The evening times., 1900-02-27
TIE DISTRICT SCHOOLS
Criticisms Offered at a Senatorial
Sub Committee Hearing.
Various Opinions as to What should
He Done to Improve the system.
Numerous Speakers Present Their
Views of the Matter-Seiection of
Trustees--t Word for the Tenchers.

A hearing on the subject of the public
school system OF the District was given at
10 O'Clock this morning by the sub-com-
mittee of the Senate Committee on the
District CT Columbia. Senator Stewart.
chairman Of the ub-committee. presided,
and nearly forty persons attended the
hearing.
Miss Emma NJ Gillette was the first
speaker. and her remarks were chiefly de-
voted to a general criticism Of the meth
DDS now pursued Miss Gillette advised the
substitution of the system of elastic grad
ing for the exact grading which is now
employed, and which, she said, often re-
quires years TO be spent in the same grade
simply because of few days' illness, or
absence from school for other causes.
One criticism which caused comment
among her auditors was the statement
made by her that the teachers are not per-
mitted to advise with the Superintendent.
but that they are entirely under his direc-
tion and are forced to submit to his orders
in regard to their work.
NJ 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
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 il it is the Gus
tom elsewhere to appoint specialists to
boards of education. The reply was that
the tendency is in that direction. MI
0Donohue then referred to the salaries OF
teachers. which he declared are not large
enough, and are not in proportion to the
amounts paid to departmental employees.
He said that the teachers should be so paid
that they can go to 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. He also suggested the
employment Of physicians. which action he
said would be both helpful and economical
Election of Teachers.
On the subject of the annual election Of
teachers, Mr.. O'Donohue was very decided
in his views. and declared that this sys-
tenn IS harmful one. and that it causes
the teachers to pay too much attention TO
retaining their positions.
Theodore l.. De Land addressed the com
mittee. and at the beginning of his re-
marks stated that he desired to express
his opinion Of the present school system
as parent. He referred to the progress
made by his little girl and said that from
| his personal experience he believed the
present system to be a satisfactory one.
Andrew y. DuvalI was about to submit
some remarks when Senator Stewart call
ed his attention to the fact that it was
criticism that was desired because the
claim has been made that chance has not
I y.41t 70
! Piled that he had no criticism 10 make
and only desired to commend. This being
understood Mr.. Stewart stated that he
desired some critics TO speak.
/ Nv. A..Eroffut prefaced his remarks with
the statement that he desired TO make
| few friendly criticisms. He said that in
his opinion If changes are necessary they
| should be made in the methods He ad-
| yised that instead of the school system
being. Under the supervision Of three Com
/ missioners it should be controlled by a
| larger number Of pubIic-s 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
! fut stated his belief that too much atten-
! ton is devoted to the high schools and too
! Ifttlei to the primary schools. He sug-
gested that IL would be advisable to re
| duce the period required TO complete the
Hign SfUOUi purse 10 lhu ytGiS iASNVou
! 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.
Mr. Croffut thought that oral teaching
should be minimized. and that the lessons
| should be consecutive. He declared that
| the method of teaching should be deduc-
| tive instead of inductive and that Tupils
! should not be required to devote too much
| time to reasoning in the lower grades He
| advised that some of the decorative sub
! jects which he said are now taught, be
taken from the curriculum and that the
! course be narrowed and deepened.
! The next speaker was Henry F. BiOunt
/ who made a few suggestions chiefly in line
! with those offered by other speake,s.
! The Question of Health.
| 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 breakdowns among
| both teachers and pupils. and made a mum
1 Der of suggestions as to hygienic changes
Mrs. Anna L, Murphy criticised the pres
! ent system in some respects and commend
! ed parts of ii which she thought from her
| experience are admirably conducted.
| Mrs. Amos G.. Draper told of her personal
| knowledge of the results derived from the
| system of teaching now followed in the