Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-14
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Matters COnsidcrcd by the school Hoard
Last Night.

| NORMAL SCHOOL PRINCIPAL The SCHOOLS.
The regular monthly meeting Of the board OF
school trustees was held last evening. Applica-
tions for teachers positions were received from
| the following named: Jennie T. Rugg, Miss A. VI.
Cottrell, Miss Susie Garst, Miss Minona Maedel NJ.
| M. Snyder and Nettle Snyder. Applications for
janitors positions were received from the follow
/ Ing: Richard p. Kuhn, Silas Headley, Andrew Il
King.
| The Commissioners informed the board by a
/ written communication that they had designated
W. $. Matthews as supervisor Of the public school
buildings and jantors OF the District, ito act for
them so far as IL is their general duty to see that
ane several pnbnc school rooms and puiidingS are
| tion practicable with respect To cleanliness, heat
/ ana ventilation, and that the fuel furnished Is
| properly supplied and economically used and in
pursuance Of this DUTY 10 give such instructions TO
the tanitors as he shall deem necessary, and TO
make report to the Commissioners OF any neglect
! incapacity OF said janitors In the premises that
might DE- brought TO his attention by others or fall
fnttee on JanitOrs, and copies ordered to be 1ur
nlshed the superintendent.
Petitions we're received from s. Thomas Brown,
the retention OF c. b. Wibirt janitor OF the curtis
building; also a letter to the same effect for VIM.
G c@@mn and t+o APEleSy
Tor or music, which haH been sent to the Commits
sioners and referred to the board, was read. Mr..
Butterneld states that his salary has been reduced
| 1or the present year from $1,000 to $1,000. He
thinks 1t was unjust because, as far as he knows,
he Is the only teacher whose salary has been
duced as compared with the salaries OF last year.
! Referred to the committee on ways and means.
| THE INVESTIGATION OF JANITORS.
| Mr. Gregory, from the committee on teachers
! and janitors, submitted a report in the cases of
| the Janitors OF the Abbott, curtis, sumner, and
| Lincoln buildings. The report states that the
committee held meeting on the 9th instant, aud
there were present b. request the supervising
! principals OF the divisions in which the buildings
( named are located. the principals and tantOrs OF
said buildings and Z. +. Nermion, assistant to
! the Inspector OF buildings W M lttheWs SUI
perintendent OF school buildings and JantOrs, the
report adds, declined the invitation OF the COM
/ nlttee 10 be present. The committee states that
IL Is evident that before change could be effected
in the Jani OrshipS in question the lateneSs of the
season would render unnecessary the further use
OF the heating apparatus. In view OF this fact
| continues the report, together with the recon-
Inendation OF the school officers and their state
lnents that the Jantors in question are either sat
sfactOily performing their duties other thln those
pertaining 10 the heating apparatus or are show
| ing Improvements In the performance Of such du-
ties. the committee concludes that the welfare OF
the schools would not be promoted by a change at
/ this time. The testimony taken is appended to
the report and the committee states that IL shows
that In only Two OF the cases is there question
as 10 the competency of the janitOrS TO manage
the heating apparatus. while IN third case the
building Is heated by Il Ruttan furnace.
The committee, therefore, advised that the board
concur In the recommendations OF the school OIL
| named be continued on probation till the END OF
the current school year. at Is assumed" adds the
committee, "that at that time the several local
committees Will nominate for the ensuing school
year only such persons for janitorS are fully
competent TO perform the duties required OF
Them"
In conclusion the committee recommend the
strict enforcement OF the following provisions:
First, that Incompetent JantOrS be removed and
Others appointed, " no are able and willing to per-
form the duties required. thus guarding the inter-
ests OF the schools and relieving the board OF trus
tees and the Commissioners OF the District OF adj
criticism; second, that applicants for posi-
tons as janitorS OF steam-heated buildings be
required 10 obtain license such Ia required Of
steam engineers by act OF Congress, approved
February ~, 1887, entitled "An act TO regulate
steam engineering In the District OF COumbia;"
third that applicants for positions Janitors Of
| furnace heated buildings be required 10 pass an
examination satisfactory TO the committee on
teachers and janitOrs; that such applicants must
De at least twenty lone years OF age and OF temper
ate habits; must make application In writing, to
which application must be attached a certificate
as 10 character and moral habits signed by az
least three citizens OF the District, themselves of
moral standing.
