Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-15

A Question Which Again Agitates the
School board.

1
A Question Which Again Agitates the
school Board.
A CONFLICT OF AUTHORITY BETWEEN TRUSTEE AND
JANrToR-THE COMMISSIONERS ASKED TO SEND
| CERTAIN INFORMATION TO THE BoARD-A CoLORED
| INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL PROPOSED.
When the school board met last night, Trustee
Fish, OF the fourth or South Washington division,
introduced to the board DR.. Thompson, OF South
| Washington, representing the Jefferson Literary
| and Debating society. DR.. Thompson stated that
4 his society, composed Of graduates OF the gram
| mar school, had for fourteen years been meeting
In the Jefferson building but now the janitor, Mr.
| Strobel, had locked them out and refused to heat
the schoO-room, where they met once week. un-
| less they paid him s. month The society, he
| said, maintained good library, to (which the
teachers and older pupils had access.
Mr.. Fish said that this institution was practi-
caly night school. He had so far as his author
~ Went, given Instructions 10 the lanitor 10 open
the room but his orders seemed to be disregarded.
81 Think he remarked, 'ahat If a janitor is to
take upon himself such that, 1t is about
| time for us to find out what powers we have
'.He has no right, remarked Mr.. Darlington, "to
| rent out rooms for his own emOlument.'
81 rather fancy" observed Mr. Fish, as he took
his seat, ''that he is treadIng my pTerOgatveS
MT. Johnson moved that the matter be referred
to the local trustee, Mr. Fish, with power to act.
Mr.. Curtis referred to the fact that an institu.
ton In West Washington which had occupied
|
pense of gas and heating
MI. Fish thought that the janitor was required
TO keep the building in order, and it was not his
business to say for what purpose the building
| should be used.
"He might object" observed Mr.. Fish, "to our
| course OF study or to teachers keeping the chill
| dren there after four o'clock"
cor, to follow out the logic" said Mr.. Ross, che
| might discharge the trustee"
| Mr.. johnson said that he did not think that the
| lanitor, II In his division, would remain there
| Mr. Iohnron,s ,,otio, +o rosou a.. r,o+tor +o Nr
| Fish, with power to act, was carried.
THE COLORED NORMAL SCHOOL,
DIR. Francis, from the committee on high and
normal schools, offered a resolution directing the
committee on normal and high schools to confer
with the commissioners with respect to the es-
Enlistment OF Il cOOred normal school,
Mr. Johnson said that provision had already
been made in the estimates for such school, to
withdrawal OF the Miner school trustees from the
arrangement, which had been in existence for
several years. He remarked that it would be APP
propriate, at any rate that the trustees OF the
seventh and eighth divisions should first have the
privilege OF consulting over matter relating to
school in their divisions Certainly the other men,
bers OF the board would not like it il the trustees
OF the seventh or eighth division undertook to con-
troll the Washington high school.
DR.. Francis resented what he considered an in
situation that he desired to control the school.
MIR. johnson said that under the laws as they
exist the colored pupils OF the sixth division or
county, represented by DIR. Francis, when they
were ready to go to high or normal school should
go to the high or normal school for the first six
divisions. They were however, received in the
colOred schools by sufferance.
DIR. Francis resolution was carried with an
amendment by Mr.. Johnson adding the trustees OF
the seventh and eighth divisions TO the committee
for the purpose OF the conference with the Com
miSSiOnerS.
THE TRUSTEES AND THE COMMISSIONERS.
Mr.. Johnson then called up the report he made
at the last meeting from the committee on ways
and means, setting out that under existing ar
r1p no too nd
means OF knowing what expenditures were made
for the schools, and proposing that acquisitions
should be passed through the board Mr. johnson
said there was no desire on the part of the COM
mittee TO reach out for any power OF authority.
Mr.. Ross offered as a substitute for Mr.. john
sons report the following resolutions:
l. That the Commissioners OF the District be re-
spectfully requested to furnish to the board OF
trustees at the close OF every quarter Of the fiscal
year statement OF disbursements made for school
purposes other than teachers salaries.
= That the Commissioners be requested to con-
slider the feasibility ana prOpriety OF having orders
upon the contingent fund submitted to the presi-
dent of the board Tor approval.
B. That the Commissioners be requested to de-
wise plan by which repairs upon school buildings
may be speedily made and completed and sup
plies furnished upon the request OF any local
committee.
Mr.. Ross thought the information needed could
be obtained better by having periodical statements
from the commissioners. He doubted whether
qulred when demand was made upon the cOntin-
gent fund.
quantities of supplies purchased, and at his sug-
geStion Mr.. Ross amended his first resolution by
inserting the word detailed" before statement"
Mr.. Ross said his duties as trustee were already
sufficient to occupy his attention, and he did not
want the burden OF furnishing supplies; he would
rather not have 1t.
Mr.. johnson said he wanted to have some clear
understanding as TO the superintendent or super
vision OF buildings. He wanted to know whether
the JanitOr or The inspector OF buildings or the
trustee or who was responsible. He referred to
the case in Mr.. Fsh's division, where the janitor
had assumed authority over the building.
Mr.. Fish said he unprecedented that the Commits
sionerS would be delighted to be relieved the re-
sponsibity ON matters relating to care and super
vision OF buildings.
Mr.. Ross at the instance Of Mr.. Johnson added
a fourth resolution follows:
4. THAT the Commissioners be requested to require
all matters with regard to the management OF the
SCHOOLS brought to their attention TO be reduced TO
writing and forwarded TO the president OF the
deem proper"
With this addition the resolutions were adopted.
A COLORED INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL,
A resolution offered by Mr.. Curtis, from
the committee On industrial education, author
1zng the trustees OF the seventh and eighth
for the pupils in the colOred High school
was adopted. motion to authorize Bruce Evans
teacher In the sixth division, and a thorough
| mechanic TO devote Wednesday and Friday after
moons TO course OF instruction in the mechani-
cal arts was referred To the committee On teachers
The examination OF applicants for teachers GER
titcates was postponed from December Is to jan
uary a. and, on motion OF DR.. Francis il was de-
cided that where substitute teacher is employed
by any teacher the substitute shall receive the
same pay as a regularly appointed teacher,
Mr.. Johnson remark1ng that 1t had been some
time since the course OF study had had an over
hauling, offered resolution instructing the COM
mltee on text books and course OF study to report
II any changes were necessary in the course OF
study.
Mr.. Darlington remarked that that committee
already had mad such resolution before it for
some tlme and Mr.. johnson Withdrew his resOlu-
ton. The communication recently sent to the
Commissioners by Trustee Francis urging the need
OF cOlored High school building, ana referred
by the commissioners TO the school board was read
THE NIGHT SCHOOLS.
Supt. Powell made report OF the white night
schools during the month OF November showing
the whole number enrolled to be 494: average at
tendance, 3O2; Oldest pupil, 46 years Old; young
est, 13 years Old; average age, Is years. Nearly
every trade is represented, and nearly every pupil
Is employed during the day.
Supt. Cook, OF the colored schools submitted a
report OF the cOlOred night schools for the same
month, showing That the whole number OF pupils
enrolled was 393 The average attendance was
431 there being 151 at the sumner 1866 aJ the John
+. cook building, and ia at the Lincoln building
CHANGES AMONG TEACHERS
Miss Elwida Brooks was granted leave of alb
sence without pay; Miss Anna " Saunders was
promoted to class 2; by request II, v. Lee was
transferred TO the Randall building The follow
Ing substitutes were appointed: Misses A. NJ