Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-07-08

local showers during saturday after
noon or night, winds shifting to south
easterly.
SCHOOL BoARD.-At the monthly
meeting of the City School Board held
last night Mr. VIM, H. Marbury pre-
sided in the absence OF the chairman,
and six other trustees and the Superln-
tendent were present.
Mr.. Vincent called attention to the
need Of filing under the floor OF Lee
building to prevent water from settling
Hereunder, and suggested that the
work be ordered to be done at once.
After some debate as to the adylsa-
bilitv of draining the water from under
the building, the matter was referred TO
the committee on schoolhouses and fur
nitlre with request that the com
mittee furnish approximate estimates OF
the cost of the work at the next meet
ING. The same committee was directed
to examine the other school buildings
and ascertain what repairs are needed.
4 communication from Messrs. L..
Kraft and i. Stabler stating that they
had attended the examination of Mr..
T.. l.. Scharf's German classes in the
public schools, and that satisfactory
progress has been made by the pupils
Considering the limited time devoted to
the study, was received.
The Superintendent stated that one
of Che examiners had said that unless
more time was given there would be
but little practical use in teaching Ger
man.
4 communication from Mr.. E. L.
Schaif making report Of the German
classes taught by him in the schools
during the year, and making two prop
ositions for continuing the same; viz:
One that he be paid 500 a year, and
tie other that he render the services of
the Clerk Of the Board and teach two
German classes for $500. was received.
Mr.. W. f. Cane said that the Board
had never resolved that German should
be taught as a regular study.
No other action was taken except TO
receive the communication.
The clerk asked for instructions as to
the salary OF the ianitor Of Peabody
building. and was directed to continue
1t 81 at present while the art and Ger
man classes were taught in that build
ing.
superintendent Carne then read to
the board a portion Of the statistics pre-
pared for his annual report, showing
chat there were 1.067 white and 737
colored pupils received into the public
schools of the city last year. being q
less than the preceding year. There
were, however, about q hundred child
rel waiting admission almost all the
wear. I.!any of whom could MOI get in at
all. The average enrolment was $40
whites and 596 colored, one less white
and seventeen less colored than last
year. and the average attendance, S43
white and 5G3 colored, three less white
and forty-tive less colored than last
year. The percentage of attendance to
average enrolment was 81 for white
bows. % for white girls, 90 for colored
boys and 81 for colopcd girls, being the
same for white boys. per cent. less Tor
yhite girls. and per cent. less for both
colored boys and girls than last year.
This. he said was attributable to more
sickness among the children; five OF
whom had died, the largest number
since the establishment OF the system.
Tho health of the teachers had, how
ever, been decidedly better, only forty
nine half days having been lost by the
whole thirty-onc employed, against
eighty-three last year. There had
been, too, much greater punctuality,
there having been only q cases in
which a teacher was not in the school
room - minutes before the time for
opening against - last year. The
greatest improvement, however, was in
discipline. There had been but six
cases of suspension for misconduct in
whte and three in colOred schools,
against 20 in the former and IS in the
latter last year, while the cases of cor
poral punishment had decreased from
3lS in white and ll9 in colored schools
last year to III in white and y in col
ored this year, considerably more than
half the cases in the white schools be-
ing III one division, where there was an
Inexperienced teacher. The average
age ofthe children remained about the
same as heretofore, IL years and four
months, which. as the rules was to set
down the age on the last birthday,
practically meant about y. Pupils
werc remaining longer in the schools.
there having been 80 white and 10 col
ored pupils over 10 this year against 81
and, respectively, last year. His own
work, had also, been greater He had
paid $50 visits to white and 123 to color
ed schools. Not having had time for
thorough examination of the children
personally, lie had given all four schools
an Identical oral examination on analy-
sis, with the result that all stood about
equal except the colored girls, who
were Zone division excepted somewhat
inferior. he then gave statement OF
the number of white boys promoted or
remaining in grades for next year as
follows: LIST. 40 (the residue of 100,
sixty having been promoted.( I'd, II +;
Sd, 20; 18th. us: 9th, 20; 9th, S.; 9TH,
"A; Sth, 81; eth, 81; 10th, -. This
showed. he said, great progress, the up
per divisions being now crowded rather
than the lower This would, he thought,
necessiiate the establishment Of at least
one mere division in Washington
school, yet he did not see where it
could be placed, tho building and its
annex, the academy being already full,
and there being no money to build.
One of two things might be done-one
of the basement rooms might be fitted
up for school room, or the second
%. grade might be divided into two halt
day schools. Another white female