Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-12

CAUSES A WARM OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES AND NON
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. FOR SUPPLIES, &C.
meeting Of the Board Of Public School Trus-
tees was held last evening. communication OF
Augustus Watson, suggesting that temperance
pledges be introduced in the schools, received
and referred. The nominations of Miss Cornelia
Clum, James 7. Freeman, P. n. Barley and Miss
Marcella T. Bear for teacherships were referred.
The nomination OF Mary B. Stevens was with.
drawn. The resignation OF r. NJ. Mitchell, sixth
division, was accepted. The applications OF II. C.
Boldin and Frank Reed for janitor positions were
referred. The committee of the sixth division Of
Tered an order that five teachers instead OF four be
allowed the graded school at Uniontown, and four
instead OF three at thelschool at Mt Pleasant Re
ferred to committee Oh teachers.
The local committee OF the eighth division re-
ported that 1t had been brought TO its attention
that in August last the JanitOr or the Randall
bulid ng aDsented himself for several days with
out leave, cxpOSingea large amount OF public prop
erty, and asked an investigation. Referred.
REQUISTTIoNS FOR SUPPLIES.
Mr. Brooks made report from the committee
or ways and means, supplies and accounts, in ref
ence 10 the letter OF the Commissioners Of June
26, 1885, relating TO accounts and supplies. The
report says that the general scope of the letter OF
the Commissioners as to acquisitions for supplies
is IN harmony with the bylaws of the board Sug-
geStionS are made rs to manner in which requisi-
lions shall be made. The report says further:
the board, and the necessity TOR the inform ,tion
and I'm order TO enable the board to intelligcntly
manage The school affairs, husband the resources,
and submit proper and Wise recommendations
and acquisitions for and in behalf OF the schools for
the actIcn or the Commits ,ioners, recommend that
the Commits sfonerS be requested to furnish to YOUR
committee monthly statements OF all accounts
against the school fund which they have ordered
to be paid, and OF which the boart and committee
have no knowledge. including all bills FOR repairs
10 school buildings. giving names OF buildings and
amount exIended upon each. IL IS absolutely ne
cessary that the board should be informed as to
the amounts expended on account OF the public
schools 10 enabls It to properly and 1ntelligently
administer public school affdirs, and to manage
the trust imposed upon 1t by law. The cost per
capita for tuition, incidental expenses permanent
improvements, and in fact the whole cost, and
cost In detail depend upon the information; an a
denial to the committee OF this renders It's reports
on fin Incial matter OF little or no value to the
board, the Commissioners, the public, and
tfOn."
The report was explained by Mr.. Brooks. Mr..
BirnHy questioned whether the recommendations
could be carried out. On motion OF Mr.. curtis its
consideration was postponed, and it was ordered
TO be printed.
FUEL BURNED LAST YEAR.
The committee On ways and means reported the
figures for fuel furnished last year. for the infor-
nation OF the board, footing up 1,ss4al tons fur
mace, 656H W. a. egg, 155 r. m. c., BIZ W. a. S.,
Chestnut, 3r. a.. s. IS cords long pine wood, and
1925 cords S. & S. pine. The appropriation was
Sl9,5OO and there Was expended s19,S SO. Re-
rerred.
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST FIRE.
Mr.. Warner offered resolution requesting the
Commissioners to direct the inspector Of buildings
to examine into the preSent condition Of the school
buildings Of the District With reference to safety
from fire and facilities for escape in case of such
casualty; and Superintendent Wilson and Cook
TO report TO the board at the next regular meeting
what, Ii any, StepS are being taken to facilitate
the escape or the children from the large school
buildings In case OF fire. The resolution was
adOi ted.
THE COMMITTEE on TEXTBOOKS ENLARGED.
Mr.. Smith. from the committee On rules, reported
the following amendment TO the rules, providing
that all the standing committees shall consist of
three members each, except the committee On
teachers, textbooks and course Of study, which
shall consist of five members.
MIR. Smith said that in so important committee
as that on textbooks portions OF the District
not represented.
Mr.. Brooks said that to Increase that commit
tee would put the control Of the board in the COM
mtJee
Mr. Birney said that he did not know whether
Eve members OF the committee would do any bet
ter than three; that there was some !ffiCuity
even now in determining which was the commit
tee and which the board He instanced the COM
mittee having On that day introduced three new
textbooks into the high school connected with
the study OF Greek, a language which the colleges
all over the country are getting rid or useless
one. Even Harvard has male IL an elective study.
The committee appeared to be acting indepen-
IDENTIFY SIN he thought the board bigger than
NJ. B.rney said the committee. In bis opinion,
had exceeded lis authority to text books in the
hisi, schoo. Ir II could &c shown that COM
mittee OF five would come nearer the rules he
would vote for It.
Mr.. Warnar sud that the text book committee
had n I'd but one meeting and but little time to
oVerturn the work OF the committee last year,
or which Mr.. Birney was member. 1t was true, as
r.Birney had said ..hat they mad placed new *.
DOCKS on the list and introduced Greek, but 1t did
not entail any additional cost, unless parents
We're disposed to incur it The study was cleo. i've
and the Standing In other studies not nffected
By IL. They had haard 1t commented on that the
nigh school did not prepare for college, and Mr..
Birney himself had SAID that he had been obliged
TO get private tutor TO prepare his boy for col
leg". 1t was to meet just such cases that the
committee had taken the action IL had.
Mr.. Brooks said the committee had been partic-
fin ling that none would be entailed, they had
taken acton. He repeated that 1t was to give
pupils q preparation for college that this action
had been taken.
THE TAIL wAGGING THE DOG.
Mr.. Curtis said 1t appeared to him that the tail
waggei the dog, for the committee On teachers
had assumed to be the board. When there Were
nineteen members it was Well enough to have five
members OF the committee, but with board of
nine members such a committee was too large
He suggested an amendment that the committee
should be required to report its action to the
board.
III yon do that" said Mr.: Brooks, there Will be
the devil to ply"
IL only REFERRED" said Mr.. Brooks, ITO a gentle
man with whom / supposed that you were ac-
quaintej." tLaughter.]
The report was adOpted-yeas 2, nays (NIr.
BrOoks) !.
MIR. Brney offered resolution that the board
does not approve OF the Introduction OF Greek in
the high school
Mr.. Warner raised the point that the resolution
was out OF order, as not being in time, AMI the
chair SO ruled.
NOMINATIONS OF TEACHERS
Mr.. Warner, OF the committee on teachers.
reported that the committee had issued the fo,-
lowing temporary certificates: First class-Miss
Helen Simmons; second Glass;. w. Douglas,
AMI third class-Henrv W. Hewlett, Quincy E.
&. Kendall and A. +. Greeley.
The nomination Of Miss NJ. B. Stevens, first
graie, TO the Prescott building. vice Miss Alkaline
VOicott transferred to Nj. Pleasant. Is not an
proved, for the reason there appears to be no de.
niaud for an ad !itonal teacher at Mt Pleasant,
pioyef, and the average attendance last year W as
lug pupilS-an average or "a 10 each.
Accompanying the committees report was q re-
port OF supervising Principal keene. OF the sixth
DIVISION, showing the organization OF schools at
MI Peasant As follows: School No. g. Ii pupils OF
sixth grade. 10 OF seventh, and or eighth: total
30 School 10, 22 OF fourth grade and 9 OF NTH :
total 81 School II, IL OF first IS OF second and ~
OF third: total, A..
The report Of the committee was considered by
sections, and all excepting that relating to the
schools at Mt Pleasant Was adopted
The board adjourned to next Tuesday.
The River Steamers All Safe.