Evening star., 1897-05-12
WANT ONE NORMAL
Board Of Trustees Declares Against a
Duplication.
CHANGES SUGGESTED AND APPROVED
Recognition Of Flag Day a Subject
Of Discussion.
LAW AGAINST TRUANTS

LAW AGAINST TRUANTS
A regular meeting OF the board of trus-
tees of the public schools was held at the
Franklin building, last evening. There was
full attendance Of members, something
that seldom occurs. and considerable bust
ness was transacted. President whelpley
was in the chair. and Mr.. Falck acted as
secretary.
Changes in the schools were announced
by the trustees OF the various divisions,
and were approved by the board, as fol-
lows:
Tfansfers and ResignatiOns,
First division-Aecept resignation of NJ.
s. Sherman, teacher of first grade, Berret,
to take effect April 80. 1897; transfer Mar
guerite Lasier. teacher, from fourth divis-
ion. and assign to first, without change in
salary. vice M. s. Sherman: promote Alice
Pollok. teacher, from 1926 to $3.50 Der an
mum. vice NJ. 8. Sherman
The above changes to take effect Nav
1897. -1-A' -
Third division-Accept resignation of
Eunice H. WEIGH, teacher of SET ond grade.
Caroery school. to take effect April n.
1897; appoint Carrie NJ Fuller, teacher Of
Welch.
The changes to take effect May 1, 1897.
Fourth division-Appoint Minnie Sher-
wood temporary teacher of second grade,
at s4OO per annum. vice M. Lasier, trans
1erred, to take effect May /, 1897
seventh dfvision-Promote E. NJ. Dawes,
teacher. from 500 to $i25 per annum, to
take e1ect May ]. 1897; appoint Ellen
Eighth division-Promote J. c. Bruce.
teacher, from 500 to $3.50 per annum; ap-
point Hattie p. Ross teacher, at 500 per
annum. vice p. 8. Kinner. temporary.
1897. -
High Schools.
Eastern-Appoint H. May Johnson, tenn
porary teacher, at $500 per annum, to take
effect April %, 1867, vice l. L Summer
scales. deceased: promote the following
teachers, to take effect May /, 1857: Mar
garita spalding, from $3.50 to $500, vice H.
May johnson, temporary; c. A. Van Doren,
from $I0O to $3.50, vice M. Spalding; N. 0.
Dean. from $3.50 to 500, vice c. A. Van
Doren: c. NJ. Burchard, from $3.50 to $3.50,
vice M. Q. Dean, appoint H. May johnson
teacher at 500 per annum. to TAXA effect
May /. 1897.
Western-Appoint N. H. Mcknight
teacher. at $500 per annum. vice H, g.
Hodgkins, resigned, to take effect May /,
1857.
Business-Promote A. 8. Haxlet6n, teach
er, from 500 to $3.50 Der annum, to take
effect May 1. 1867.
The Brookland Union Mission Club re-
quested permission to hold religious-Iiter-
ary meetings in the old abandoned school
house near the Bunker Hill road. The ap-
plicatfon was referred to the trustee of the
Brookland district.
Flag Day Observance.
A communication was read from Mr.. ].
c. Gordon, chairman of committee of the
District Of Columbia Society of the Sons of
the American Revolution, in regard to the
recognition of flag day in the public
schools. He explained that the committee,
after consultation with Superintendent
Powell. had concluded that the best way of
observing the day would be to request the
teachers of the schools to arrange appro-
pirate exercises for the occasion, June IA,
and to invite the parents and friends Of the
pupils, along with members of the various
patriotic societies, to be present.
Mrs. Terrell remarked that 1t seemed to
her inconsistent, to say the least, to set
apart a flag day and to refuse to set apart
day for inculcattng the principles OF
kindness to animals. She wanted 1t under
stood, however, that she yielded to no one
in the matter of patriotism.
Mrs. Stowell said the idea OF having a
flag day was good one, and she thought
the teachers should be authorized to devote
She made motion to that effect, and it
was adopted without division.
The proposition of the Art Students
League for the bestowal of a scholarship
by competition in the public school was re-
ferred to the committee on High and Nor
NAL schools.
On motion of Mrs. Stowell the board
adopted a rule that the national flags on
public school houses shall be unfnrled on
school days and national holidays at S:45
o'clock am. and furled at the close Of the
school session. The object of this rule is
to secure uniformity In the time of raising
and lowering the flags.
Compulsory Education Clause.
The secretary read a letter from the
Commissioners of the District. requesting
the views of the board in regard to existing
legislation affecting the District. which pro-
vides for the recovery against parents and
others controlling children of sum Of
money not to exceed So for failure to send
a child to school at least twelve weeks an
nrally, said sum to be recovered before a
justice Of the peace.
The inf1rmities of this law" the Com
rfssioners say, have been frequently COM
mented upon. Against the average parent
who does not send a child to school 1t is
difficult to obtain coilectible Judgment,
and the duty seems to be imposed by the
law upon the trustees of ascertaining
whether the law Is violated. The Commits
sioners would be pleased to have the views
of the board and the superinteadents as to
whether 1t would not be well TO have the
law changed, to provide for fine in the
Police Court and for an appropriation for
truant officer, on whom may be imposed
the duty of providing for the enforcement
of the law.
The matter has been allowed to rest in
allegiance largely because Of the fact that
the school facilities of the District have
not heretofore been sufficient to accon,mo-
cate al the children who were willing to
attend: yet, 1t may be said as TO that, that
the enforcement OF the law wouli show
clearly what the needs of the schools are
and. temporarily. halliday schools might be
tolerated until sufficient school accommo-
dations could be provided for by Congress-
The Commissioners would be pleased to
the whole subject matter
President Wheipley indorsed the idea of
having ''truant officer" the need of which
had been frequently demonstrated. and he
favored recommending an appropriation for
that purpose. J = =
On motion Of DR.. Witmer, a committee
consisting Of Messrs. Whelpley, Barnard