Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-27
THE SCHOOL SYSTEM
Resumption Of Investigation by
Senate Committee.
TESTIMONY FOR and AGAINST
Methods Highly Praised by Lead
ing Educators.
THE POINTS IN CRITICISM

| system of education in the public schools
| of this city was held this morning at jo
| o'clock by the subcommittee of the Senate
District committee in charge of the inyesii-
| CATION being made under the resolution Of
| Senator Stewart. who presided. There was
| a large attendance. Senator Mcmillan,
| chairman of the Senate District committee
| was present. Superintendent Powell and
| many people interested in the educational
| system of the District also listened to the
| testimony, the large committee room being
crowded, many Of these present being
| ladies.
| Miss Emma NJ. Gi.let. formerly a teacher
in the schools here. was questioned on the
system Of teaching. She had not been a
| teacher here for four years.
She declared that the system of teaching
| in the schools was a failure. as she did mol
| know any good penman who had come from
| the public schools of this city in late years.
| She thought the lower grades were ar
| ranged to prepare the scholars for the clss-
| steal course of the High School She
| thought, in view of the fact that only per
cent of the pupils go 10 the high schools.
| there should be a preparation of pupils in
| the lower grade for practical business life.
| She said the teachers felt that If they did
| not follow strictly the rules OF the superin-
| tendent they would hazard their positions.
| She declared that there was no sympathy
| between the superintendent and teachers.
| The Trustees Mt Fault.
| Mr.. NJ. F. O'Donohue. chairman of the
| school committee of the Columbia Heights
| Citizens Association, spoke at some length.
| He said the real trouble with the schools
was in the board of trustees He thought
| there should he paid board of trustees.
who should be specialists in educational
work and not selected from among pruHni-
nent citizens who have no such special
knowledge. He said that was the plan in
San Francisco. IL was taking the place
generally throughout the country of the
method of selecting such boards by cleo
| tion. He thought that there was not
enough attention given to reading, writing,
spelling and arithmetic. The teachers were
not given sufficient salaries. and he did
not think any of them should be paid less
than SIS a month. They should have
enough money to travel In the summer and
| fit themselves for their work by contact
with the world. The teachers should have
secure positions not be appointed from
year to year.
Mr.. Powell remarked that they are ap-
pointed permanently, and that their yearly
| appointments are merely nominal
DO away with that word nominal,
| said Mr.. DonohJie. Nominal means
| fear We want no fear on the part OF the
| teacher. They should be appointed pernla-
nently and should not be removed except
| by the act of some Independent board"
Praises the Methods.
| Mr.. Theodore L. Deland spoke commend
| ingly of the methods of teaching He
hibited examples Of penmanship of his nine
year-old child, and said he was pleased
| with her progress. He said he was
aminer in the Treasury Department. and
| he had examined many who had been pa-
| pills in the high schools and had never
known them to fail.
Senator Stewart said those the witness
| referred to probably had not been taught
under the present system. Mr.. Deland said
Vk.-,-
to school.
Mr.. Andrew b. DuvalI said he had i've
children in the schools and wanted to tell
| the committee his experience. He indicated
that what he had to say was compliment
airy.
Senator Stewart said he wanted those 10
speak who had criticism to make. and es-
pecially teachers, as 1t had been said that
teachers We're afraid to say anything.
A "FriendIy Criticism"
Mr.. w A Croffut read a paper he had
| prepared in order, he said, that he might
give his friendly criticism as briefly as
possible.
Thinks the system the Best.
Miss Ida Dixon of Baltimore gave the re-
suit Of Washington teachers instruction
| with Washington methods in Baltimore.
She said that she and others as a commit
tee, of which President Gilman of Johns
Hopkins University was g member. had
amined all the public school systems of the
country and had decided that the system in
this city was the very best. Having decid-
ed to adopt this system In private school
in Baltimore they engaged Washington
teachers to put 1t in effect. and she COM
| mended in the highest terms the system
and the results they had had in Baltimore
from it.
Commends the System.
Mrs. Anna E. Murray, formerly
| teacher in the public schools of this
| city. commended the system as prac-
ticed here. She said the best system was
| that which grounded the boy thoroughly in
| his knowledge. Miss Murray said there
should be more school houses in order ia
| do away with halliday schools. The pay
| Of teachers in the lower schools should be
increased.
senator Stewart, referring TO the high
school, said he did not think the public had
anything to do with a collegiate education.
and he was not in favor of appropriatins
for such education. The elements alone
were in his opinion. contemplated in pub
| lie school education.
DIR. Gilbert's View.
DR.. C. B. Gilbert approved the recon-
| mendations OF DIR. Croffut and spoke Of the
great number of teachers who break down.
| He objected to the physical examination
made in the schools to a limited extent
now.
| Favorable Views of Educators.
| Henry F. Blount. who was at the head of
the National Educational Association when
| the last convention was held in this. city.
| found at that time that the educators at
| tending that convention regarded the
/ schools Of this oity among the four or
| five best school systems in the country. OF
| all things needed in this city. he said were
| more school buildings to accommodate The
| lower grades.
Opposes Much study at Home.
| Mrs. Amos G. Draper commended the
school system of this city as now organized.
| She said she had been taught the multipu-
cation table under the old system and az D
result of that had TO run up the table N
| order to make a calculation, while her boy,
| educated under the present system. can
give results he wants Instantly. She d.d
| not believe in having children under tep
| years of age go to school over three hourt
| a day. She believed much Of the trouble
| with the scholars of today was brought
| about by the failure of the parents TO looae.
| after their diet and habits. She thought
| school children should not be allowed to go
to entertainments and she did not believe IN
allowing them to study too long time at
home. Her own boy was allowed TO study