Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-19
THE COMING SCHOOL YEAR.
racts OF Interest About the Public
Schools of the District.

Schools Of the District.
THE sIEApX INCREASE IN THE NUNBIR OF
PuPhs-Nrw SCHOOL HoUsKs-rwo BRANCH
HIGH SCHOOLS AND BUsINHss SCHOOL TO BIZ
sTARTED-INCREAsED PAY FoR TKAcHKRa
The public schools of the District will not
be opened this year until the 22d Of September.
This date is only about two days later than
that of last year. The children and teachers
are still enjoying their vacation, and although
the middle Of August is past there will still
be some weeks before the school exercises will
be resumed. The usual work in repairing and
renting the school buildings that is done
curing the long vacation is IN progress. No new
school buildings will be occupied for the FIRST
time when the presentschooly year opens During
the past year, however, about fourteen eight
room buildings were completed and AZ rapidly
as they were flushed they we're occupied by
the schools. This large increase in the num-
Der OF buildings for the schools however is
not yet sufficient to meet the increasing de-
mand.
THE NEW APPROPRIATION BILL
authorizes the erection of four eight-room
buildings during the present year, which will
be located in the first, third seventh and
eighth divisions An eight-room building will
also be built in Anacostia. The erection of a
new high school building for the seventh and
eighth divisions has also been authorized
The sites for the eightroom buildings have
not yet been selected. The District Commits
sioners decide the question of the location of
the school buildings and the school trustees
submit to them recommendations designating
sites which, in their opinion are suitable.
The new appropriation bill granted to the
Commissioners the power of condemning land
for the location of school buildings. aud in the
event that they are unable to purchase the
necessary ground in the location that they de-
sire they can resort to condemnation measures.
THE STEADY INCREASE
in the number of scholars attending the pub
lie schools is shown not only by the increase in
the total attendance, but also in the addition
to the number of school buildings During the
past five years thirty-two new school buildings
have been erected in the Dis
trict and yet the accommodations are not
yet equal to the demand. While there will be
no new school buildings to be occupied at the
beginning OF the coming school year, yet the
number Of new schools is estimated as follows:
Seven in the first division. five in the third, two
III the fourth, one in the fifth, two in the sixth
and eight or nine in the seventh and eighth
divisions. Last year there were about
81 900 pupils in attendance at the public schools
OF the District, an increase of about 200 as
compared with the previous year. 1t il esti-
mated that the same ratio Of increase will be
maintained for the coming year. The addi-
tons made to the number of the schools, with
out any increase in the number of school
rooms, is explained by the system of having
halliday schools, SO that one school room will
do duty for two.
THE TEACHERS.
Owing to the late date when the appropria-
ton bill became law the school board has not
as yet made the appointments of teachers for
be held on the first Tuesday in September the
lists will be approved. There will be but few
changes made In the personnel of the
present corps of teachers. All
those holding teachers positions last
year will be reapponted, with the exception
OF those who have voluntarily resigned.
Owing, however, to the change made in the
average salary to be be paid there will be some
changes made in that particular. The new bill
appropriates for teachers salaries a total of
S544,575 and has fxed the average salary to be
paid not to exceed $685.. This average salary
is 80 higher than that Of last wear. The num-
Der OF teachers provided for is 795, an increase
as compared with last year of fifty teachers
or this number the colOred schools will have
fourteen.
THE MOST NOTABLE CHANGE
that will be made in the schools will be the re-
suit Of the plan adopted for relieving the press
ure in the High Schools. 1t is proposed to
establish branch High School in the Curtis
building i'll Georgetown, one in the Peabody
building on Capitol Hill and business school
in the building on 18th street near X. This
latter school will take the place Of the business
course in the high school and will be a
one years course. The second year pupils at
present in this course in the High School will
be allowed to graduate and then the business
course will be dropped from the High School
The branch schools will be conducted by teach
ers taken from the present corps OF teachers
and there will be some new appointments. The
estimate made of the number Of teachers re-
CURED for the High School and its branches is
as follows: High School, 81 teachers Peabody
School, teachers; Curtis School, 3 teachers;
Business School, teachers.