National Republican., 1884-04-09
THE SCHOOL BOARD.
Proceedings Of the Regular Meeting Last
Night at the Franklin School.
Tho Pupils Are Directed TO Avoid Dia-
Icct, Either In Burlesguo or in Nature.

The board Of trustees Of the public schools
Of the District of Columbia met last evening
at the franklin school building There wero
present President b. II. Warner, Messrs.
Lovejoy, Clark, Griswold, Purvis, Brooks,
Baum, Curtis, Smith, and Secretary G. b.
Rheem.
A communication was received from T.. NJ.
Nourse asking tho attention of tho board to
certain property for sale situated near the
Force school building. Referred to the COM
mitteo on buildings and repairs.
Applications for teacherships were received
from John S. King, Miss Eva f. Riggs, Miss
Rosa A. Jones, Miss Morrow, and Miss
Harriet Jeckell Referred to the superin-
| tendcnts.
Also, an application from Miss Lima Il.
Jones for leave of absence. Granted.
A communication was receiued from Mr. i.
Stern asking permission TO have the Hebrew
children in the schools excused on certain
holidays observed by the Hebrew people.
| The secretary was directed to send the rules
to Mr.. Stern, which grant such excuses.
A communication was received from Mr..
| George s. Prindle relative to corporeal pun
ishment in the public schools, Referred to
the chairman Of the first district committee
on schools. $500.
A communication was received from Prof.
| John Ogden, asking for the position Of super
vising principal in the next vacancy that may
| occur in another kindergarten to be estab-
| lished. Referred.
The report of Superintendents I. Ormond
Wilson and George F. II. Cook was submitted,
showing total number of pupils enrolled in
tho District of Columbia, 2400S; average
number of pupils enrolled 23,697; average
number Of pupils in daily attendance, 2O,9H;
number Of teachers employed, 525 number
of cases of corporeal punishment %; number
| of pupils dismissed, q,
| Mr.. Brooks submitted report from Superin-
| tendent George +. T. Cook, relative to the
voluntary efforts on the part Of the colored
schools for the relief of the poor of tho dis
trct. The report shows that tho sum Of $20005,
1924 pounds of provisions, fifty pairs of
| shoes, and 141 piecesaud ten packages ofcloth-
| ing have been contributed during the winter
months. Ordered to be filed. DR.. Purvis, of
the committee on janitors, submitted report
for the equalization of the pay of janitors in
| the schools, which was recommitted.
Mr.. Brooks offered resolution looking to-
| ward tho preservation of property purchased
| from proceeds of concerts and other enter
tainments of the public schools in the District
Of Columbia and donated to said schools,
which was referred.
Mr.. Baum, of tho committee on teachers
submitted the following report:
Accept the resignation OF Miss Theresa A, Nc.
Gill, teacher fourth grade, first division TO take
effect March II, 1884. Assign Mrs Florence Bart
SSe yec ss %cG Accept the
! resignation Of Miss Mary W. Burchard, teacher in
the first division. to take effect Feb. %, 1884.
| Accept the resignation of Mrs. Flor
ence NJ. Collins, teacher second division,
to take effect March 81. 1884: Promote
lins, resigned. Appoint Miss Mary Davis teacher
Of SECOND Grade IL psss of Miss pro
Perry, subassistant in place Of Miss Davis ap'
pointed teacher, from April l, 1884 Accept resig-
NtE,, 6 all NalsA TAV.Nt
1854 Appoint Mrs. Carrie Thompson teacher, vice
Miss Kelley, resigned, Approved. T. a., ,u.
schools Bands Of mercy ana total abstinence pag so
tives Of these organizations to visit the schools
pupils written pledges. and submits to the board
| the following report: The board has already rec:
prescribed to be used by all teachers the follow
ing rules: They 0he teachersl shall endeayor on
e. incSGss on their SsH pupils
for the aged, forbeaTance, toward the weak, re-.
Kindness to animals desire, for knowledge. and
obedience To the laws OF God.
| While 1t is the undoubted duty Of the board to
carefully provide in the curriculum ofthe schools
| for the most sound moral training of the youth
committed to its care, the committee is of the
opinion that 1t would not be expedient or proper
for the board to authorize the administering to
the pupils Of solemn pledges In writing as a
means ofinAuencng their conduct.
In the opinion OF the committee, this is a matter
that should be exclusively under the control of
the parents, and should be attended TO outside of
| the schools.
II is therefore recommended that the offer to es-
tablish bands of mercy in tho public schools be
| declined and that the resolution OF the board,
passed at a meeting held December IL authorizing
| the distribution of total abstinence pledge cards
among the schools be rescinded.
After o discussion upon the report by
hessrs. Curtis, Brooks, Smith, and Lovejoy,
action upon 1t was, on motion Of Mr.. Curtis,
deferred until n future meetinP.
Mr.. Smith, of the standing committee on
rules, offered a resolution to change rule so
that candidates for certificates of the samo
grade be examined in the same questions,
which after debate was by vote of to
laid on the table.
DIR. Purvis offered resolution that, as at
; both white and colored schools il has been
the practice to buresque and hold up to ridi-
cule tho peculiarites of other races that,
therefore, such practices are detrimental to
goodsmorals and manners, and foster a race
prejudice which should not exist. Adopted.
Mr.. Brooks offered q resolution that the
several local committees prepare and submit
to the board for the consideration of the com
mittee on buildings and repairs list of re-
pairs that, in their Judgment, ought to bC
made during the vacation upon the school
buildings. Adopted.
Mr.. Brooks, also of the committee on &C.
counts, submitted a report of expenditures
during the month Of March of $2,345.0S
Approved.
: Mr.. Smith offered resolution to close the
colored public schools of the District of Co
lumbia on emancipation day, April 16
Adopted
Tho board adjourned until the second
Tuesday in May.