The times., 1899-04-26
A NEW SCHOOL OFFICIAL.
Prof. b. w. Murch Appointed to he
Assistant Superintendent.

1
L The District Commissioners Yesterday
appointed Prof B. w. Murch to I'll the
new office OF Assistant Superintendent OF
Public Schools, which was created by the
last Congress. and is intended to reljeye
the office of Superintendent Of Pub ic
| Schools from many details and other ex
| actions upon its time.
Prof. Murch is well known in District
educational work and is at present princi-
pal CT the Force School, His appointment
VIII take effect July next and was made
yesterday In order that he might familiar
ize himself with the duties OF the new Of
| flee prior to that time. Commissioner Ross
| recommended that Prof Murch be given
the appointment, and stated that he had
| been endorsed by large number of local
| school trustees and citizens. The new Of
flee will pay an annual salary of $1,000.
Commissioner Ross recently asked Su-
perintendent Powell to prepare an outline
OF the duties OF the new assistant superin-
tendent. This was done and the outline
submitted was adopted by the Commits
sicners, as follows:
The important advantage that will come to
the schools through the assistant superintendent.
TO he appointed, is the relief to the superintend-
enf from perplexing details of business that now
iali on that officer and his associates detractinr
much from the value of their efforts as directors
of the strictly educational part of the work OF
supervision. This distracting influence of busi-
ness and the annoying though legitimate i'm
portunities of persons desiring supplies in sys-
TEN so large as that in Washington, are potent
factors in reducing the amount of thought and
attention that should be given to educational
subjects
The assistant superintendent should BE- broad
minded. accurate, painstaking business manager
who understands educational aims and methods.
This officer is held responsible for:
The adequate preservation and the annual
scheduling OF property of which there is vast
accumulation in the Washington public school
plant
The equitable distribution of the funds that
are appropriated each year for the increase OF
this plant and for supplying the perishable part
of the outfit Of the schools.
Tie purchase, distribution. and care OF free
text books: the purchase. distribution, and care
of all school supplies, furniture, and school ap-
pointmcBts.
The values of school libraries and other ed.
ucational appliances and aids in teaching and
the use made OF them
The quality Of material that it be up to sam
pie, and correct qualities of goods furnished.
knowledge OF the amount Of fuel consumed
per building. the in size per room and
pupil.
The relative cost OF removing ashes, the rel
ative cost of lighting and cleaning schoohouses,
The values of jantors- and the reasons for burn
ing out of furnaces and CRATES.
In short broad and discriminating knowledge
Of the material appointments OF the schools,
with their relative cost and values as such and
to the community supporting the same. This
officer should be in charge Of these matters and
others which be mentioned from time to
time for the entire system Of schools He should
be under the direction Of the superintendent Of
schools, whose interest in these matters is neces-
sarily great.