The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-09
THE SCHOOLS DEFENDED
Director Lane Discusses the Re-
suits of Recent Tests.
He Explains to the board of Trus-
tees the Causes for the Apparent
Low Standard of Papers Submitted
by Pupils to the senate Commit-
tee-A Further Report Requested.

The regular monthly meeting of the
Board of Trustees of Public Schools was
held yesterday afternoon at the Franklin
School Building. Thirteenth and X Streets
northwest
DR.. Francis r. Lane, director of high
schools. was heard by the board in de-
fence of the educational system in vogue
in the public schools, and of the showing
of the children in the examinations re-
Gently conducted under direction of the
Senate Committee on the District of CO.
lumbia. He read reports of the examina-
tions in the four high schools, comment
ing especially on the results of the his
tory examination He dwelt upon the
confusion that had been occasioned by the
directions to the pupils at the top Of the
printed examination papers, as follows:
DO not try to answer all the questions.
but write a connected story in each easel
Instructions had been given to the pupils
by their teachers. he stated. to answer at
least three of the questions given. He
explained that the examiner had worked
the papers on the basis of twenty marks,
as the maximum for each of the five ques-
lions. The result had been that the pu-
pills who had answered but three questions
and whose average was low solely on this
account. had not been fairly credited ac-
cording to their ability. In one instance
cited by him pupil who had answered but
three questions had received the average
of 81 per cent. DR.. Lane explained that
the paper was entitled to the rating of
fifty-seven sixtieths of 100 per cent, which
would bring the average above 80 per cent,
and practically perfect.
The board accepted the report of Dr.
Lane and requested him to submit fur
Their and complete report at the next reg
ular meeting.
The following regular business was con-
sidered: designations were submitted and
accepted of A. L. Ambrose third grade.
sixth division Lucy Y. Arrick, sixth
grade. first division: Z. L. Stetson, teach
er of music: Aida NJ Doyle, fifth grade.
sixth division: Annie l.. Murray and Bes-
sic L. Fletcher. third division; NJ. E.
Ware. teacher of cooking. member of nor
NAL class of 1900.
number of appointments, promotions,
and leaves of absence were approved
Diplomas were granted to Alice Hough-
ton, West High School; Faith Stack West
High School; Wallace j. Young, Central
High School; Sidney B. Harrison, Central
High School; Robert G.. Greene, Central
High School. and Prentiss C. Wilson who
were allowed to graduate. having made
the required number of studies.
1t was resolved that it was not expe-
dent for the board to dispose of the
school property in Massachusetts Avenue.
between Seventeenth and Eighteenth
Sterets. as the price suggested by E. w.
w. Griffin. Assistant Assessor of the Dis
trict of Columbia.
The Committee on Industrial Institution
reported that in the examination for selec-
ton of teachers for cooking no candidate
has received the required standard of -
per cent 1t was resolved to hold a
second examination available only TO those
candidates who had received over so per
cent. Tuesday, May 10.
The Committee on Ways and Means re-
ported that the buildings offered for the
use of the District for school purposes by
C. E. Nelson. at Twining City. were found
unsuitable for the purpose and the offer
was rejected by the board.
The Committee on Rules reported unfav-
orably request from the Longfellow Ma
tiona! Memorial Association for permits
sion to supply each teacher with a roll
of honor on which names could be subscrib-
ed at the rate of 10 cents each, the money
to be used in the erection of a statue to
LongfelloW The report was adCpted