Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-13

THE SCHOOL BoARD-THr INEQUALITIES OF PAY
THE MATTER OF TEACHERS MEErrses--A PRO-
POSED BRANCH HIGH SCHOOL
Mr.. G.. +. i. Cook, superintendent Of colored
schools, did not attend the meeting Of the
school board last night. This was not an un-
usual thing, for Mr.. Cook is never present, but
Trustee Fish made Mr.. Cooks absence last
night particularly conspicuous. DIR. Francis,
trustee Of the colored schools, had asked
question in relation to the appointment of
colored teacher, which provoked some discus
sion
as Mr. Cook here?" said Mr. Fish, looking
around the room. Il would be very glad to
hear what Mr.. Cook has TO saw
''He is not here" said DR.. Francis.
isn't there a rule" said Mr.. Fish, ''requir-
ing the superintendent to be present at the
meetings OF the board? / will ask what is the
reason he is not here if any of you gentlemen
are prepared TO answer it?" Mr.. Fish looked
over to the eolored trustees.
Il am not prepared to answer IL, said DIR.
Francis, ''and never expect to be-"
well, ;" said Mr.. Fish, ''if that rule is not TO
be obeyed we might well strike il out Mr.
Powell is always here. The rule was adopted
for the purpose of having Mr.. Cook here, too.
in the hope he would give us the benefit of
what little wisdom he has / just remark that
in passing"
TIE woRNLEY SCHOOL CONTROVERSY.
DIR. Francis had the secretary read the letter
70 him from Commissioner Webb. published in
THE STAR, denying that any action had been
taken looking to the transfer Of eolored schools
from the Wormley building to the new build
ing to be erected on Montgomery street,
Georgetown. He said the question was being
agItated by some OF the most respectable col
ored people in the city, who had been led to
believe that such a change was contemplated,
and he asked that this letter be placed on
record as an official denial of the rumor.
Mr.. Mitchell, the Georgetown trustee. said
there was not particle Of foundation in any
manner. shape or form for the rumor. There
seemed to be an idea. he said that the people
of Georgetown had an idea of expressing the
eolored people. This he denied emphatically.
There was nothing in this matter, he said, and
he would not put the letter on record
Mr.. Fish said when they formed at a meeting
held in frst-class colored church-the 18th
street Presbyterian church-presided over by
John +. Cook. statements were made that this
board intended to make such change, he
thought that some notice should be taken of it.
He thought il proper under the circumstances
that a resolution should be adopted denying
the report.
1t was finally decided to spread MIR. webb's
letter on the record.
The TEACHERS MEETINGS.
The reports of Superintendent Powell and
Cook in reference to the resolution adopted at
the last meeting calling for a statement of the
number Of teachers meetings held, the charac-
ter of the meetings, &C.. was read. Mr. Powell
gave figures showing the number and different
kinds of meetings held in the white schools.
while Mr. Cook referred only generally to the
meetings in the colored schools of which. he
said. no record had been kept He did not
think that there had been the need of these
conferences since the schools had been sup
piled by the normal school with skilled teach
E%rrx al l. l.
about the reports. referring to Mr. Powelrs as
an able and valuable paper. When contrasting
IL with Mr.. Cooks, he said he was more than
ever impressed that there was not the care over
the colored schools that there should be. On
his motion it was decided to print two thousand
copies of each report.
On Mr.. Whelpley's motion the reports were
referred also to a select committee for such
recommendations as the committee chooses to
make. President Ross appointed Messrs
Whelpley, Fish and Francis as the select COM
mittee.
Il think" said Mr.. Fish, 'if Supt. Cook had
been here tonight and obeyed the order of the
board he might have answered a good many
questions. / suggest that that committee in
vestigate also why he is not here 1t would
have been interesting to have had him here"
INEQUALITIES IN PAY.
Mr.. Whelpley called attention to the petition
from school teachers, sent to the Senate and
published in The STAR, complaining of the in
CAPABILITIES in pay and of deductions made in
their pay on account of lack of appropriations,
and other grievances. The petition. which had
reached the board through the District COM
missioners. was read by the secretary.
Mr.. Mitchell asked whether the statements
we're true.
Mr.. Darlington said that the statement of the
inequality of salaries. caused by the abolition
of the system of longevity-pay, was true He
did not. however. think that it was true that
experienced teachers in the same grade re-
eeived less pay than teachers of longer expe-
rience and service. Mr.. Darlington referred
70 the subcommittee appointed by the Senate
District committee year or two ago to inyes-
tigate the school system of the District. The
committee. he thought. had never had a meet
ing. He expressed a wish that such an inyesti-
CATION should be made, so that Congress might
have better understanding Of the needs of the
schools.
1t is rather unusual remarked Mr.. Ross,
ito petition to investigate"
MR.. FIsH's GRATITUDE.
Mr. Fish said as the appropriations for the
ensuing year had been practically agreed upon.
1t was too late now for the petition to have any
effect. He regretted that il had been sent to
Congress. II it had gone earlier he believed
II would have embarrassed these appropriations
by confusing matters. AS it was they had re-
eeived more satisfactory bill than ever be-
fore. He felt. he said, grateful to the appro-
prlations committee. IF was able. " he said
Il would do as the Commissioners did the
other day-take them down to Chamberlin's
and treat them" He criticised the action of
teachers in going to Congress without making
their wants known through the board He had
told the teachers in his division that he thought
they were foolish
Mr.. Mitchell said he had received petition
Of similar purport. which represented that the
pay of eighth grade teachers ranged from $3.50
In some cases to 81, 500 in Others. He did not
understand why this should be So
Mr.. Darlington said that the $3.50 teachers
were seventh-grade teachers assigned to the
eIghth-grade schools, because the appropria-
ton bill forbade their appointing any new
eighth-grade teachers, and they were COM
PEELED to assign a seventh-grade teacher at
seventh grade pay to teach any new eighth
grade school, Mr.. Darlington said that the
irregularities in pay caused by the abolition of
the longevity system had been crystallized by
Congress- which had put provisions in the ap-
preparation law, forbidding increases in paw or
increases in the number OF teachers in particu-
lar grades. which practically prevented the
board from remedying the evils complained Of
The petition was referred to Superintendent
Powell. with request that he furnish state
ment Of facts
Mr.. Mitchell offered a resolution which was
adopted. reuueStinr the couopniftaa or, taaobars