Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-15
STUDYOF ARITHMETIC
Question Considered by Board Of
School Trustees.
RESPONSE TO CITIZENS CRITICISMS
Statement Bearing Upon the Sub
ject by Trustee Harries.
CHI NOES IN THE SCHOOLS
CHANGES IN THE SCHOOLS

regular meeting of the board of trus-
tees Of public schools was held at the
Franklin building last evening, at which
all the members were present as follows:
Messrs. Whelpley, Barnard. Harries, Hazen,
Wilson, Spear, Brown, Wright and Rich
ardson. Mrs. Tulloch and Mrs. Francis.
AT the instance of Mr.. Harries, the score
tary read a communication from the presi-
dents of the North Capitol and lexington
Citizens Association, embodying a resolu-
ton recently adopted by that association
protesting against the alleged elimination
of arithmetic from the course of studies in
the eighth grade schools, and asking that
II be restored as in the best interests of
public instruction.
Mr.. Wilson presented similar commune
cation from Mr.. E. H Thomas, criticising
the prevailing methods of teaching spelling
and reading as not up to ancient standards,
and suggesting that the study of arithmetic
be continued through the eighth grade.
Mr.. Harries cited these communications
as an indication of an apparent miSunder
standing as to the course of studies pur-
sued in the public schools under the present
system. He explained that algebra and
arithmetic form part of the regular course
of studies in the eighth grade, and that
they are taken up alternately during the
school year, algebra at one time and ar1th-
metic at another. This year algebra was
taken up first. Arithmetic will follow and
will have its full share of attention. 1t
just happened this year that algebra was
taken up before arithmetic, and on that
account some persons had gained the i'm
preston that the study of arithmetic had
been discarded in the eighth grade. Mr..
Harries said those people need have no fear
on that score as arithmetic will be taught
in the eighth grade as usual. He admitted
that heretofore there had been some diff
Guilty about the study of grammar, but he
rcd DIV 11rEp 1NE. no n
difficulty will be promptly obviated. Spell
ing will also be emphasized and be given
more attention. Hereafter there will be
ports by percentage in the high schools,
80 that parents may know exactly where
their children stand in their studies. The
present system of marking of pupils in the
graded schools will continue, viz: Poor,
fair, good and excellent Mr.. HarrieS said
that system has been found to meet all
the requirements of the service.
In view of the facts in the case, Mr.. Har-
ries moved that the secretary reply to the
members of the North Capitol and Ecking-
ton Citizens Association to the effect that
things in the public schools not they
supposed they were, and that, if they were,
they will not be so in future"
The motion was seconded by Mr.. Wilson
and was adopted without further discus
sion, beyond a remark by Mrs. Tulloch that
the people who are criticising the study of
algebra in the eighth-gra schools seemed
to forget that such has been the practice
for the past twenty years.
Resignation Accepted.
The resignation of Luther H. Reichelder-
fer as a teacher in the Business High
School was accepted. Mr.. Rechelderfer has
accepted a position in the Garfield Hospi-
tai
A communication was read from DR.
Jack, protesting against the failure of his
daughter. Sarah L. Jack, to secure the
position of teacher of cooking in the public
schools, and broadly intimating that Mr.
Harries had Disseminated against her.
Mr.. Harries said the only comment he
would make on the communication was
that Miss Jack had been examined three
times and rejected each time as unquali-
fled.
appointed to examine candidates
for appointment as teacher of cooking in
the first eight divisions. 1t showed that
eight candidates were examined, and that
three made a mark above 40 per cent, as
follows: Edith A. Browne, S7.15 per cent;
l. c. Sansbury, 1850 per cent; Sarah Z.
Jack. 71.J0 per cent.
On motion of Mr.. Harries, Edith A Brown
was appointed teacher of cooking and Miss
l. C. Sansbury was made eligible for the
next vacancy of that character.
Dr. Hazen, from the committee on text
books, moved the adoption of two new text
books. The Modern Music Series" and
Songs of Life and Nature" The motion
was adopted.
On motion of Mr.. Wilson permission was
granted Frank B. Fitch to complete his
course in the Eastern High School. A mo-
tOn was also adopted authorizing the ad-
mission of Miss Anita Lansdae to the Nor
NAL School.
The resignation of Miss Festilets teacher
of the fourth grade in the fifth division, was
accepted.
Protest Referred.
A protest against the granting of liquor
license 10 J. J. Sullivan, at the corner of
LIST street and New York avenue, owing to
its proximity to the Douglas School, was
referred to Mrs. Francis for investigation.
Mr.. Spear made short argument in sup
port of the petition of the manual training
instructors for an increase of compensation,
and moved that the board indorSe the pc
ution for presentation to Congress in the
consideration of the public schools appro-
priation. the motion was adopted
On motion of Mr.. Harres it was decided
that there shall be no admission of pupils
TO the Normal Schools later than the close
of the first week in October of each year"
DIR. Barker, dean of the medical and den
tai departments Of the National University,
notified the board that the faculty of the
departments named had Withdrawn the
offer of scholarships therein to the pupils
of the Washington High School.
Changes Reported.
The following changes were reported in
the kindergarten system:
FIRST eight ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS assistant
teachers: S. Souder. d. NJ. Prentice, A. n.
Ruff, NJ. +. Crook p. NJ. Oberly, F.. NJ.
HALEY, l.. II. Bowdler, r. billiard. E G.
Malloy II. r. Quinter, j. p Grady, M. n
slater, y. Swami q. Thompson and F.
Williams.
Ninth, tenth and eleventh divisions-Ap-
pointed teacher: GenevieVe Thompson: as
sistant teachers l.. h. Thomas. Il. c. John
son. .. +. Brooks, l.. Il. Davis. H B Cor
nish. A. A Shaw. The name of Annice
Lewis was placed on the eligible list of
kindergarten teachers
Lavina a. Haywood was appointed teach
er of music at $500 per annum and John p
Quander teacher in the High School at
$40 per annum.
Changes were announced and approved as
follows:
Night schools-ACcept resignation of FL
lena Hawkins, teacher at Cook School An
point Mamie +. Anderson teacher at Cook
School.
Eighth Acknowledgment: Francis Har-
stall, teacher, fourth grade. Promoted; A
r. Williamson, from third to fourth grade:
NJ. c. Thompson. from second to third
grade; NJ. X. Bryan, from first to second
grade; Z. G.. Cook, from third to fourth
grade.
Appointed-A. ]. Clarke temporary teach
er, first grade at S400 per annum: II F,
Bell, teacher, transferred from eighth di-
vision to seventh division: H. T. Shorter
appointed teacher, first grade; NJ E Wood
third grade, transferred from sixth 10