Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-25
CITY AND DISTRICT.
MONEY AND CIGARETTES.
Important Matters Before the school
Eoard Last NIGHT.

MOAEF AND GIGARETTES.
Important Matters Before the school
Board Last Night.
THE ESTIMATES FOR NEXT YEAR SAID TO BE
iNsuFFicihNT-DR. PURvIs WANTS TO MAKE
A Law AGAINST CIGARETTE sMoKING-Two
TRUSTEES DECLINE TO SERVE ON COMMIT
TEES DC.
When the school board met last evening the
secretary read the following petition from the
teachers IN Inc Blair building: 1--WE have read
win regret OF your acquiescence in the resolu-
tion onereo by Mr.. Birney at your meeting of
the 1Otn instant The resolution referred to
changed the boundary lines of the school divis-
ions, SO as to place in the third division the
Blair building, to which we are assigned. Some,
at least OF us felt the first assignment to be act
OIL 1nJustlce, but we remained silent for various
reasons, the strongest probably being our desire
to avoid giving our honored principal, Mr. Gage,
any emparrassment in the discharge of his
duties. NOW, however, we feel that the time
has come to make an appeal to the board.
While we wish it distinctly understood that we
have no personal objection to the tlird di vision
or to any of its officers, we do feel q decided
objection to being moved about like so much
school furniture Some of us have taught in
the second division for years and feel attached
to it; and while at the present time we do not
find all things satisfactory, we indulge the
hope that we may in the near future once more
feel our wanted confidence in all our officers
and pleasure in teaching. We therefore desire
most earnestly to remain in the second division,
and beg OF the board to SD far reconsider their
action as TO defer the readjustment of boundary
lines TO the close of the present school year.
Most OF us have permanent homes, far enough
removed:from the Blair building, but as third di-
vision teachers we would be subject to assign
mentS next year removing still farther from
home. Believing that the board contemplated
no injustice in their action, we come to them
confidently W
main, &C." This paper was signed by Louisa S.
W s1sh41r ! A. East NJ G Garst, l. e;
u. Cox, and Abby E. Hopkins.
The paper was filed.
Mr. Smith, of the eighth division, reported
that he had suspended the janitor of the RAN
dali building, who had been arrested on seri-
GUS charge, and the board approved his action.
THE AUTHORITY OF A TRUSTEE.
DIR. Purvis, of the sixth division, nominated
]. f. Strother as teacher of the school at Mon
tello, vice D. J. Bruce whom, he said, he had
suspended because he seemed unable to control
the boys and had a habit of absenting himself
from the school. A long discussion ensued
upon the power of the trustee to suspend a
agreed that the trustee had such power and the
teacher had a right to appeal to the board. The
difficulty was finally solved by Dr. Purvis
changing his report to read that he had sus-
pended Mr.. Bruce and recommended the revo-
cation OF his appointment. This recommends
ton was approved and the nomination OF Mr..
PRIVATE INSTRUCTION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Mr. Birney offered a resolution to permit the
use of school rooms between $3.50 and $50 p.
m. by teachers or advanced pupils who desired
to take private instruction from public school
teachers.
Mr.. Brooks called attention to the evil that
might arise under SO indefinite a resolution
permitting teachers to supplement their sala-
ries in the manner proposed. He thought some
central place should be proposed, and restric-
tiOns placed upon such teaching.
Mr. .Lovejoy expressed himself in favor OF
doing anything that would promote education.
Mr. Birney's resolution was adopted.
Mr. Curtis from the committee on teachers,
announced that the semi-annual examination
of teachers would take place Saturday, Decem-
Der 9th, at 8 am.
THE ESTIMATES SAID TO BE INSUFFICIENT.
MIR. Brooks, chairman of the committee on
ways and MEANS presented the following report
or memoranda for the Information of the
board: Under the provisions of section 8. part
l. article vi of the bylaws, it is the duty of the
committee on ways and means to inform you
that the amounts estimated and submitted by
the Commissioners of the District of Columbia
to the Secretary of the Treasury for the support
OF the public schools, to be revised by that Off
Ger and sent to Congress, are inadequate to
meet the wants of the schools.
The duty of the Commissioners requiring
them to estimate for the support of every de-
partment of the District government, and also
for the part support Of United States institu-
tiOns established within the limits of the Dis
trict of Columbia, they no doubt find that the
revenues of the District are insufficient to meet
the demands The estimates for the support of
the public schools for the next fiscal year were
prepared from reliable data and for only such
necessary sums as will actually be required.
No wild estimates, with expectation of their
being cut down by the revising authority, were
considered or adopted by the board. Therefore,
the totally inadequate estimates submitted by
the Commissioners for the support OF
board again the .b facts to the
seek relief by congressional action. The time
has arrived when the question must be pre-
sented to Congress for settlement whether in
the District of Columbia all children OF school
age shall be provided school accommodation or
whether by a failure to provide the necessary
means iHiteracy and consequent crime will be
increased? The schools must be progressive to
be healthy. The number of pupils will increase
school life here is not now more than five years,
and for want of means only little over two
thirds of the school population is provided with
being school age, white and colored, District of
Columbia, United States census, 1SSO,) 43, 55S.
Total number in the schools June, 1850
vision, 1886.
At a joint meeting of the Commissioners of
the District Of Columbia some five or six years
ago, committee on appropriations OF the House
of Representatives and q representative COM
mittee Of the school board agreed that the
wants Of the schools for proper and sufficient
be annually estimated to erect necessary school
buildings. This amount is totally inadequate
to meet the pressing wants of the schools for
the next fiscal year; yet we find that the estl-
mates submitted by the Commissioners do not
ask for one-half of this amount. The following
significant figures, prepared and submitted to
the chairman Of the committee by one of the
school officers, will show the necessity for some
action of the board to at least secure the apprO-
val and cooperation of the Commissioners to
get a sufficient sum to maintain the present
organization OF the public schools:
[Ihis statement shows that the estimates for
1SS6-'S7 provide increases over the appropria-
tions for the current year as follows: Police
department, $50; fire department. 81 500;
health department., 50 $50; new improvements,
10000 concrete pavements, $25,OOO new
sewers, $4,000; cleaning streets and alleys,
ers, $20yOO0: municipal building, S125,OOO.
Total increase, S32O,27O. The only item in
which the estimates show a decrease is that of
the public schools. The current appropriation
is 1864 $50; the estimates, $3.50, 09S; decrease,
No doubt Congress will come to the relief of
the District OF Columbia, if the wants of the
schools are energetically pressed upon its at
tentton oy the commissioners and the board.
The submitting OF estimates for the support OF
the schools for the next fiscal year Of SIS 1892
less than was appropriated for the present year,
and in view of the present insufieiency, shows
that the public school interest is regarded with
very little favor and less understood by our
government than is well for the best interest of
the community. 10 avert great harm to the
schools TINS BOARD must exert its best influence
with the Commissioners and Congress, to pro-
cure the necessary means for their support. No
doubt proper representation of school interest
will avail TO dlSabuSe the minds OF our local
government officers of the comparatively low
value OF pubic education in the District of Co