The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-24

Mr.. Stewart yesterday reported from the
Senate Committee on the District Of Co
lumhia the result Of the investigation OF
the public school system of the District.
As result OF this investigation the com
miuee recommends that the following
paragraph be inserted as an amendment
10 tho District Appropriation bin:
That there shall be a department Of
public schools in the government of the
District OF Columbia and he President Of
the United States is hereby authorized TO
appoint by and with the advice and con-
sent of the Senate five persons residing
in Che District Of Columbia, to constitute
a board Of education whose term OF Office
shall be 1--WE years. except that the terms
OF the persons FIRST appointed shall termi-
nate as follows: one each year, to be de-
fermined by lot among the five members
Of the board first appointed. The compen-
satiou OF the members OF the board shall
be SO per capita for personal attendance
a. each meeting. but shall not exceed for
any member 81 000 per annUm. The board
shall have complete jurisdiction over all
matters connected with the public schools
Of the District of Columbia including the
administration OF the public funds and the
care and management Of school buildings,
except construction. and shall make all
needful rules and regulations which may
be proper for the conduct Of The business
OF the department and shall submit to
Congress an annual report Of the opera
iions Of the department. together with the
needs Of the service. and particularly the
sanitary and structural condition Of all
buildings in use as well as those in course
OF construction.
Appoint n Superintendent.
That the board shall have power to ap-
point one superintendent for all the public
schools in the District, a secretary a dis
bursting officer. who shall give a bond in
the sum OF $4,000 for the faithful dis
charge OF his duties, and two clerks. and
10 remove said officers at its pleasure.
The superintendent by and with the ad-
vice and consent Of the board, shall have
power 10 appoint and remove an assistant
superintendent. all teachers officers. aud
other employees. and he shall annually sub
mit to the board for approval the course
Of studies. lists OF text books. and other
apparatus to be used in the schools.
That the board shall annually transmit
so the Commissioners Of the District an
PsTtmeni Of public schools Tor the ensuing
year. and ssid Commissioners shall include
the same In their annual estimate of sp-
preparations for the District :
That the foregoing provisions under the |
head OF public schools shall take effect /
Immediately upon the passage OF this act, \
snd all acts and parts OF acts in conflict 1
Herewith are hereby repealed.
The following salaries shall be paid.
For oflcers: For FIVE members Of the 4
Board OF Education, $1,000 each-s5 Ooe; I
not more than 900 OF which shall be used /
during the Arst half Of the fiscal year: for I
one superintendent of public schools /
$1,000; for one assistant superintendent 4
81 600. for one secretary, 81 500 for one
disbursing oficer $4,000; for two clerks at
$1,000 each. $4,000; one messenger, $500. I
Ia an, $4,000
contradictory Testimony
The report states that the testimony
taken by the committee is very volumi- 4
nous and al times, contradictory concern
ing the management. method OF instruc-
tion, and condition Of the public schools.
A lack OF properly organized system is. in
be opinion Of the committee. the principal
source Of defects in the existing system
Of public schools in the District
The Board Of Trustees under the present.
law. is appointed by the District Com
missioners and consists OF eleven mem
bers. who receive no compensation The
Superintendent is also appointed By the
Commissioners. the powers and duties of
neither the trustees nor the Superintand- !
ent are clearly defined. 1t would De i'm I
possible the report states. to criticise and
decide al OF any considerable number Of
the disputed questions upon which the
committee has taken testimony, but there
ls vast preponderance Of evidence tend I
ing 10 show a want of the necessary drill
in spelling penmsnship. arithmetic gram
mar. and geography.
Continuing. The report says: This want
81 drill seems TO arise from the large mum
Der OF matters called nature or science
studies taught in the lower grades. The
use Of object lessons. such as birds in
sects flowers. fruits. and the like may be
useful and may interest children. but such
object lessons ought not to monopolize
he time OF the schools TO the exclusion
OF elementary drilling"
The advocates OF the so-called nature
studies very properly contend that some
variation from the old system is necessary
TO interest he pupils and make their school
life agreeable and beneficial but sceordlr,
10 the testimony OF the teachers. SO much
time Is consumed with these nature
studies That they neglect the necessary
drill in The elements Many Of the teach
ers complain that they are constantly oc-
cupi-d in investigating these nature
studies to qualify themselves for teaching
and that their time and energy are ex-
hsusted IN studying and teaching nature
studies 10 such an extent that they are
no, able 70 teach the children the primary
lessons which are indispensable IN the Or
diHars transactions Of life.
There is another matter which inter