Evening star., 1898-12-14
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Business Transacted by Board of
Trustees Yesterday.
PAY OF MANUAL TRAINING TEACHERS
designations, Promotions, Appoint
ments and Transfers.
CERTIFICATES AUTHORIZED


held regular meeting at the Franklin
building last evening, with the following
members present: Messrs. Whepley, Bar
nard, Hazen, Wilson, Spear, Wright,
Brown and Richardson, Mrs. Tulloch and
Mrs Terrell.
The designations of Miss Grace l.. Stone
and Miss Fannie E. Towner teachers in
the second division, We're received and ac-
cepted.
A petition read from residents of
Langdon, D. c., requesting that Mr..
Schlosser, the janitoF. of the Langdon
School, 1e allowed to occupy the old school
house on the Queens Chapel road as a
residence. 1t was explained that the build
ing was resort for tramps and bad char
acters, and that its use in the manner in
dicated would serve a protection. On
motion of Mr.. Spear the petition was re-
ferred to the District Commissioners with
recommendation that the request. be
granted.
A petition was read from COM
mittee representing the teachers of man
ual training, asking for an increase of
salary. 4 scale of salaries was proposed
for teachers of bench work in the man.
ual training schools involving a gradual in
crease until a maximum salary of $1,000
per annum is reached. An increase in the
salaries of directors was also urged on
the ground of equity
On motion of Mr.. Wilson, the petition
was referred to the District Commission
with the statement that it meets with
the approval of the board of trustees.
Saloon Question.
The secretary read a letter from the pres
ident of the Anti-Saloon League of the Dis
trict calling attention to the saloons estab-
lished in the neighborhood of public schools
throughout the District.
The applications for the renewal of the
licenses of these Places says the writer,
are now before the excise board, who
would give great weight to any protest
that you, as a board. might make against
the perpetuation of these places of tempta-
ton. The base ball cards kept as bats for
boys in most saloons: the alcoholic fumes
which issue from all of them: the lewd pic
lures many of them display, and the money
making proprietors themselves, all have Il
demoralzng effect the boys and girls
who are compelled by the proximity of
their schools to come into daily contact
with them. We tender you our cooperation
and appeal to you to use your influence for
the removal of these schools of vice as far
as possible from our schools of learning
Messrs. Whelpley and Wilson criticised
the communication too general and in
definite in character. and the former said
the board would be in a better position To
act if the league had specified some partic-
ular schools where the evils complained Of
exist Finally, on motion of Mr.. Wilson,
LIlG communication was referred 10 the COM
mittee on sanitation for investigation "and
such action as may be deemed necessary
AT the suggestion of Superintendent Pow
ell the board authorized the closing of the
schools Thursday afternoon before Christ
mas instead of Friday afternoon. as origin
ally intended. 1t was explained that the
additional holiday was given principally for
the benefit of the teachers, than whom"
said the superintendent. there are no more
faithful and conscientious employees in the
public service"
Offerings to the Poor.
On the suggestion of the superintendent,
the board also gave tacit but unofficial con-
sent to small Christmas offerings TO the
poor in all the schools 1t was explained
that a similar course had been pursued in
previous years, and in addition to helping
the deserving poor had served to develop
charity and unsefishness among the school
children. 1t was made perfectly clear that
all such contributions must be entirely vol
untary.
On motion of Mrs Tuloch of the music
committee, Miss Jessie a. Tabler was ap-
pointed temporary teacher of music during
the absence on leave of Mr.. Edwin 5.
Tracy.
Mr.. Hazen, from the committee on text
books, made a report recommending the
addition of two books to the authorized
list of text books, specifying THE Stu
dents Hymnal' for use in the opening ex-
ercises of all the high schools, and "Prac-
tlcal Tests in Commercial and Higher
Arithmetic for use in the Business High
School. The report adopted.
Mr. Spear, from the committee on reports
commended the reports of the superintend-
ents and supervising principals and sug-
sested several improvements in the school
system. He said there was no more faith
ful or laborious class of public servants
than the officers and teachers in the public
schools of the District and they were de-
serving OF more pay and appreciation of
han fo..xr
ductiOn of the kindergarten he said had
proved most satisfactory.
Ihere are now sixteen schools of that
character in successful operation, and Mr.
Spear expressed the hope that this branch
of instruction would grow to proportions
worthy of the capital city. He also re-
ferred to the gratifying results attending
the increased facilities for manual train
ing, and said that the manual training high
school, with its widening scope of useful
ness, was entitled to more extensive quar-
tiers in a separate building of its own
The report also advocated the appoint
ment OF an assistant Superint endent as
necessary to relieve the superintendent of
the mass of business devolving upon his
office and to enable him to devote his time
mainly to his scholastic duties. The condi-
ton of the school buildings was described
as good and it was stated that the bureau
of repairs had been conducted in a salts
factory manner. The report was approved
Certificates to Teachers.
1t was announced that a result of the
November examination of candidates for
appointment as teachers, certificates had
been issued as follows:
Third class certiflcates-Flo B. Nor
timer and Bessie b. Mulford.
Second class certifcates-Ressie l.. Yoder
and Caroline T. Barnard.
First class certificat tes-Lottie NJ. Dyer
Maud M. Grimes, Fannie S. Hayes Edna
G. Rude, Helen B. Randall Clara d. Mil
ler and Mamie Blandford.
The following chances in the schools were
reported and approved:
Central High School-Appoint ]. D. Min
nick teacher at $500 per annum, vice l.. X.
Wilkins temporary. Promote E. r. Wal
ton, teacher, from $500 to $3.50 per annum
vice j. p. Gerry, promoted.
Eastern High Schooi-Promote J. P
Gerry, teacher, from 500 to $1,000 per an
mum.
The above changes to take effect Decem-
Der /. 1898.
Division Changes.
Second division-Accept resignation of F.
E. Towner, teacher of the fifth grade, and
G. L. Stone, teacher of second grade to
1