National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-03-12
THE SCHOOL BOARD.
An Interesting Meeting Last Night Which
Discussed Variety Of Subjects,
A Proposition to Introduce Industrial Ed
ucation Referred.
What Was Said and Done Regarding the Suspended
JanOr5 Pay.
Tho Building Inspector Charged VIII
Being Ignorant OF His business.

She regular meeting Of the school board wat
held at the Franklin building yesterday
afternoon. There were present, President
Warner, and Niessrs. Curtis, Baum, Brooks,
Smith, Clark, Puryis, and Griswold Appli-
cations for teachers positions were received
from Clara X. Goodwin, Carrie Thompson, s.
b. Trehornc, and Flora Il. Smith, and for
jlntors' positions from Norman $. Fowles, X.
W. johnson, John a. Thompson, and J. T.
Miller A petition was received from the
teachers of the eighth grade of public schools,
calling attention to the great inequality of
salary which is now paid for the same labor
in the grade in which they teach. This petit
tOn is signed by eleven teachers.
The property holders in the northeastern
part Of the city, in Il petition to the board,
recommend the location of some public school
buildings in that section They say that the
section referred to, east of the eaton AMI
northeast of tho Peabody buildings, contain
n large population and it is believed that nc
other portion is so justly entitled to public
school buildings as that. Filty-two promi-
nent citizens sign the petition, which was re-
ferred to the committee on buildings.
A petition signed by Mrs Blanche X.
Bruce, Helen f. Cook, and others was re-
Ceived asking that room III the Lincoln
and Sumner buildings be allowed them for
the purpose of teaching sewing and other in
dustrial pursuits TO INDECENT Colored children
in those districts. A discussion as to the au-
thority of the board in granting the request
took place, after which it was referred to the
local committee for report.
A communication was received from the
district commissioners stating that they had
received the resolution of the board requests
ing that the janitors of the Gales Garnett,
and Banneker school buildings be paid their
wages, which was withheld until inquiry
could be made as to their responsibility for
damages occurring to the heating apparatus
under their charge.
The commissioners state, that, relying on
the report of the inspector Of buildings, they
can come to no other conclusion than that
through the ineticiency of the ianitors Of the
buildings the school fund has been subjected
to an outlay of something over $1,000 which
would not have been required had the janitors
attended to their duties. They close by stat
ing that they will fill tho re-
quiremeuts of the resolution, but
to fill these Positions
Mr.. Purvis said that the building inspector
was not an engineer and did not at any time
know the real condition of the furnaces, and
had but little knowledge of heating appa-
ratus.
Dir Smith said that the action Of tho in
spectors in making such u report of the fur
knowledge of the question being discussed.
The building inspector did not make the in
vcstigations upon which the report was based,
but subordinate had made the examination.
He cited instances of the inferior work of the
building inspector in making reports.
Mr.. Brooks, in discussing the matter, said
that the practice of snubbing the trustees
had gone far enough. He took the part of the
jantiors in this matter, and thought that
they were not to blame for the damage to the
heating apparatus. When the build
ing inspector made that report,
no but displayed his ignorance with the
question. Mr.. Brooks further stated that
he thought the charge of $3.50 for work done
at the Force building WAS swindle, and he
did not think that the commissioners should
have paid it until they had consulted the
board. The public schools were in nice
state of affairs, he said, where not one but
dozen persons had controlling interest in
them, and each of them thought differently as
to the way the schools should be run. What
was wanted at these buildings, he thought,
was an assistant janitor.
The discussion, finally, changed from
questions as to ijanitors pay to the condition
Of the various schools. The communication
was referred to the committee ON janitOrs,
The report of the superintendent for the past
month showed that the whole number of pu-
pills enrolled was 231l2, with an average
daily attendance of 23,727 The number of
teachers employed was 525 and number of
pupils dismissed was TO-
Mr.. Brooks reported several bills amount
ing to $S,SsO.67, which were approved.
Mr.. Smith offered resolution, instructing
the committee on ianitors to examine and
investigate the manner in which .janitors are
paid, as to the equality of such pay, and to
make any recommendations.
A discussion as to the hour of holding the
board meetings took place and lasted for
some time, after which they adjourned.
THE latest news from Africa Is decidedly en-.