Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-14
THE COLORED NORMAL SCHOOL.
a Resolution Restricting the Number
Of Graduates to Twenty Adopted.

TIE DEBATE on THE PRoPos1TIoN-MoRE TEACH
ERs THAN TEAcHERsHIPs-A NUMBER OF
CHANCES oRDERED-IYrxREsT INo MEETING OF
| TIE PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD.
| question OF importance to those looking
forward to admission 70 the colored Normal
school was determined at the meeting Of the
school board last evening. The attention o.
tho board was called by Mr.. Cornish to 9
notice which he had given at . previous meet
ing proposing some change in the number Of
High School pupils admitted to the Normal
School, He said that under the present sys-
tenn OF admitting each year forty pupils to the
Normal School the supply Of teachers was
greater than the demand. There were not
enough places to give all the graduates teach
ers appointments. The result was that there
was disappointment on the part Of many OF the
| graduates and their friends. This had lead to
| charges of Partially brought against the prin-
| cipal OF the Normal School and to various vex-
| atoms to all connected with the management
| OF the school He WAS Of the opinion that il
would be wise to reduce the number admitted
to the Normal School to twenty-five. this rule
| to go into effect after the admission Of the
present High School class to the Normal
School
NOT PREPARED TO VOTE FOR THE PROPOSITION.
While not wishing to oppose this proposition,
yet DIR. Thayer said that the subject was a lew
| one to him and he would like to have more
time to consider it before voting. 1t seemed
10 him that no harm was done in fact, it was a
dement, to give the advantages of the Normal
school training to the pupils and then they
could go elsewhere and practice their calling
IN the event that their services were not
needed in this District He thought that
they ought not to be deprived Of the opportun-
lily to obtain this education simply because
they were not needed here.
THE OBJECT OF THE NORMAL SCHOOL.
In response Mr.. Cornish said that the Normal
School, in his opinion, was intended to supply
need, and that when it did more than this it
was an unwise expenditure OF public money
The funds Of the District were not intended to
educate teachers for other sections Of the coun-
try. But aside from this consideration the
graduates. in point Of fact, did not go else
where. They remained here where they lived
and where they wanted to be employed. Under
the present system OF providing each year
more teachers than were required criticism
and complaints came from those who did not
understand the situation and there was always
q suspicion Of favoritism. He thought that
the change which he proposed was in the line
OF wise policy.
1t was asked by Mr. White whether this re-
duction In the number of graduates would re-
duce the annual cost Of maintaining the Nor
NAL School.
"NEw BLOOD" IN THE SCHOOLS.
Mr.. Cornish could not say what the effect
would be financially, as he had never examined
that phase Of the question. He went on to say
that only sixteen of the graduates of the pres
ent year were employed as teachers. while of the
graduates OF the year before teachers positions
were found for only fifteen. Each year added
har nff -. Al
public schools, and besides there was no oppor-
tunity to get In teachers from outside Of the
District, as was done in the white schools It
was thought that the introduction Of new blood
had good effect upon the schools. He did
not, however, urge this change because he
wished to seek elsewhere for teachers, but he
thought that it was not right to continue year
after year graduating such a large surplus of
teachers.
In the opinion of Rev. Mr.. Grimke, the num-
Der admitted to the Normal School ought to be
twenty. as 1t used to be. He also said that the
graduates did not go away from the District to
seek employment, but remained here. During
the past year also the vacancies in the lists of
teachers were lessened, because several who
had married had contrary to the usual custom
refused to resign. He thought that if the board
dld not wish to act upon THIS question now it
might be referred to the proper committee.
ADVOCATING THE CHANGE.
Prof. Gregory advocated the change. He
said that it would give an opportunity for Sc
lection from the High School of pupils for the
Normal School. In the white schools those
who entered the Normal School were selected
from large number. but in the case OF the col
ored schools the graduates Of the. High Schoo,
only numbered about forty and the entire num-
Der was admitted to the Normal school, There
were, as might naturally be expected. some
among the number who we're not especially
htted to be teachers but when once in the Nor
mai school they we're graduated as teachers
The same course, he said, was pursued in the
white schools, only, of course, a selection was
made OF those fitted to enter the Normal School
lie asked superintendent Powell Of the white
schools, who was present, if this was not the
case
Prof. Powell said that all the graduates OF
the Normal School were given teachers certifi-
Gates, but he said that there had been cases
where pupils not found TO be well qualified to
be teachers were asked to resign before gradu-
alton, and such request was always complied
with.
MR. MITcHELL's SUGGESTION
1t was suggested by Mr. Mitchell that there
was no necessity for changing the rules. A
resolution could be adopted providing that
only ten pupils should be graduated this wear
from the colored Normal School Next year
another resolution fixing the number of grad
yates could be adopted. He did not wish to
limit the opportunity for acquiring teachers
education, but, If as had been stated, graduates
refuse to pursue their calling unless they can
obtain employment in this city. he thought
that they did not deserve very much considera-
ton.
THE RESOLUTION ADOPTED.
Mr.. Cornish accepted the suggestion to amend
his resolution by inserting 20 instead of Is, and
the resolution as amended was adopted as fol-
lows:
Ordered, That the number of pupils to be
admitted to the Washington Normal School of
the seventh and eighth divisions shall not ex-
coed twenty, tine same to take effect upon the
the Normal School,"
1t was stated by Prot. Gregory that the regu-
lar examination for teachers certificates would
be held on Friday and Saturday of the present
week. President Ross thought that the time
for holding the examination was too late in the
school year. In his opinion An earlier date
would be better. After further discussion
resolution offered by Prof Gregory was
adopted. The question of changing the time for
holding these examinations frCm May to
November or December was referred to the
committee on rules.
DIR. Grimke, the trustee OF the seventh d.
VISION reported that a picture of Mr. VIM
Lloyd Garrison, donated by his sou, MIR.
Frank Garrison, Was presented last Saturday
by DR.. Chas. B. Purvis and was placed i'll the
Garrison building and was received on behalf
Of the board with thanks by himself.
CHANGES IN rEAcHERsHIPs.
The committee on teachers reported the fol-
lowing changes, which were approved
osx~A