Evening star., 1896-02-12
THE SCHOOL TRUSTEES
Washington's Birthdays to Be Properly OBJ
served in All the Schools.
Sugeestions as to a Change I'm the
System of Supplying Fresh
Drinking Water.

Franklin building yesterday afternoon
There were present Messrs. Whelpley
Hazen, Wilson, Bruce, cornish and Shadd
and Mrs. Terrell and Mrs Stowell, with
Mr.. Joseph Falok as secretary
A communication was read from Mr..
Timothy j. Campbell in reference to the
adoption by the board for use in the
schools of Mr.. c. E. Bells popular essays
on the care of the teeth and mouth. The
matter was: referred to the committee on
sanitation.
To Celebrate Washington's Birthday.
Superintendent Powell stated that ne had
been waited upon by Mr.. Woodward. presi-
dent of the board Of trade, and Gen. Spear,
chairman Of the committee on education of
that organization, with a view to having a
general celebration in the public schools OF
the coming anniversary of the birthday of
Gen. Washington Mr.. Powell said the idea
struck MIN as good one. and she had
taken the liberty of informing the two gen.
tlemen named that the afternoon of Fri
day, the 21st' instant, would be set apart
for the celebration of the anniversary. 1t
was arranged. he said, that exercises ap-
propriate to the occasion should be aeld in
all the public school buildings on that day.
They would include singing, the reading of
Washington's farewell address, or some
other patriotic selection, and an. address by
a citizen. Mr.. Powell said that the board
of trade would provide a speaker for each
school building, and that the board would
be represented at each building by one or
more of its members.
On motion of Mr.. Wilson, the action of
the superintendent was fully approved, and
he was authorized to proceed on the lines
indicated.
Many New Buildings.
Word was received from the District
Commissioners that the new school build
ing at the intersection of Blair and Riggs
IT,, L~I
school, and that the new school house at
the corner of 1st and Pierce streets had
been named the Douglass school, in honor
of the late Frederick Douglass.
Mr.. Whelrley stated that he had received
a letter from DR.. Reyburn Of the new free
library ard reading room on Vermont ave-
nue. near II street, saying that that insti-
tuition was in successful operation, and re-
questing him to notify the school trustees.
teachers and pupils of that fact. in the
hope that they would freely avail them
selves of all the privileges Of the institu-
ton. Mr.. Whelpley said he took this meth
cd OF making the invitation public.
Changes Authorized.
Armstead H. Ransom was appointed tenn
rorary janitor of the High School Of the
seventh and eighth divisions. vice James T.
Duffin, on sick leave.
The resignation Of A. L. Gift rs teacher
of the first grade, Johnson school. sixth d.
vision A, was accepted, and Florence Shuf-
file, teacher. was transferred from second
division A to sixth division A.
Miss Nellie Richards, n normal graduate,
was appointed teacher Of the first grade
in second division A, at 100 per amman.
On motion of Mr.. Wilson the teachers
and pupils of the Western High School
were given permisson to use the hall of
that building for ar enteIt a inment in the
interests of the public schools on the Goth,
2lst and 22d instants.
nf Mr ipni1n III
ilege was given the teachers and pupils Of
the Patterson building, for concert for the
benefit of the school next Friday afternoon.
Sanitation as to Drinking Water.
Mrs. Stowell, from the committee on
sanitation, made a report in favor of an
improved system Of supplying the school
children with drinking water the main feaa
ture of which was to supply each school
room with fresh water. She said that the
present system of compelling all the pupils
in building to go to the common source
OF supply In the basement of the building
was open to many objections. The pres
ence OF standing water, which was ',fnavoid-
able under the present system, said she
was detrimental to the health of the chill
dren. and all the physicians she had con-
suited on the subject were unanimous in
the opinion that the pupils of the public
schools do not have sufficient quantity
of good drinking water. The committee
therefore recommended that provision be
made to supply each school room with a
pitcher of fresh drinking water. The report
was briefly discussed by Trustees Wilson
and Shadd and Superintendent Powell
and it developed that the innovation sug-
gested might prove somewhat expensive
1t was estimated by the superintendent that
1T would cost at least $500 to provide a
pitcher or other vessel for each school
room in the system. Mrs. Stowell frankly
admitted that the committee had not con-
sidered the question Of cost, and she ex-
pressed her approval Of a motion made by
Mr.. Wilson that the subject be referred
back to the committee for suggestion as to
ways and means of accomplishing the pro-
posed REFORM The motion was adopted
and the meeting adjourned.