Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-12

| THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVES MR.. PowELL's
PLAN TO ESTABLISH FREE KINDERaARTENs-
BUSINESS OF LAST NIGHTS MEErINa-CHANGEs
AMONG TEACHERS
The school board decided last night to close
the schools for the Christmas holidays on the
I'D of December and reopen them on january
.. The recommendations made by Superin-
tendent Powell to establish twenty free kinder.
| gartens were discussed and we're Endorsed by
resolutions of the board. Mr.. Powell recon-.
mends an appropriation of s13. 700 for addi-
| tional teachers necessary, $40, 900 for rent Of
rooms and $4,000 additional for the manual
| training or contingent fund. With these
amounts. he said, he could maintain twenty
free kindergartens, each accommodating forty
pupils or more.
Mr.. Thayer. from the committee appointed
to draw up the annual report submitted the
document the committee had compiled. and it
was approved by the board. After recounting
what had been done b. the board to meet the
demand for high school accommodation the
report saws:
'.It reserved for further study the question
as to what permanent provision should be made
to meet this demand for larger High School &C
coElmodation.
1T is perhaps unfortunate that there should
be any pOstponement of the settlement of this
question. as the course suggested to meet the
emergency cannot be followed for more than a
year without serious Inconvenience to the
graded schools.
1T is proposed to determine the matter at
the earliest possible date 80 that proper estl-
mates for any additional appropriations that
may be required can be submitted to Congress
at lts next session.
The experimental Business High School will
be studied with great care and solicitudc. and
great confidence is felt that it will prove to be
"a oil nlarf mi Of M
school system.
The board renews former recommendation
for the introduction of free kindergartens. and
believes that their establishment is not only
Special attention is invited TO the recommended
tons made by the superintendent to addi-
nonal teachers and appropriations required to
introduce and maintain twenty kindergartens.
COST OF SUPERVISION.
The cost of supervision OF our schools is re-
markably low compared with that in other
cities. BY reference to table it will be
seen that the cost per pupil on average enroll
ment is only seventy-seven cents
Reference TO recent published statements on
file in the bureau of education. and examined
by courtesy of Hon. T.Harris shows the cost of
supervision per pupil in the following cities to
be:
Boston. 81 &c Minneapolis 49,. 2.G4
Brooklyn. ....... 400 Chicago. 2.16
Newars. 40 Washington. ~
The small cost of this item in our system is
not credi.ahle to wisc administration as to a
sentiment of economy.
Our corps of superintendent and supervis-
ing principals has remained the same in num-
Der and in compensation for many years. not
withstanding the phenomenal growth in num-
bers of pupils and schools. That the high
standard of work mas been maintained with
this doubling of quantity ard responsibility
must be largely due 10 the special skill and zeal
of our supervising force. But there ia a limit
to capacity and it is manifest that the limit is
already passed. Universal experience cannot
be safely ignored. Partial and temporary re-
lief can be afforded by assigning teachers of
the corps to duty as assistant supervising prin-
cipals. but such service of the best quality
cannot be obtained for any considerable time
without paying the salaries due to efficient
service of this class.
mo. only is our supervising corps much
smaller than in othe- cities with which COM
parisOn may properly be made. but the rates
of compensation also much lower. A lib
eral change in both these respects cannot be
avoided much longer. 1t is beyond rea-
son to expect that our present enlarged system
can be properly supervised with the same
corps which was merely adequate when the
number of pupils and schools was half the
present number.
THE year has been one of steady progress in
the face of all discouragements. Every de-
partment of the system has given proof of it's
firm and sure foundation. Very few complaints
come to the board from any source and "a graft
flying esprit du corps prevails among the teach
ing force.
a very manifest duty did it not commend in the
strongest terms the skillful and labOrious work
of Supts. Powell and Cook and the very eff
cient service Of the supervising principals"
CHANGES AMONG TEACHERS.
Changes among teachers and employees were
approved as follows:
Second division-The resignation of Miss s.
E. Wheelock, teacher Of the sixth grade, was
accepted Miss H. j. Brooks was appointed to
the vacancy.
The resignation of C. L. Barron as teacher of
third grade. second division. was accepted.
Fourth division-H. l. Davis granted leave
of absence from November l. 1850, to June 30.
1891. z. A. Doyle promoted from $500 to !65O
per annum. to take effect November l. J.. G..
Nash promoted to fifth grade. A. L. O'Donnell
promoted from $500 to $3.50 per annum. to take
effect November /. Eunice Brown appointed
temporary teacher at 400 per aHnun, all in
the fourth division.
Miss Emma E. Bright appointed as substitute
teacher in the third division.
Fifth division-H. G. Nichols promoted to
fifth grade vice Miss Brewer. Miss Carrie NJ.
Douglass appointed to third grade vice Miss
Nichols. Miss Hettie Bell appointed " first
grade.
In the sixth division A. ID. Bell promoted
from S425 to s475. L. l.. Chase transferred
to the fourth division. Minnie Riggles ap-
pointed teacher at 400 per annum vice Z. l..
Chase. transferred.
Substitute teachers were appointed as fol-
lows: Miss NJ. Z. Caliaghan. Miss $. l.. Keen,
Mr.. Joseph Shamwell, Miss Iniie Lord. Miss
Ida Pywell. Phiilis Towles was appointed
janitor of the Bunker Hill Road School vice
Mrs. Elizabeth Butler, resigned.
Eighth divlsion-Leaves Of absence from
September 1. 1886, to january I, 1891. granted
to Miss Nj. f.. Benjamin, and from December /,
1880. to April l. 1891. to s. c. Warning. Sallie
Goines appointed temporary teacher at IL
salary of $3.50 per annum. NJ. A. Contee pro-
NOTED from s400 TO $500. Effie A. Parke and
Sarah L. Saunders nominated as sewing
teachers
Seventh division-L. Z. Malvern promoted
from $500 to $3.50. ]. B. Evans granted leave
from November ID, 1890. to January l, 1891.
Leonora Joice appointed temporary teacher
at $500 per annum,
Substitute teachers appointed
Mary T.. Adams. Ida NJ. Brown. lydia A.
Dickerson. Ellen H. Docket, Annie T. Gillem.
Sarah Hall, Martha Lee. Martha A. Peyton.
Ella L. Perry, Mary F. Quander. Mathew Will
Jams.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
A petition was received from eight residents
| in the neighborhood Of the Garrison building
| complaining of the noise made by the pupils of
the school, who are forced into the street. and
asking that the school be closed until play
| grounds are provided.
The committee on high and normal schools