The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-02-27

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 Of Columbia. Senator Stewart.
chairman Of the subcommittee. presided.
and nearly forty persons Attended the
hearing
Miss Emma NJ. Gillette Wau 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 10 be spent N the same grade
simply because Of a few days illness, or
absence from school for other causes.
One criticism which cat sed 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 ant are forced TO submit TO his orders
in resara to their work
NJ p 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 McMfl-
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.
ODonohue 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.
lie said that the teachers should be 50 paid
that they can 20 10 summer schools and
take little time away from their work
each year MIR. ODOnOhue spoke briefly Of
the subjects Of reading. writing. spelling.
and arithmetic. 10 which he said sufficient
time is moi 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 a harmful one. and that il causes
the teachers 20 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 10 express
his opinion Of the present school system
made by his little girl, and said that from
his personal experience he believed the
present system to be a satisfactory one.
Andrew .. Duvall was about 10 submit
some remarks. when Senator Stewart cali
ed his attention 20 the fact that 10 was
criticism that was desired. because the
claim has been made that q chance has not
been given for criticism Mr.. DuyalI re
Piled that he had no criticism To make
ffne 81 q n f4rFT
understood. Mr. Stewart stated that he
desired some critics to speak
". A-.Eronut prefaced his remarks with
ths statement that he desired 90 make a
feS friendly criticisms He said that IL
his opinion II changes are necessary they
should be made in the methods He ad-
ylsed thst instead Of the school system
be,rg- Jl1der- the supervision Of three Com
missiOuCrs II should be controlled By a
larger number Of public-spirited men who
are qualified for the duties they are called
upon 20 perform. He suggested one commits
sioner FOR each school district Mr.. Croft
iut stated his belief that too much atten-
ton Is devoted 10 the high schools and too
Htue % the primary schools He Sug-
gested that Il would be advisable TO 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-
tioa 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
iects. 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 few suggestions chiefly I'm line
with those offered by other speakets.
The Question of Health.
DR.. c. p. Gilbert made some criticism
o. the present system from the health
point Of view. He discussed the causes Of
the numerous physical breaSdowns among
both teachers and pupils. and made mum
Der Of suggestions as 70 hygienic changes
Mrs. Anna T. Murphy criticised the pres
ent system in some respects and commend
ed parts OF il which she thought from her
experience are admirably conducted.
Mrs. Amos C. Draper told of her personal
knowledge OF the results derived from the
system Of teaching now followed in the