The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-14
SCHOOL 7RUSTEHS MEET
Matters of Importance Considered
BY the Board.
The Supervising Principals Make
Report ms to the Number of Teach
ers' Conference Meetings Held
During the Past Yenr-A ProTer of
Anti-Impcrinlist League Declined.

The number OF meetings that are held
| by the superintendent of the various pub
lie schools in the District was the principal
theme for discussion at the meeting OF the
Board of School Trustees held at the
| Franklin school yesterday afternoon at
1870 o'clock
This matter was brought to the atten-
| ton of the trustees at the last meeting of
the board when Mrs J. d. Francis pre-
scented resolution calling on Superin-
tendents Powell and Cook TO furnish the
board a statement of the number of meet
ings of teachers which are held during the
year in the schools under their direction.
Mrs Francis stated that she had been in
| formed that Superintendent Cook, of the
colored schools. was derelict in attending
10 the duties that devolve upon him as
superintendent, and that the meetings OF
the teachers of the different grades were
called very infrequently by the head of
the system. At that time the matter was
| fully discussed. and it was thought ad-
visable to call each of the superinten-
| dents for a report or statement of the
number of such meetings which ii is GUS
tomary to hold during the school year.
Both of these reports were received by
| the board, at the meeting yesterday. and
we're discussed in executive session. The
entire board was not present when Pres!-
| dent Whelpley called the meeting to order
at 4:30.
4 New Building Wanted.
|
by the secretary. The Northeast Washing
ton Citizens Association was the endorser
| of a communication relative to the adoption
| of the system of medical inspection OF
schools and the erection of new building
| in the northeast section of the city. The
writer's of the letter stated that the schools
In that section were very much over
crowded, and the need of an additional
building was sorely felt.
General Harries asked IL the matter had
net better be referred to the committee
on ways and means.
This proposition was opposed for time
| by several of the trustees. They stated
| that the appropriation for the school should
! be included in the Urgent Deficiency bill.
! but il was developed that the bill had been
passed by Congress so that il will be nee
essary to have a separate appropriation
passed through the House and Senate be-
i fore the funds be secured with which
! to construct the building
The suggestion of General Harries was
! then put in the form OF motion, and was
/ carried.
A letter was read from the secretary Of
1 the Columbia Heights Citizens Assoeia-
! ton. regarding over-pressure Of studies in
the local schools Some action should be
| taken by the Board of Trustees to relieve
the scholars of the night studies they are
now compelled to pursue, the communica-
! ton stated.
Several requests were received from
! business firms, asking permission TO inter-
view the teachers OF the schools on business
matters. and to distribute music and such
| articles Both of these requests we're de-
MED.
A Ground Robin" Received.
letter. which was called round rob-
| In" owing to the peculiar manner in
which the signers had attached their
names, calling the attention of the board
of trustees to certain grievances OF the
signers against the supervising principal
having charge of the manual training
school in Street northwest. The signers
we're all colored people, and they stated
attend the training school mentioned for
! reasons best known 10 themselves. They
| stated that they had applied TO the trus-
tee having charge OF that division for re-
| lief but had received no protection what
| ever
| Mrs Francis was the trustee referred 10.
| and she stated that she had received a
! complaint from one of the signers OF the
letter and had called ON the supervising
| nvfp FIR an ia
! She had received word from the parent
| and from the school officials that the
matter had been amicably adjusted AMI
| the objection TO the use Of the training
school was Withdrawn. OF the other com
| plants she knew nothing.
The matter was referred to Mrs. Francis
| as a special committee for investigation
communication from the Anti-Im-
perialist League offering prizes for the
/ best ESSAY to be written by the scholars
| in the public schools on the policy OF the
present Administration toward imperial
| ism. the Declaration of Independence. and
washington's Farewell Address. was then
read by the secretary. and after due con-
sideration IL was decided that TO accept
the offer would be contrary TO the rules OF
| the School Board and therefore IL would
| be necessary to decline the proffer.
| The secretary was authorized TO address
a letter to the league. stating the reason
| of The Board for the declination.
| Under the head OF new business Rev.
Ira Brown requested that some action be
taken by the board toward securing tie
funds necessary for the erection OF color
ed school building in Brookland He said
| an investigation had developed the fact
that there are over a hundred children in
the suburb who are of a school age, but
who are compelled TO come into the city
or to go TO Ivy City in order TO attend
school. As a result fifty of these children
do not attend any school, and their parents
are very DESTROYS of having them secure
| an education. The citizens of this section
requested the board to take some action
toward securing for them a four-room
school building at least.
The request was referred to the proper
committee with the power to act prompt
by on tie matter.
Rcportx of Superinfendcnfs.
The reports of the superintendent, re-
ferre6 TO above, were then read by the sec
rotary. Superintendent Powell stated that
there were not many regular meetings
of teachers held under his immediate
supervision, and the number of special
meetings had not been taken into account.
There are five meetings at the Office of the
| superintendent the report stated, which
included almost everything that would be
discussed throughout the school year The
principal gatherings OF teachers are held
undc- the direction of the supervising
principals of the various divisions, the
number varying as the needs of the sys-
TEN seem TO require.
A special report from Supervising Pin