Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-13
CITY AND DISTRICT
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Ex.Minister Smythe Makes q Charge Of
UnfAirneSS In EX amining Teachers.

EX.Minister Smythe Makes n Charge Of
Unfairness In Examining Teachers.
THE SCHOOL TRUSTEES THINK THE CHARGE
GR0UNDLEsS-CHANGEs AMONG THE TEACH
ERs-NIGHr SCHOOLS TO BE OPENED NEXT
MoNTH-THR ATTENDANCE ON THE SCHOOLS.
gentle excitement was caused at the meet
Ing of the school board last evening, by the
reading of a letter from District Commissioner
Webb, endorsing letters from Mr.. John III.
Smythe, ex-minister to Liberia, and Mr.. Alex
ander c. Shipper, the latter q col0red man who
was examined in September tor q leadership
and failed to get q certificate. Mr.. Webb called
attention to charges of favoritism and unfair
ness made by Messrs. Smythe and Shipper and
charge by Mr.. Smythe that unfit persons were
employed in the colored schools.
Mi. Smythes letter stated that Mr. Shipper
had received percentage of only Ala and felt
very unjustly treated, as he had not been orally
examined on "theOry and practice of teaching"
Tor which maximum marking of twenty per
cent was allowed. He was denied this oral
ANIMATION. though no reason was announced.
Mr.. Snythe made some remarks on his idea of
fairness,saying" Preierment should go by merit,
not favor. There are persons in the negro schools
OF this District whose unfituess does not inspire
respect on the part of pupils Ability can alone
De secured by lair and impartial examination"
Mt. Shippens letter stated, he was informed,
that he would be given the same percentage in
the oral examination as he was given AT the
May examination, but he had been given no
mark AT all.
MIR. Darlington, president of the board, stated
That upon receiving the mmunicatlOn he had
answered Mr. Webb that the examination
papers, on their face, showed that Mr. Shippen's
statement was Incorrect, as he was given u
credit Tor an oral examination.
Mr.. Fish thought the board could not spend
time examining a general charge that there
were nnnt persons employed in the schools.
Mr.. johnson thought the tact that Mr. Smy the
was Shippen's brother-in-law might account
for the tone of the letter.
Superintendent Powell stated that Mr.. Ship
pen received u mark in MAY, on mis- examiua-
ton as to his experience teacher. As he
mad had no further experience between that
time and September, i, was not thought neces-
sary to examine MIN further, and the eXaml-
ners informed him that they would give MIN
the same mark as was given In May. He was
aIn1ned IN May, and all o. them assen ted To the
arrangement Al the end OF the first day OF
the examination Mr.. Powell said ne was III
formed that Mr.. Shippen complained OF unfair
ues>, and 1t was arranged that IL Mr.. Shipper de-
sired 1t he could be re-eXaniined orally the mex
DAY. Inc examiners were ready tine next day,
OuL Mr.. Shipnen did not appear.
IL Was decided by the board that no further
tenuenLS were requested To conn unicate the
facts to Commissioner Webb.
THE NIGHT SCHOOLS
Mr.. Powell asked the board for instructions
In reference 70 the organization of the night
schools. They would have two or three times
as much work, he said, this year than last year.
ihe superlntenueutS were Instructed 10 open
The night schools the first week In November.
THE ATTENDANCE ON THE SCHOOLS.
The superintendent report for the month of
September, the first month of the new s hool
year, showing that the average enrolment
for the month was 496 greater than Sep
tember, 1855. There Was an increase OIL 400 in
the white schools aud 81 colored. The whole
number Oh pupils reported as enrolled, 20, liz
1874 White and 1U,35S culored. the a, craze
number enrolled is 27,5O2; average daily at
nf
pioyed, 61s; While, 41u, coiOred, 2OS.
An application Tor position AS janitor was
received from James A. Perry; for reappuint-
ment as teacher from Corneiia 4. Pinkney.
CHANGES AMONG THE TEACHERS.
The resignation OF Miss Emma X. Mason,
teacher fourth DIVISION was accepted, and Miss
Nora q. Thomas was transferred from second
to third grade, and Miss Emma Doyle from first
grade, first division, TO second grade, fourth
division, to provide for the vacancy thus
created. Miss Emma j. Pattei son, of the COL
ored schools, was transferred from class four
teen TO class sixteen. In the county schools
Mary Mckinney was promoted from class nine
10 class ELEVEN; Miss Susie j: Cox, from class
five 10 class seven, aud Miss Jennie NJ. Speare
from class three to class six.
In the first division transfers were made as
follows: Miss NJ. +. Morgan from the seventh 70
the eighth grade; Miss h. J. Mexican. from sixth
to seventh; Miss L. Z. Roeser, fifth TO sixth;
Miss X. X. Macqueen, fourth 10 fifth; Miss l.. Y.
Arrick, third to fourth; Miss Burke from nor
mai school To third grade.
Upon the recommendation of the committee
On teachers, special certificate as a high school
teacher was granted TO Miss Mary Eastman,
and Miss NJ. f. Morgan was promoted from the
seventh TO the eighth grade.
Upon the report OF the examining committee
third-class certificates were granted to barbara
+. Pope and George w. Young aud cerllncates
to teach as sub-asSistants were issued to A. L..
Matthews, James Is. Clarke, Mary X Thomas,
Matte E. Pryor, Mary b. Zthgon, Nora Hoe
gelsberyher Grant burroughs and Jared NJ.
AFTER.