Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-22
THE HOLIDAY AT EASTER
One Entire Week Given Schools, Exclusive of
Good Friday.
Action Taken by Board of Trustees
Other Changes Ordered
Amendments to Rules.

the Franklin building last evening. There
were present Messrs. Whelpley, Barnard
Harries, Wilson, Hazen, Brown, Wright
and Richardson and Mrs. Terrell of the
board; Mr.. Falck, the secretary, and Super
intendents Powell and Cook
Changes in the schools were reported and
approved as follows:
Second division-Reduce E. R. Woodward
teacher. from S425 to 800.
Fifth division-Appont Alice Berry, tenn
porary teacher, at S425, vice Mrs. S. A
Nourse. granted leave of absence.
Eighth division-Promote Mabel Bland
from 500 to s425. vice E. R. Woodward
Eleventh division-Appoint Jas. Ashton
janitor at Bell School, vice Charles Brown
resigned.
The resignation of Miss Anne B. Moore
as pupil in the Normal School, on account
of i'll health, was accepted.
The secretary read letter from Mr.. J.
H. Caldwell of the Columbia Heights Citi-
zens' Association, addressed to the District
Commissioners, asking for additional school
facilities in that section of the District
Specific request was made for a children G
playground and for three new schools, one
of which was to be a High School of mod
ern design. The letter was referred to the
committee on buildings and grounds.
Easter Holidays.
The subject of Easter holidays in the
schools was then considered, on an amend
ment to the rules proposed by Mr.. Spear
at the last regular meeting. Under exist
Ing rules the schools are closed from Good
Friday to Easter Monday inclusive The
amendment eontemplates closing the school
on Good Friday and throughout the entire
week following. the idea being to give the
teachers a longer respite from their work
in the sDringtime than has been hitherto
allowed.
The amendment was the subject of gen.
eral debate, in which Mr.. Wilson, Mrs
Terrell, Mr.. Harries, Mr.. Richardson and
Mr.. Barnard took part. All were agreed
that the teachers were entitled to the eX-
ira holiday and the only point of differ
ence was as to whether the proposed
change should take effect at once or be de-
ferred until the spring of 1900.
Mr.. Wilson at first favored postponing
the change until next year, on the ground
that the pupils had already lost consider
able time this year because of the closing
blizzard
Superintendent Powell being called on for
opinion on the subject, supported the
view taken by MIR. Wilson, that in view of
the time already lost it might be better to
have only the shorter holiday during the
present year.
Thereupon Mr.. Wilson moved the adop-
ton of the amendment, with the condition
that 1t should not go into effect until 1900.
Mr.. HarrieS made the point that the re-
cent loss of time applied only to the High
Schools, and not to the graded schools
which had been open most of the time in
spite of the blizzard. He questioned the
superintendent on the subject and 1t de-
veloped that last Tuesday was the only
day that the graded schools had been actu-
ally closed. The lack of coal had caused
the High Schools to be closed for over a
week.
Mr.. Barnard said the teachers had hard
time of it, anyhow, and as most of them
counted on the increased holiday at Easter
he thought it would be cruel to disappoint
them.
Mrs. Terrell also argued in favor of hav-
ing the amendment take effect at once.
Speaking from personal experience as a
teacher, she said that the teachers would
do better work after the holiday and that
it was really in the interests of the schools
that they should have it.
Mr.. Wilson then withdrew his motion to
suspend the operation Of the rule as amend
ed until next year and the amendment was
adopted. to take effect at once.
Vacancies in Special Work.
Another amendment to the rules, pro-
posed by Mr.. Spear at the last monthly
meeting. was also adopted after g. short
discussion.
1t provides that vacancies occurring in
any of the departments of special work
music, cooking, sewing, manual training
and physical education-after all proper
promotions have been made, shall be filled
by competitive examinations, provided that
in all cases graduates of the Normal School,
whenever practica BILE shall be given the
preference. 1t was explained that al
though given preference. normal graduates
will be subject to the same examination as
candidates from the outside.
On motion of Mr.. Wilson the Commits
sioners of the District of Columbia were re
quested to urge upon the House of Repre-
sentatives favorable action upon Senate
joint resolution No. $50, relative to the
changing of the track of the City anG
Suburban Railway Company around the
south side of Stanton square,
Mr.. Brown proposed an amendment to the
rules, so to provide that special classes
in music cooking and sewing shall be pro.
vided for pupils of the Normal School OF
the ninth. tenth and eleventh divisions, who
may desire To fit themselves for teaching
said branches. The amendment was Iait
over for one month under the rules.
Hardships Imposed.
Mrs Terrell called attention to the I'm.
necessary hardships sustained by teachers
and pupils in going to the school houses
during the recent blizzard only to find them
closed, and suggested that some plan be
adopted whereby such unnecessary ex-
posture to health might be avoided in the
future. No one realizes, she said, the il
effects of the hardships suffered by the
children and their teachers in fighting theil
way through the deep snow and the biting
cold of last week, all of which could have
been averted by some system of signaling
which would give notice that the schools
were closed, and that the teachers and pu.
pile were excused from attendance. Bells
were employed in Boston and other places
for this purpose, and she thought some
such system should be adopted in the Dis
trict.
Other trustees agreed as to the advisable.
ity of some such action TO meet possible
contingencies in the future, but no one
seemed prepared to suggest a plan.
Finally Mrs. Terrell made a motion THAI
system of signals shall be devised by
which teachers and pupils viii understand
that on account of storm or stress OF
weather the schools will be closed thai
day"
The motion was adopted, and at the s,1g
gestion of Mr.. Barnard the matter was re
ferred TO a committee ways anC
means, with instructions to devise a plar
for putting the project into practical oper
alton.
Six and One-HaIf Hour,