Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-04-10
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
NJ citing Of the Trustees Last Night
Will the Schools Have to be
ClOsed?-Tbe Quo stiOn Decided.

ard.
Communications were received through the
DlStIIct Commissioners fiOm Th0s. l.. Hume,
proposing to purchase a lot in the county
owned by the District; and from Mr.. COombS,
proposing TO sell lot in Georgetown for
school purposes.
TIE ABSTRACTS OF SUPERINTENDENT RE
PORTS
enrolled-White: Washington, 10,!6l: George
town, ! los; county, 800. COlOred Washing
ton, 1881: Georgetown. 81; county, 800 al
1884: Number OF teachers empoyed-White
schools: Washington, DO: Georgetown. p;
county. q. Coloreed schools: Washing on.
l9O Seor g Il county tStaI SO
White schools Washington, 81 ;Gc )rget Town,
s.: county, 10. COlored schools: Washington,
g: Georgetown, q; county, S5-total; l25.
ing on, II; Georgetown, ] county, l. Colored
County, Total, 20.
APPLICATIONS FOR TEACHERS POSITIONS
Ware, Mss. Helen Mari Merrifeld of Wash
ingtO, a. A. Barnett, of Oneida, n. Y. Car
lie +. Reid, OF Norwalk, Ohio; M. l.. Venable,
OIL OF Bro nG Md; Frank Lacy, Of Washing;
NJ. Z. Thomas, of the sixth district, was ac-
copied.
TEMPERANCE, ETC.
The committee on text books, to whom was
referred the letter of Mrs. Il. Z. Hartwell cor
responding secretary of the WOma1s Tenn
perance union, recommending the adoption of
report referring to the adoption OF HOtzcS
First Lessons in Physiology, which is admira-
bly, suited TO give the pupils a general and cor
rect idea of the laws of health, further than
which the committee do not think well, as the
pupils are already taxed to tue limit of their
endurance, and perhaps even beyond this
point, in The acquisition of the simple and gen.
eral and necessary elements of learning. They
recognize the importance Of the subject OF
temperance, and say it properly belongs 10 the
press ana pulpit, and they deem the adoption
oil a special book on Ibis subject unWiSe, The
report was adopted.
the proposition for suburban homes for teach
erS as impractIcable, especially at this time :;
TIE sane committee reported adversely on
adopted.
The same committee recommended that
johnson Encyclopaedia be adopted at book
O. reference; adopted
NO MEDALS.
The committee Oh examinations and prizes
reported back the resolution offered last fall
notwithstanding the system OF awarding
medals OF honor, and directing that the teach
eTS or other employees violating the rule be dis
missed. The committee say that they have no
no system OF awarding medals and there is
rule already forbidding the award of any prizes
nOt authorized by the board adopted.
COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIPS.
The committee on rules reported as an
amendment to the rules the following - The
tirst-named member of any committee shall
shall be the chairman, and in his absence, or
being excused by the board, the next member
and so on as often as the case shall happen,
unless the committee, by majority of their
number, elect a chairman subsequently
Mr. Lloyd offered q substitute that the first
named member act as chairman, and in event
OF the Office OF chairman becoming vacant, the
president of The board be empowered to fill
the vacancy. This was referred and the con-
sdel alton OF the subject postponed.
MUSIC.
The committee on music, announced that at
halfpaSt seven p. m next Tuesday, the 18th
instant, TIE different systems o. teaching
music in the public schools viii be eXemplifcd
and tested.
The committee on accounts TeDOrted a num-
Der of bills.
THE ALL IMPORTANT MONEY QUESTION.
Mr.. Dyer inquired as to the amount of money
to The credit OF the schools, and suggested
th.t the board should BE- fully informed before
taking action On these bills.
Mr.. Ford answered that according to the
account kept by the District Commissioners
there was but $l3O3l now in the fund. but the
accounts OF the board showed large credit
$4,000. This difference is explained by the
fact that the District Commissioners have paid
some Interest and other expenses and these
accounts had not been acted on by this board
The bills now before the board would reduce
the amount to about $1,000 which would run
the schools to the 10th instant. but if these
bills are not paid they could run a few days
longer.
Mr.. Brooks said the committee on legisla-
ton bad been persistent before Congress in
asking for an appropriation, and they had
Seml-Ufilclal infolmaui0n that the amount is
now in one OF the deficiency bills pending in
the Senate.
MI. Lloyd cOrroboratad Mr.. Brooks, and re-
marked that he had yet To hear a member of
either house say word against it. The ap-
preparation asked, as he understood from
Senator Window, was in bill now in confer
enCe committee.
Mr.. Smith asked if the board closed the
schools at once would not the teachers hold
them for this months pay. He did not see any
trouble at this time, and it would time enough
for the board to act when they received orders
TO shut I'D shop.
MIR. Dyer said if the bills were paid the
SCHOOLS WOULD HAVE TO BE CLOSED AT ONCE,
thoroughly, Tor it is no tri1ing matter with one
swOOp TO close the schools of the District The
law, however, was explicit. AS for the appro-
Indefinite period. He did not understand that
Congress would do anything for the District,
and he suggested that the board at once CON
Ter with the COmmissioners on the subject.
=, The board resolved itself into committee of
the whole with Mr.. French in the chair and
Mr.. Dyer said if the bills were not paid the
money, would last till Friday. There were
several cOur ses which might be taken. One to
run the schools in the buildings owned by the
District, and the parents to pay a small tuition
fee to the teachers. Then the amount neceS-
AIRY might he obtained as a loan to be repaid
by taxes.
MI. Ford said the amount on hand would last
until Friday night.
Mr.. Lloyd said that the board had had no
notice from the Commissioners on this sub
ject, and he suggested that no action be taken
until they received official notice He had
scarcely doubt but that Congress would pass
an appropriation for the schools and he Sug-
geSted that every member work on Congress-
Should they appropriate 81, 800 it will require
the strlctest economy to run the schools two
months.
Mr.. Brooks said that the District Commits
SiOnerS bad all through the year impress ed
upon them that $3.50, coo was all they could give
for this year. He would go to the Commits
siOners, and through them to Congress- 1t was
grave question they had-the throwing OF
10000 CHILDREN ON THE STREETS,
and, Judging from the experience of the past
long vacations tend to make criminals of some.
The sudden StOppage Of the schools would be
very damaging in other respects; the pupils
would be thrown out Of grade, and the teach
eTs would suffer.
Mr.. johnson offered a resolution that the
committee on legislation wait on the District
Commissioners and confer with them relative
TO the present financial condition of the
schools.
Mr.. Curtis suggested that the Commission
ers be informed that the $4,000 allotted is
about expended.
Mr.. Davis read from the communication of
the commissioners that the allotment was for
eight months.
Mr. Holland said that when they had con.
ferred with the Commissioners on special sub
jects and asked for money Governor Dennison
would smile and Captain Phelps say, "Yes, if
the people pay their taxes; " and he favored
asking them for money.
PROPOSED CONFERENCE WITH THE DISTRICT
COMMISSIONERS.
Mr.. Dyer said that the point was to help the
commissioners get money, and not get money
~ q az ha oil nurin