Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-07
The New Organization in Session
This Afternoon.
HEADS OF SCHOOLS CONSULTED
Speculation as to the Choice of
Superintendent.
OFFICE OF SECRETAR


the Franklin building, when the board of
education recently created for the purpose
of taking complete charge of every thing
pertaining to the public school system of
the nations capital gathered for practical
purposes. The initial meeting of the board
was, of coui>a, also prao ticai, organiza-
ton was effected and general interchange
of views to the policy to be followed in
dulged in.
The meeting today was for the purpose
of comforting with the supervising prin-
cipals of the various districts and he.direc-
ton of high schools. and having what each
had to propose as best in his opinion to
remedy any existing evils in the system
and promote its efficiency. There were pres
ent President Charles J. Bell. Vice Presi-
dent George II. HargieS Secretary ]. +.
Bundy, Mrs. Henry Litchfie'd West Mrs
j. r. Francis, DR.. Richard kingSman and
MIR. J. Holdsworth Gordon. comprising the
board, and DR.. F. r. Lane, director of high
schools: Supervising Principals c. S. Clark
of the first district, \. p. Gage of the sec
ond, A. T Stuart of the third, Isaac
tairbrother of the fourth. b. T: Janney Of
the fifth, W. B. Patterson of the sixth j.
r. keene of the seventh. ]. T. Freeman of
the eighth. w. S. Montgomery of the ninth
j. H. n. Waring of the tenth, and E. w.
Brown of the eleventh, the last three
named being the supervising principals Of
the cOlOred schools.
Superintendent Powell was not present or
at the building when introductions of the
principals to the members of the board had
been concluded.
President Bell said series of questions
had been prepared which would be given
to the principals and the director and to
which the board wished they would send
In written replies by Tuesday next. The
questions are as follows:
Lines of Questions.
1. Is the curriculum too wide in the
graded schools. and, If so, how should it
be reduced?
?. To what extent should drill work be
adopted in the various grades?
3. Should children be advanced from
grade to grade upon recommendation of
teachers, approved by supervising prin-
cipals, or on special examinations conduct
ed for the purpose of determining fitness of
pupils?
4. Up to what grade should the elemen-
tary studies form an important part of the
curriculum?
D. How should the promotion of teachers
be made? Should increase of salary neces-
state A removal to higher grade?
6. State what are. in your opinion, the
most valuable text books on the following
subjects: Reading, arithmetic. geography
spelling, grammar, American history
Z. How should writing be taught? BY
blackboard work or copybook?
$. State what subjects should be taught
In graded public schools to give the great
est benefit to the largest number of pupils
y Do you approve of double class work?
Give reasons for and against.
10 To what extent should manual train
ing be taught in the graded schools?
IL. To what extent should home study be
encouraged in the lower grades?
II. Do you consider halliday schools ad-
vfsable for the younger children?
The principals then departed and the
board went into executive session.
Applications for Positions.
There were many other visitors to the
building besides those already named, and
these We're place hunters or their "infiu-
ence," seeking to secure some of the pat
rCGage in the bcstowal of the board.
AS for the members they either brought
with them mad forwarded in advance
huge bundles of applications and indorse-
meats for every position from that of
peiintcndent down to th&t of messenger,
including teacherships and janitors' places.
casual observer was reminded very much
Of the onslaught on tEe census office that
Director Merriam knows SO we'll about.
1t was stated at the conclusion of the
former meeting that the superintendent of
schools, two assistant superintendents and
the secretary to the board would be select
ed at the meeting today, and the gueSSers
had this morning gone SO far to state
as their pretty positive opinions that Mr.
]. T. Freeman would be chosen to succeed
Superintendent Powell, and that Mrs. l. G
Myers the principal of the Normal School,
would be made assistant superintendent for
the white schools.
To those who doubted the value of the
guess about Mrs Myers because of her sex
1t was stated with apparent force that
about 100 of the l. 100 teachers in the Dis
trict schools are women. and that 1t would
be recognition of them if Mrs. Myers were
chosen.
I'VE women teachers have lots of things
we would like to call attention to- said
one of the women teachers. ''and they are
often of a character that We cannot tell to
a man.
At o'clock the board was still in execu-
tive session, and II was understood that no
action had yet been taken in selecting the
superintendent and other officials.
Some Probable Policies.
The speculation over the probable policy
of the board has been wide and general
and as divergent as such lines of thought
always are. 1t is within the bounds of fact,
however, to state that It will be conserva-
tive, far as conservatism is permissible
in dealing with such a vital question as
the education of the young. That there will
be greater attention paid to what is proS-
erly known as common school education
permits no questioning. The members of the
board are distinctly advocates of this sys-
tenn. The veneer of Superticality will be, it
is believed, disregarded entirely in the pur-
suit of the practical and lasting. The mem
bers of the board are well aware that GO
per cent of the school children educated at
public expense in the District leave school
when they have reached the sixth grade.
This percentage represents to a very large
extent the children of parents who cannot
afford to give their boys and girls high
education, and whose means are such that
as soon as the children reach an age when
they can be helpful in bread earning they
are introduced to that responsibility On a
limited scale.
Upon the educate of this 60 per cent of
the scholars the board is also aware that
but 30 per cent of the total amount annu-
ally available for public schools is expend-
ed The readjustment of this admittedly un-
fair ratio will be undoubtedly one of the
earliest accomplishments of the board
The curriculum Of the High Schools will
also it is believed, come in for considera-
ton very soon. There will be, ii is believed
more stamina and less of the superficial
veneer alluded to above when the prun-
ing knife is applied.
A Matter of Record.
Some idea of how shallow are the re-
suits of the High School system as con-
Quoted up to the present was gained at a
recent examination of fifty-three girls who
desired to enter the Normal School and