The evidence taken by the committee was read
by the secretary OF the board. Upon the con-
clusiOn Of the reading Mr.. curtis suggested that
as the charges against Mr.. Wibirt, the janitor Of
the Curtis building, had not been sustained In the
investigation, that the report OF the committee, as
far as it could apply u him, be amended and that
he be retained and not be subjected TO the proba-
ton applying 10 the other janitors.
This suggestion was accepted by the committee
without a vote being taken.
An amendment was offered by Mr.. Darlington
that all Janitors now In charge OF steam heated
buildings should be required 70 get cut a license
and pass an examination as recommended In the
report
The amendment was cOncurred In and the re-
port as amended was then adopted.
In reply TO an inquiry ft was stated tn at the
provisions OF the report applies To janitors now
employed. and II would be the duty OF the com
mittee on janltors 10 see that they were carried
out
IN FAVOR OF INCREASING THE SALARY
Mr.. Darlington. from the comuhttee on High and
Normal Schools made a report upon the commu-
nication OF Miss Emma S. Atkinson. principal of
the Normal school, asking Increase OF salary from
$3.50 10 $1,000. The report recommends the
increase OF the salary 10 81 500 per annum which
Is the former compensation attached TO the posi-
ton In question, and advises that the increase
made as soon possible consistently with legisla-
ton upon the subject. The commit Tee favor an In
crease TO 5000 in the salary provided that the
Recommendation contained In the last report OF
the board for the much-needed general increase In
| the salaries OF The teachers be ravorably acted
upon by Congress.
The committee take exception to the under.
standing OF the scope OF the duties OF the position
entertained by Miss Atkinson In the statement
companyfng her application FOR increase the sal
ary They state that the theory that the principal
OF the Normal school Is general supervisor OF the
primary schools OF the first six divisions err
roneous. In the opinion OF the committee the du-
ties are limited 10 the training OF the Normal
School pupils proper, Including, OF course
the supervision OF the practice and model schools
| connected Herewith. The report maintained that
the only responsibility attached TO the faculty OF
the school In relation 10 the teachers who have
graduated from that school Is that which would at
tach 10 the faculty OF any similar institution whose
1 SNtuudiCS prove NInOuI ut2lluCdti0n
ntness for the work OF teachers. The recommenda-
| ton as 10 salary and the observation upon he
scope OF the duties OF the principal the COMMITTEES
states are intended TO apply equally TO the Miner
Normal school, The report was adopted and or
dered 10 Dc referred 10 the District Commissioners
| CHANGES IN rEACHERsHIPs.
The following designations OF teachers were ac-
cepted: Mrs. L. B. Brooks ana Eliza c. Davis; also
the resignation OF Richard NJ. Allen janitor OF the
| Bradley building.
The following recommendations were referred 70
the committee on teachers: From Dr. Francis
promote Misses VI. ). WayInan from class & TO =
NJ r. Church from class II to Is and j. T. Thomas
/ from class 10 d. From Mr.. Ross, substitute
teachers. Miss Susie l. arst and Miss SalIie Mott
In the second division. From Mr.. Cornish, numi-
nations, Miss Martha y. Gray as teacher In class
.. grade I, 10 take effect March IA: Miss Hattie l.
Hawkins az teacher Ia school "a, grade l. class
| 70 take effect February rs.
Mss WALKERS REQUEST
| communication was received from Henry Y
Cobb, secretary OF the Washington Teachers Ben
encial Association, stating that he holds the sum
! OF $500 on account OF the certificate OF member
snip OF Marie l. Walker, deceased payable Nav
4, 1855, to r. A. Paul, Of the High school, "tO be
/ used by a committee OF three be. APPOINTED nv
the school board. VI which he Is TO be, chairman
I In the purchase OF books-chieiiy scknti,ic-for
! the High school library"
Mr. Curtis, from the committee on High and
Normal schools, TO which this subject had been
referred reported IN favor OF the president OF the
board naming the two additional members OF the
board. IN recognition OF the thoughtfuIness and
conscientious love OF her profession the committee
recommends that the books To he purchased with
the money pe kept far possible ulstinct from