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


hearing which was held at 10 oclocl
yesterday morning by the subcommittee o
the Senate District Committee, which ha
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 wa
attended by large number of people in
terested in the subject OF education, man,
OF whom were ladies. Superintendent
| Powell sat near the chair occupied by thu
! respective speakers, and listened attent
lively to all that was said, now and ther
| making correction or replying to som,
question that came up in the discussion.
The first speaker was Miss Emma NJ
Gillette, who was formerly 4 teacher il
the public schools here. Her remarks wer,
! devoted to a general criticism of The
methods now pursued, and among othel
| 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 bs
| spent in the same grade simply because
| OF 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
ually go to the High Schools they 5hould
! 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.
VI. F. O'Donohue, Chairman OF the Public
Schools Committee of the Columbia
| Heights Citizens Association, was the next
speaker. Mr.. ODonohue first took up the
subject of the members of the school board,
who he declared. are selected from among
eminent men, but are rot. as they should
be, educational specialists. Senator McMil-
Ian asked Mr.. O'Donohue If il 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
enough, and are not in proportion TO the
amounts paid 10 departmental employees
He said that the teachers should be so paid
mat 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
lie declared that the system of annual
election of teachers is harmful one. and
that 1t causes teachers TO pay too much
attention TO retaining their positions.
Mr.. Powell remarked that they are APP
pointed permanently and that their yearly
appointments are merely nominal
do away with hal word
said Mr.. o'Donohue. " Nominal means
fear. We want no fear on the part of the
teacher. They should be appointed per-
manently and should not be removed ex-
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 little 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.
Senator Stewart said he wanted those to
speak who had criticism to make, and es-
pecially teachers, as 1t had been said that
teachers were afraid to say anything.
w. A. Croffut prefaeed his remarks With
the statement that he desired to make a
few friendly criticisms. He said hat in
his opinion IL changes are necessary they
should be made in the methods. He ad-
vised that instead of the school system
being under the supervision of three Com
missioners it should be controlled by
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 atten-
tion is devoted to the high schools and too
little TO the primary schools. He sug-
gested that il would be advisable to re-
duce the period required TO 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 TO memory and too much TO
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,
had examined all the public school sys-
TENS of the country and had decided that
the system In this city was the best
Having decided TO adopt this system in a
private school in Baltimore. they engaged
Washington teachers to put il into effect
and she commended the results in the
highest terms.
Mrs. Anna Z. 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 schoolhouses
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
creased.
DR.. C. E. Gilbert made some criticism
OF the present system from the health
point of view. He discussed the causes of
the numerous physical breakdowns among |
both teachers and pupils and made 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 |
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. !
The greatest need, he said, is for more |
school buildings TO accommodate the lower |
grades.
Mrs. Amos G. Draper commended the |
present school system and said that she |
was greatly pleased with the progress
made by her own children. She said she |
had been taught the multiplication table |
under the old system and as result of |
that had run up the table in order TO make
a calculation, while her boy, educated I'M
der the present system, can give the re-
suits he wants instantly.
Gen. William A. Birney said that he had
observed the educational methods under
he old and new systems while trustee
md that the principal fault that he had to
ind with the nrecapf sNcfaDo 10 tla+ !