the Senate resolution, and wait upon |
Senator Edmunds with the Information. Trus- |
tees Reyburn, Randolph, and Johnson were ap- |
pointed on the committee, and afterward Trustee |
Packard was added to the committee
Trustees Smith French, ana heyDurn were ap-
pointed as the special committee to investigate |
the grounds Of the complaint of Mr.. William |
Syphax.
Inc matterwas again brought up for discussion, |
trustee French thinking that as the matter had |
been Investigated by the sub-board Of the Seventh
district 1t would he casting an imputation upon /
mat sub-board if the full board now took the mat
er in hand
Trustee Randolph suggested resolution that
VIZ. Syphax's charges be returned to the District
commissioners, with the Endorsement that the |
ompIalnt had, when first made been dnIy re- |
efIed 10 the Seventh district sub-boarl and afte-
Tue investigation, the sub-board had male are
'ort approving the action of the teacher flIiss !
latthews,) which report was sustained bv
Oard. the |
Alter further discussion, the
he beard was sustained original action oil
ating eOmmittr- ., and the special investi-
Truste"- remained.
French and Smith were excused from
Ie committee, and Trustees Dyer and Champlin
appointed in their places.
Trustee Champln offered an amendment to the |
uleS governing teachers examinations; which was |
eferred TO the committee on rules.