Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-11
FREE SCHOOL BOOKS.
What 10 Provided for In the New Approprfa-
ton Blu.

ton BIN.
Free books viii be supplied to some of the
pupils Of the public schools Of this District at
the beginning of the next school year. The
| appropriation bill passed at the last session
| contains clause providing the sum Of e25 900
for the purchase Of school books for the public
school children. The amount originally asked
was $50 600 and the plan was to supply books
at public expense for the scholars in the eight
grades of the public schools. The amount was
scaled down one-half and it is estimated that
the appropriation will not be sufficient to pro-
vide books for the pupils beyond the fifth
grade. 1t is possible that only the scholars
from the first to the fourth grades can be sup
piled. How far the money will 60 will Of
course depend upon the terms that can be
made with the book publishers 1t is also pos
sible that as the scholars now attending these
schools have books that the money available
will in this way be supplemented and the plan
OF supplying books free Of cost extended to
higher grades.
THE PLAN NOT YET ADOPTED.
The method which will be followed in in
augurating the system Of free school books in
this city will be determined by the District
Commissioners after consultation with the
school authorities. The matter has not been
considered so far, but it is probable that it will
be taken up and some plan decided upon be-
fore long. While free school books are Q novel
feature in the public school system in this Dis
trict it has been in successful operation in
other parts Of the country. In Ohio and
Massachusetts,, for example, the school books
used in the schools of the entire state are
BY the ss'e .Sosr and
Of course, understood that these books
are loaned, not given to the scholars.
Rules will be formulated governing the dis
tribution, the use and the return Of books,
with proper penalties attached for violations.
1t is expected that this system will be extended
to all the grades Of the public schools, and the
unfavorable comment made on the present law
is the injustice Of providing portion Of the
scholars with books at public expense while the
balance are obliged to buy the books.
CHANGES IN TEACHERS sALARIEs
Another important change in the law relat-
ing to public schools is the clause in the new
appropriation bill, which provides for the sals-
ries of teachers according to the classification
now in operation. Heretofore the sppropria-
ton for teachers salaries has been made in q
lump sum, with the proviso that the average
salary paid should not exceed . certain sum.
For example, in the last bill an appropriation
was made for the pay Of 795 teachers at an
average salary not to exceed $3.50. classifi-
the school board and the salary list as it now
exists was arranged. The new appropriation
bill, however, adopts this classification and
provides for the pay Of the teachers in each
class. The number Of teachers is increased by
fifty, so that next year there will be 845
teachers, but no change is made in the salaries
or in the average salary.
NEW SCHOOL HOUSES AUTHORIZED.
The new bill literally authorizes the erection
of five school buildings and building for the
Capitol Hill High School. This structure will
be erected at a cost Of $4,000 on portion of
the ground surrounding the Wallach School
building. The new school buildings will be
located in the following divisions: One in the
first, one in the third, two in the sixth and one
in the eighth.