The times., 1897-05-12
ONE NORMAL SCHOOL ONLY.
Important Meeting Of the Board
of School Trustees.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION LAW
Trustees Asked TO Provide For a
Proper Observance of "Flag Day"
by the Children of the Public
Schools ols-Pronotions, designations
and Changes Acted on.

"The normal school question, (which, tor
many months, has been matter OF serious
consideration, and concerning which there
has been such a diversity OF opinion among
The members of the board of public school
trustees. was finally disposed OF at the
meeting of the board held yesterday after
noon, the decision reached being that after
shall be only one normal school for the
first eight divisions.
For the first time in many months the
full membership of the board was present
President Whelpley was in the chair, the
other members being; Messrs. Barnard,
Harries, Mrs. Stoweli, Mrs. Terrell, DR..
Hazen, Mr. Wilson, Dr.. Whiemer, MIR. Bruce,
Mr.. Cornish, and DR.. Shadd.
n viii be remembered Unat at the last
meeting at which the matter was dis
cusscd, it was brought up on the report
of Mr. Wilson, the chairman Of the COM
Inittee on high and normal schools, who,
for his committee, reported that, in view OF
the increased number oil normal school
pupils for the coming year, it recommended
that the trustees authorize the establish
ment of an additional or three normal
schools.
The report was opposed by Maj. Harries
who argued that better results would bt
obtained from the Capitalization OF the
school forces, and he offered the following
as a substitute amend dment or a minority
report:
Resolved. That from and after the begin
ming of the next school year the normal
school shall be located olly in the Henry
school building; and the committee on nor
mai and high SCHOOLS and the local com
mittee of the Second division are Jointly
charged with the duty of making the
changes made necessary by this resolution
The amendment was lost by vote OF
to ), and the report of the committee
adopted by the same vote, those voting
against the amendment favorng the re
port BEFORE the vote was announced, how
ever, Mr. Harries changed his vote 10 the
affirmative, and moved that the matter
be recomnitted. This motion was carried,
and the matter went over until yesterday,
when Mr.. Wilson for the committee re
ported that at a meeting recently held
at which the matter was thoroughly dis
cussed, it was determined there should
he only one normal school, and that In
the Henry schoolbulding. There was, Mr.
Wilson said, "A supposed legal objection
to this, inasinucb as the original act OF
'73 provided for normal school in the
Franklin building.
DR. Whituer, who 10 avoid any legal
question hereafter in the matter, so faI
as the hoard was concerned, moved Ia
amend the report, 80 as to make it read
'one normal school," =" without any refer
ence whatever to location.
This amendment, like the committee /
report, was favored by Mr.. Harries
Mr. Barnard said that the committee had
referred the matter to the Commissioners
and the district attorney, for an opinion
and through courtesy, he thought the mat
ter should go over until they were heard
from Mr. Stowells took this view OF the
matter also, and moved that further con
sideration by postponed The notion was
lost by vote Of s to 4, those favorinE
postponement being Messrs Barnard, DIR
Hazen, Bruce, and Mrs Stowell.
Mr Barnard then offered a substitute for
DR. Whitmer' amendment, to the effect
that the normal school should he located
in the Franklin building, in accordance
with the actof 1878. This was defeated by
a vote of 6 to 4, Mr.. Whelply not voting
Dr. Whitmer's amendment was then
adopted by the folio wing vote: Ayes,
Messrs Welpley, Harries, Mrs. Terr.ll,
Mr. Wilson, DR.. Whitmer, Mr.. Cornish
and Dr. Sbadd-7. Noes, Messrs Ber-
nard. Bruce, Dr. Hazen, and Mrs. Stowell
a
A communication was received from
Rev John W. Neil and Miss Mary Lewis,
respectively director and president OF
the Brookland Union Mission Club, ask
ing permission to use the old school
building at that place for meeting pur-
poses The matter was referred to the
committee on school buildings.
A letter was received from the Stu
dents League. Of Washington, notifying
the board that the league had voted q
scholarship to the most competent of
the High School graduates. The COM
municat;on was referred to the commit
tee on High and Normal Schools
A letter was received from Messrs. Joseph
G. Gordon, Gen II. V. Boynton and John
B. Wight, representing the Columbia So
ciety of Sons OF the American Revolution.
requesting that the trustees arrange for a
proper observance OF flag day. June / 4,
by the children of the public schools OF
the District. Mrs. Terrell said that no
one day should be flag day; love for it
should be taught every day. She offered
no objection to the proper observance of
the day, but said Il would be an excellent
thing to give one day, or even One-half day
to teaching kindness to animals.
The following communication was re-
ceived from the District Commissioners
III reply to a request for information on
the subject:
Office of the Commissioners of the District
OF Columbia, Washington, April %,
1897.
Hon. j. w. Whelpley, President Board Of
Trustees, etc,
trict of Columbia would be pleased to have
the board Of trustees consider the existing
legislation, contained in chapter xii, section
271 ct seq, of the United States revised
statutes, relating TO the District Of Column
bia, which provides for recovery against
parents and others controlling children
of sum of money, not to exceed $50, TO
be recovered before any justice OF the
peace, for failure TO send q child to school
at least twelve weeks annually. The in
firnities OF this law have frequently been
commented upon. Against the average
y,arent who does not send a Child to school