The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-27
ENDORSED BY TRUSTEES
Prof Powelrs Defence of the Pub
lie School System.
The SUPPLEMENTARY Statement
Meets With the Approval of the
pOar.i-Rcsults Sought to BE Oh
tanned in Training of Pupils
The Congressional investigation.

ta1ncO IN TRIMMING al Pup1is-
Thc Congregational investigation.
The final meeting of the Board of Trus-
tees CT the public schools of the District of
Columbia was held yesterday afternoon at
the Franklin School. X and Thirteenth
Streets northwest. By an act passed at
the last session of Congress the Board Of
Trustees Is replaced On the LIST of July
hy Board of Education Of seven members,
which succeeds to the duty of conducting
the public schools in the District of Column
bia.
In the absence of President Whelpley the
chair was occupied By Mr. Wilson. There
were present Joh Barnard. Jesse II. Will
son, Rev. s. y. Brown, DR.. c. II. Richard
son. Thomas H Wright, George II. Harries.
Mrs. B. G. Francis. and Mrs. NJ. B. Tul-
loch.
communication was read from the
Medical Society CT the District of Column
bia conveying to the board a set OF reso-
iutians in reference to the questions asked
Of the children of the public schools adopt
ed at meeting OF the society, June IS.
On motion OF Mr. Barnard these resoiu
tons were ordered spread upon the min
utes. A communication from Emiline Dew
lin, teacher in the sixth grade. sixth diyi-
sion. rendering her resignation to take eff
feet June so. was read and adopted The
board acted upon the case of Frank Mar
den. janitor of Johnson School. Mount
Pleasant. A communications was read
ff .,-,Sr
ed for intoxication. He was discharged
from his position as janitor OF Johnson
School from the date of his suspension,
June 81
Defends the School System.
Superintendent Powell made an ex-
haustiYe report to the board in defence
OF the system of education now in force
in the public schools of the District of
Columbia. which was in part as follows:
In view of the charges that have been
recently made against the attachments of
the pupils in the graded schools of Wash
inston and also against the course of in
structiOa pursued in these schools as laid
out by the Superintendent and adopted
by the Board of School Trustees. a brief
statement OF the character, purpose and
working OF the course seems to be ap-
p:pprisIe at this time.
"A written examination shows but
small fraction Of what the school has done
fa- the child, Tfis remark has peculiar
Significance in the present case because
the pupils OF our schools have not for 4
fourteen years been examined by the au- 4
thorities to determine their fitness for
promotion. They were never especially
prepared in their school lives for an ex-
animation. They have. it is true. been
examined by their teachers: some OF them
may have baea examined by their super
visors- Examinations. however, were to
determine the value of the supervision
or the teaching rather than to determine
the fitness OF the children for promotion
We have believed in Washington that an
examination does not show the fitness Of
a child for promotion.
We believe that the teacher who has |
taught the child for number of months. |
or yeer. knows better than cen be shown |
by IN examination whether o. not a child |
not he should remain where he Is or be |
sent to a lower grade. Every teacher !
knows THAI he who passes the poorest ex-
animation may be the one who is best |
fitted to proceed To a higher class. For
years the teacher has been told |
that in promoting his children be must
consider the welfare OF the child rather |
than the standing oil the teacher or the |
schooi. ii IN me judgment oil the tsacher
n-omotaa IN aaa.ber Grade he should ha |
-. a., LII, h. 80, nc, ~ MI 90 /
pass as good an entrance examination for |
that grade others might pass.
"a Your test we have said to the teach |
ers is to be determined by your judg |
ment. your good sense and your conscience. !
If the boy will be able to subserve his in |
fo- tha t;,,., 10 ;s IN remain in scbouol n ie
,,o,,- a,,tv 70 .ona hi,,, ,ho-,, rr,,,,- n, ~,
t;no chiIa-.n NAV h. fo,,,S IN e-ades fo-
60 =, ~ ,.,,s,o - ,,.t,,ah 81, -
No, ho ro ,h>-c,,,,,,1,, ao,,;rnad &C - go
M to., % , r-,;s n,a,nina,,on E,,,sa.
,,o-o na-.,t, bara haan al,on,.a n -
,.. s,.,
-, .ha,, -. ~, ,.1,eS.,,I,,;a ~
10 III NC 40. "p..;s u, uie
,-.,a,-,.s-, - ~. s,nas,,a.,.a,..o -, -
~. -, - , 'i
- - % ..s..: -
,,ar,anas a,,,hra<, ~, g., 81. ~ -,
-. =, Sa.a.,,,in;,a ~, ,,o,,a y, ~, III,
- h,,,,..S. - 80. a. o.;,.,, -
- Gov, s,.,v.-d or ,r;aI
no" the seho"fs arc conducted.
Tho schools have been conducted on
he theory that they were for the children |
-. a.. ,,,,. \, ,,.
.'o '''o~ 'A'' 'n'"'o &c t.''io " su''Se'
;,
;tructinn To dasermina tha hoe. inter
.sts. in a difficult case. the parent has
,een consulted. the child has been studied.
ma the supervisor ana teacher have con-
ut'eu ae"ut IL mus nave 'he
Pr ~ aue. VI Seooi oeeh ''hoSt Dis
az SO "a eie io"e' 81 oue.' 'io' ID I" Say |