Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-03-11

es~S~eeA~sss .0s
At the monthly meeting OF the board OF
school trustees, last night applications for
teachers positions were received from Minnie
Hodgtns, 7. Y. Hawkins. ]. Harry Waters and
n. Louisa Roberta
Mr.. Lovejoy, chairman OF the committee on
teachers, reported the following recommended
tons: Appoint Miss Mary W. Burchard teacher
In the sixth division, to be assigned 10 the first
grade, 70 take effect February 1, 1885; accept
the resignation Of Miss Adele B. Gray, teac her
In the fourth division. TO take effect March Id,
1885; appoint Mrs. Z. L. Weaver and Miss Alice
Morgan substitute teachers in the second divi-
sion: grant Miss A. l. 1flghman, teacher second
grade, seventh division, leave of absence for the
rest OF the current school year without pay:
tute 70 second grade, vice -liss TilShman sp-
point Miss Bessie b Myers. sub assistant, vice
Miss Die,z transferred. as substitute to second
Mr.. Lovcjoy also reported a resolution 'that
the Recommendation of the committee on
teachers To declare null and void the order OF
the local committee Of the second division for.
pidulng percentage eXamina tious In said d.
Vision be, aud the same il hereby, adopted by
The committee also reported back again a
ieport made some months ago against the
! I'M Of bands OF mercy or temperance
would not be expedient or proper for the board
70 authorize the administering TO pupils OF
solemn 80 pledges in writing with the view OF
All OF the report relating to changes in teach
ershtps was adopted: the resolution relating TO
and the part ofthe report concerninr the organ.
ization OF bands Of mercy being laid over for
discussion.
INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION.
Mr.. smith, nom the committee on
manual training, submitted a report saving:
In this country at present the subject OF tech
nical education Is very earnestly and widely
discussed. employers are beginning to feel
r rna the supply OF trained workmen will not
replenish 1t. Parents are beginning TO feel that
their SONS might do better than become book
keepers or clerks, briefiess barristers. super
huous clergymen, or unemployed physicians.
Young men are beginning to feel that the gem
erous wages earned by skilled foreigners would
paid by shopkeepers, or the meager incomes re-
ceiNeo 6y the great majority Of professional
men men. The press throughout the country has
reference to the crowded ranks OF the shabby
genteei. And when William Mather. who visi-
royal commission appointed by the English
ton, delivered an addres In Boston, his audi
Ing educators, economists, and thinkers Of the
state OF Massachusetts. Another consideration
has presented ITSELF and that is. to what extent,
II any should We change the course OF study in
our public schools in order TO undertake the
business Of technical education. One of the
oracial bodies In the United States having the
supervision Of public education, expressing Its
sense OF the high importance of reinforcing the
school education which shall earlier Dit lows 10
enter into trades, and with some assurance that
1nesr preparatory studies are likely to assist In
making them intelligent workmen. This mat
ter your COMMITTEES leave to the further
consideration OF the board without recom-
m sn, on 10 conclusion, We respectfully
1st- That We must recognize the fact that the
great majority OF at least the boys i'm the public
schools must become skilled or unskilled work.
Eien, whether they wish it or not.
e. Ihaf we have no system OF apprenticeship
In this country by which trades can be learned
various trades unions the number OF apprentices
ships are limited, and only few are admitted
'n atS hb this ;Sgste So OF Learning:
greater than the supply, and necessity forces the
Importation Of foreign labor, at the cost of the
In view Of these considerations your commit
Industrial education be created by this board,
subject, With view to its permanent introduce
ton into the public school system of this bis,
trics. Your committee would further recon-
mend that industrial training, SO far as practi-
cable, be at once introduced into the public
schools by voluntary effort. We believe that
and the management of the work, the result
VIII be an unanswerable argument In favor of
an appropriation for the establishment OF per-
manent system of industrial training"
The report was laid over for discussion
Mr.. Birney offered a resolution, which was re-
ierred to the committee on libraries requesting
tnat committee TO report a uniform plan of or
ganlzat1on Tor the school libraries in the eight
lower grades.
uNGRADED SCHOOLS.
Mr.. Birney also called attention to the exist
ence in other cities Of ungraded schools for the
reception OF new pupils, who could not easily
be fitted into the grades as organized. For the
purpose OF obtaining information which would
torm basis for action in this respect he offered
afnS,I 49,,
report to the board the NUM- Der of children in
each Of the four lower grades, three years older
than the proper age OF admission to such grades
The resolution was adopted.
DISCUSSING MR.. BIRNEY AGAIN.
The board then took up the resolution re-
ported by the committee on teachers respect
ing the order made by Mr.. Birney suspending
percentage examinations In the second divt-
sion, and very warm discussion followed.
DR.. Purvis proposed to recommit the subject
to the committee on teachers.
Mr.. Curtis referred to the language Of the re-
port a. unparliamentary and not creditable to
the records Of the board.
afr. Lovejoy said that for himself he had no
apology to offer and nothing TO take back
Mr.. smith protested against the phraseology
of the report and favored recommitting it.
Mr.. Brooks said he had signed the report de-
liberately because he believed it was truthful.
He thought that greater harm had never been
by the adroitiy drawn preamble to Mr.. Birney's
Mr.. BROOKS DISORDER.
After some discussion, DIR. Purvis said he
thought Mr.. Brooks and Mr.. Lovejoy were SUI.
fering from excessive nervous sensibility, like
men physicians met with in their practice. to
whose Imagination fly appeared as lion.
He did not see by what right q member Of the
board had to refer to the language OF another as
adroit.
Mr.. B1RNEY IN HIS OWN BEHALF.
Mr.. Birney said that 80 far as the language of
the report was personal to himself he had moth
in. to say, as the community would judge as to
the character of the persons concerned. as well
as to the truth OF the charges. He said in refer
ence to the charge that he had insulted the
board, that in his resolutions he had expressly
declared that the abuses OF which he conf
planned existed without the authority of the
board. He said that the questions which he
raised were not local. They were being dis
cuSsed in every city In this country and In Eu-
on educational matters took the ground that
he did, and were opposed to competitive exam
nations.
MI. smith and DIR. Purvis, being suddenly
called away, 1t was informally agreed that &C
ton on all the report, except the recommended
tIon to annul Gen. Birney order be postponed.
This recommendation was, after some discus
sion, adopted.
During the discussion, Mr.. Baum, president
OF the board produced petition from teachers
Mr.: Birney objected to having teachers come
before the board in that way. The petition was
not then received, as 1t was decided out of
order.
A Partial Eclipse Of the Sum.
inst. It will be visible in Washington If the day
be clear. DR.. ]. Morrison, Of the National uni. |
versity, sends the following circumstances Of
ILL., C>ls