Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-30
PUBLIC SCHOOL MATTERS.
''Miss Brown" Has Something to Say.

"Miss Brown" Has Something to Say.
To the Editor Of THE EVENING STAR:
As firmly believe that our public schools
| are the bulwarks of our national liberty watch
| the proceedings of our school board with not a
! little interest, and wished, when l read of the
| manly stand taken by Mr.. Darlington that
could take his hand and tell him how much
honor him for his plucky fight in defense of
| the merit system. Every talk have had since
then on the subject with those interested in
| such matters has shown me that am only one
OF many in my admiration and that express
the sentiments Of n goodiy number of our COM
munity when l wish that he may ''liye long and
prosper"
Another part Of that meetings. proceedings
is also mighty intere.tin' readin'." mean
| that which refers to "a series of examinations
| for teachers which should be compulsory
| something, suppose, in the style of the COM
pu.sory examinations for impossible promo
| tons INDUCED III by the War department not
SO very long ago, which cost the government
any amount OF time and money, worried the
| CLERKS 10 the verge of uselessness, and had as
results magnificent nothing.
| HOW THEY GET THERE.
! Let US see how our teachers reach their
positions: Here. say in the first grade are
three little tots, starting out on their road of
learning Two are always at the front. the
third lags just as surely behind. Grade after
| grade the story Is the same until when the
transfers to the high school are made number
| three, being deficient usual, is left out and
seeks some other employment. The other two
| continue their course for three years longer at
the high school, at the end of which thew ''trv''
| Tor the normal school. with hundred or more
bright, ambitious girls for competitors; and
here they all meet on fair field with no
! favor. Before the examination begins each
picks up slip containing a number. which,
ait:r having written her name on 1T, she seals
/ up In an envelope. All her examination papers
she marks with the number thus chosen. and
only when they have all been corrected and
marked are the envelopes opened and the
names ascertained. Then the percentage made
| during the three years high school course is
added, and If the result thus obtained happens
to be among the forty highest she Is one of the
elect and everything is lovely; if not. well.
then-there are squalls often and opinions
that all was not quite fair. However.
number one OF our young ladies is among
tho upper forty; number two is not
HE former puts in another year of extra hard
work in the theory and practice of teaching
ana then gets diploma and an assignment to
first or second grade school, with a
salary OF S40O per annum. After some years
OF haTd work and having proved herself as
| specially capable she is promoted" to. say, a
! third grade school, where the patience of job
! the wisdom OF solomon and all the combined
eXceilencles of all the saints and martyrs are
required to produce order and satisfactory re-
| suits. She succeeds and receives the lnunifi-
cent sum of $3.50 year and the prospect of "a
| series OF examinations which should be COM
| pulsory. Number two. in the meantime
has obtalned government position and is in
receipt OF <l.2O0 per annum. while number
three, having also made an effort in that di-
rection and failed, usual. in her civil service
! examination, has to be content with n position
| on the laborers' roll in the same department
| which brings her an annual income of $780,
Comment Is superhuous.
SUGGESTION ABOUT PROMOTION.
! Now, before ANY changes go into effect at
| the beginning of the year" very humbly beg
| leave to suggest method of promotion which
has only been neglected because it is SO ridcu-
lousy simple and fair. Every supervising prin-
! clpal must if he does his duty be thoroughly
aware of the work done by each teacher in his
division. He knows the quality and require
ments of each school as we'll and is therefore
| the only proper person who can justly recon-
mend teachers FOR promotion. As he is to a
great degree responsible for the success of the
schools IN his district it is to his interest to
! produce the best results by squirting on ambi-
| tlous teachers and rewarding faithful and
meritorious work. 1 know one of these gentle
men, born educator, who had been through
| most if not all his schools before the first dav
| OF the present school season was over and who
knows to dot just what is done or left undone
here, there and everywhere i'll his domain. At
any moment he is liable to appear on the
scene, suggesting, aiding. warning reproviug
snperUs'ng in the full sense Of the term.
Surely, such as he are the ones into whose
capable hands such trust as that Of a system
OF promotion should be laid. "MIss Brown"
Saturday Smiles.
The less woman believes in a man the
| orr aflrf
her.-IHitcdukee Journal
The man who objects to being dunned rather
likes being found out.-Terds Sittings
When a married woman goes out to look after
her rights her husband is usually left at home
with his wrongs.-Boston Courier.
We've pastime in the present time,
Though present time is here;
The present times next Christmas time
And then pastine is near.-Good1lpS SUM-
Noah must have been good deal of a mete-
orologist to see the flood" AS well as an
arkaologist to be able to get out of the way of
it-eh?"-Ha,pe,''s Bazaar.
Bum-.'Why is the way of the transgressor
so hard?"
Pard-"'Spose because it's travelled So
much. Chicago CHAT.
NO." said the Doodle alderman sI shall not
lend my vote to such thieving scheme" And
he didn't lend it, He sold 1.-THE Spellbinde,.
The race is not always to the swift A one
eSSeu iat iliSth Can cdlcH cOiQ as quickly
sprlnter. Binghan,tOn Leader.
A Vermont woman, in extolling the Qualities
of domestic for whom she desired place
concluded with the remark that You will find
her very confident girL."-St ADans Messen-
ger.
Little Louise was told that her grandmother
had died and had gone to heaven. and was
| asked if she didn't want to be in heaven with
her. swell" replied the little one, Il would
like to live with grandma, but l don't want to
go so early. boston Herald.
Fangle (reading) -"Edison often consumes
! fifty cigars day."
| Mrs. Fangle-''I should think he would invent
| a machine to do it for him. "-Ne,o York San.
| The Young Man (bitterly)-'If that is YOUR
| final answer, Miss Cabiff be it 50! There is
one refuge for the desperate souI-one last
| resting place for the broken heart! FAREWELL
| The Young Woman (alarmed)-'In mercy's
| name, MIR. kedjoe, what are you going to do?"
II am going to offer myself to Victoria Pol
| hemus!"
with q scream) -"What! Throw yourself
away on that vnegar-faced old-stay, Charles
I-I-"-Chicago Tribune.
Mr.. S.ayathome-"What are you going to do
| with the shears John?"
John Gust from England) -"Hi'm poin' to
trim the hedge Of the edge, sir."-New York
| Sun.
They were discussing at the dinner table the
phase OF college athletics uppermost in the
public mind at the present time-s.slugyiugm
IN the game OF foot ball, 80 wildly exemplified
| IN the recent Princeton game with Harvard
One member of the family said. az haliaya i,