The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-28

Murray and Others Give Views
The system OF education in the public
schools Of the District was the subject Of
a hearing which was held at 10 O'Clock
yesterday morning by the Subcommittee OF
the Senate District Committee, which has
charge Of the local school investigation.
Senator Stewart, Chairman Of the sub
committee. presided, Senator Mcmillan
being the only other member of the COM
mittee who was present The hearing was
attended by large number Of people in
terested in the subject OF education. many
OF whom were ladies. Superintendent
/ Powell sat near the chair occupied by the
! respective speakers, and listened attent-
lively to all that was said, now and then
/ making a correction or replying TO some
! question that came up in the discussion.
The first speaker was Miss Emma NJ
! Gillette, who was formerly a teacher in
the public schools here. Her remarks were
| devoted to a general criticism of the
methods now pursued and among other
things she advised the substitution of the
/ system of elastic grading for the exact
/ grading which is now employed, and which,
/ she said, often requires two years to be
/ spent in the same grade simply because
/ Of a few days Illness, or absence from
school for other causes.
! Miss Gillette expressed the belief that
| in view Of the fact that only per cent
/ of the pupils in the lower grades event.
4 ually go TO the High Schools they 6hould
/ receive early training for practical business
| life. She concluded her remarks with the
statement that the teachers are not per-
/ mitted to advise with the superintendent,
but that they are entirely under his direc
ion and are forced to submit to his orders
in regard TO their work
She declared that there is no sympathy
between the superintendent and the teach
ers.
NJ F. O'Donohue. Chairman of the Public
Schools Committee of the Columbia
Heights Citizens Association. was the next
speaker. Mr.. O'Donohue first took up the
subject Of the members Of the school board,
who, he declared. are selected from among
eminent men, but are not, as they should
be, educational specialists. Senator McMil-
Ian asked Mr.. O'Donohue if it is the Gus
/ tom elsewhere to appoint specialists to
boards Of education. The reply was that
the tendency Is in that direction. Mr.
O'Donohue then referred to the salaries Of
teachers, which he declared are not large
amounts paid 10 departmental employees
He said that the teachers should be so paid
that they can go 10 summer schools and
take little time away from their work
each year Mr.. O'Donohue spoke briefly Of
the subjects Of reading. writing. spelling
and arithmetic, to which he said sufficient
time IS not devoted.
Re declared that the system OF annual
election Of teachers is a harmful one, and
That 1t causes teachers TO pay too much
attention TO retaining their positions.
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.. ODonohCe Nominal means
fear We want no fear on the part OF the
teacher. They should be appointed per-
manenty and should not be removed eN-
cept by the act Of some independent
board.
Theodore l. DeLand commended the
present method Of teaching, and expressed
himself highly pleased with the progress /
made by his litle girl who has been at
tending the public schools here He said
he has been an examiner in the Treasury
Department, and had examined many
graduates Of the high schools who applied
for positions without knowing one Of them
TO fail
Etlldb't stewart SGlu ne wanted those 10 ]
speak who had criticism to make. and es-
pecially teachers as it had been said that |
teachers were afraid to say anything.
W. A Croffut prefaced his remarks With /
the statement that he desired to make q /
few friendly criticisms. He said that in /
his opinion IL changes are necessary they I
should be made in the methods. He ad- |
vised that instead OF the school system /
being under the supervision Of three Com |
Il.
larger number OF public spirited men who /
are qualified for the duties they are called |
upon to perform. He suggested one commits
siOner for each school district. Mr. Croft
tut stated his belief that too much attcn-
ton is devoted to the high schools and too
little 10 the primary schools He sug-
gested that IL would be advisable 10 re-
duce the period required 10 complete the
High School course to two years instead
Of four. He then took up the subject Of
the methods Of instruction now used in
the schools and said that too little atten-
ton is given 10 memory and too much 10
reasoning.
Miss Ida Dixon. Of Baltimore. gave the |
result Of Washington teachers instruc-
ton with Washington methods in Balti-
more. She said that she and others, as
committee, Of which President Gilman Of
Johns Hopkins University was a member.
Aid4 N@-dllliAFA all tht luDllt StNDbi H1S-
TENS Of the country and had decided that
the system In this city was the best.
Having decided 10 adopt this system in a
private school in Baltimore they engaged
teachers to put il into effect
and she commended the results in the
highest terms.
Mrs. Anna f. Murray formerly 2 teach
er in the public schools of this city COM
mended the present system, but suggested
that there ought to be more schoolbouses
in order to do away with the halliday
schools She also said that the pay Of the
teachers in the lower grades should be in
DR.. c. b. Gilbert made some criticism
Of the present system from the health
point Of view. He discussed the causes Of
the numerous physical breskdowns among
both teachers and pupils and made a num-
Der OF suggestions as TO hygienic changes.
He said he was decidedly opposed to the
physical examination which is now made
in schools to a limited extent.
Henry F. Blount, who was at the head Of I
the National Educational Association when |
the last convention was held in this city,
said he found at that time that the edu-
Gators attending that convention regarded :
the schools OF this city as among the four .
Or five best school systems in the country. (