National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-02-09
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
February Meeting Of the Trustses-Mrs.
Briggs Complaint Again.

| Fourteen of the nineteen members, In
Guiding Mr.. W. C. Dodge, the successor of Mr.
Somerville, of the School Board, answered to the
roll-call last evening" and business was dispatched
with wonderful CELEBRITY The reports ofthe super
intendents for January showed: Whole number OF
pupils enrolled 22,6il; average daily attendance.
20276; teachers employed, 49, eases of hardness,
1884; cases of corporal punishment, 3d. and num-
berofpupils dismissed, g. Applications for teachers
positions were received from Misses Ella NJ. Ran
kin, Lillian Partridge, Helen NJ. Cleveland, Flor
ence Harroll and Blanche X. Washington, and
Messrs S. L. Williams, C. L. Hempstone, and " b.
Johnson; as janitors, from ]. Jackson and g. c.
Smith
A series of resolutions were read and filed from
the boys of the High School Debating Society urg-
ing the provision of more suitable quarters III a
new building to be built especially for the High
School.
MRS. BRIGGS CHARGES.
Mr. Middleton made a motion for the appoint
mentof committee of Investigation OF the charges
made by Mrs. Emily Edison Briggs concerning an
noyances to which she claims to have been sub
jected by school boys.
In this connection, Mr. Middleton read letter
from Mr.. A. T. Stuart supervising principal of the
Third division, in which, after reviewing Mrs.
Briggs letter and the proceedings up to the pres
ent time, he says:
l had confidently expected, in view of the ex-
| traordinary nature of the charges tinvolyl ng
malicious attacks on both property and person j.
as well as because of the unusual publicity given
to them that the board of trustees would nave IN
quired into their truthfulness. Nearly two months
have elapsed, no investigation has as yet been
ordered and the matter is not now before your
| honorable board. Meanwhile, our teachers and
pupils are resting under the odium OF these dis.
rebutting them. / have therefore urgently TO re-
quest that at your earliest convenience you will
| proceed, in such manner your board may deem
|
| the facts in the case.,-ss a.
The chair named as the committee Messrs.
Pearson, Smith, and Curtis.
| The committee on teachers recommended the
appointment of Miss Helen Pitts to be acting
teacher of school No. u, vice Miss Farley, re-
signed.
| Mr.. Lloyd, after referring to the amounts due
janitors for rent, offered resolution, which was
adopted directing the committee on legislation to
urge the passage by Congress of an appropriation
! for their relief
Bills amounting to sS,3S7.1S were approved and
| ordered paid.
Mr. Smith moved that the public schools be
| closed Friday, the 4th of Marel next, which was
agreed to.
ENTWISLES CAR-TICKETS.
| A discussion arose concerning an item of 40
car tickets used by the building inspectors office
in visiting school buildings resulting in its disap-
| proval.
On motion of.NIr. Curtis, the board proceeded to
consider legislation affecting the interests of the
schools. Whereupon Mr. Lloyd offered the fol-
| lowing, which was adopted
Resoyred, That it is the sense of this board that
thesuperintendents of the schools should be nomi-
| mated by the board to the honorable Commission
| ers of the District of Columbia for appointment
and further, that in the erection of buildings for
the schools, the plans, &c, should be made under
the direction of the District Commissioners, with
| the approval of this board.
The provisions of the bill appropriating 100000
for school buildings were then discussed, the prin
cipal topic being proposition of Mr. Brooks to put
| aside $4,000 for erecting building for colored
children in Georgetown. A resolution was finally
adopted requesting Congress to agree to such di
vision of the funds. The next feature was the sub
division of the District into four principal school
districts, in speaking Of which Mr. Curtis submit
ted an amendment agreed to by the Commission
ers by which the entire districts constituted
A FIFTH SUBDIVISION
for the colored schools. The section in the code
| now reads as follows:
The District of Columbia shall be divided into
four principal school districts, namely: The first
district shall include all that portion of the District
of Columbia which is west of Rock Creek; the
second district shall include all that portion of the
| District between Rock Creek and Seventh street,
extending to the boundary of said District; the
third district shall include all that portion of the
District between Seventh street and the
Eastern Branch; the fourth district to in
clnde all that portion of the District east
of Eastern Branch; and the entire District Of
Columbia shall constitute fifth division for the
colored schools. Hereafter the school board shall
be composed of not more than nineteen nor less
than five trustees; and each of the districts above
named shall be represented in said board by at
least one trustee And said board IS authorized to
make such subdivisions of said principal districts
| as they may deem eXpedient for the proper Organi
cation and management of the various schools
therein.
The section seemed to meet the views of q ma
ority of the board and the secretary was directed
to forward paper to the Senate committee to that
effect. Routine business followed, after which the
board adjourned.