The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-28
ATTACKS FISKE'S HISTORY
General BOyntOn Points Out the
Alleged Errors.
A Statement Presented to the Board
of Educntion-The Chapters on the
Civil War Full of Nistakex-Busi-
ness of Routine Nature Transacted,

ness of Routine Nature Transacted
At the regular meeting of the Board of
Education, held last night in the Frank
lin School Building, Gen. H. " Boynton,
President of the Board. gave the men,
bers present statement Compiled by
himself after careful examination in re-
gard to the use of John Fiske's His
tory in this city's public schools. In re-
ferring to the matter, General Boynton
said:
In a communication presented to the
board at its meeting on February 20 last,
John Fiske's History of the United States
for Schools. was. as the result of cas-
ual examination, excepted from the criti-
cisms passed upon Barnes Montgom-
erys, Johnston's, and McMasters' school
histories. A more critical examination of
some of the chapters in the Fiske's his
tory on the civil war constrains me to
bring this volume also to the attention
of this Board. with the recommendation
that it be included with those named
above in the resolution of the Board, de-
claring that their chapters on the civil
war shall not be taught in the schools of
the District until properly corrected.
General Boynton then proceeded to point
out to the Board few of the many er-
rors that he claimed he had discovered
during his examination, and all touch
ing upon the civil war.
Upon page 3ss. speaking of Shiloh. New
Orleans. Island No. 10. and Memphis in
the spring of 1862, Mr.. Fiske says: This
series of magnificent Federal victories re-
duced the Confederates in the West to
the two important positions of Vicksburg
on the Mississippi River and Chattanooga
in the southeastern part of Tennessee
Yet more than a year and half after
the period thus fixed by Fiske, and four
months after the capture OF Vicksburg,
the enemy was SO active as to require
5000 men under Mcpherson in Western
Tennessee and 5000 under Banks in Lou
isiana."
Mr.. BoyDton's report was referred to
the Committee on Text Books.
The condition of coal furnished to the
public schools in this city was then
brought up for discussion by a report
made upon that subject by the Committee
on Ways and Means, composed of Gen. II:
V. Boynton. Gen. George II. Harrfes and
James F. Bundy. In their report to the
board the committee stated that after an
examination of the coal furnished to the
schools by the Individual niem2-s= of the
committee, and the reading of repor,s
upon that subject forwarded to the COM
mittee by all of the public school janitors
in the city. it had decided the coal now
furnished the schools as of the poorest
materials. being full of slate. glass, oys-
ter shells and plenty of dirt Frequently
the amount of coal contracted for was
short in its weight, ii was said
As recommended in the report, the mat
ter was ordered by the Board to be laid
before the District Commissioners for ac-
tion.
"A leave of absence for thirty days. ap-
Piled for by G. A. Anderson, teacher in
the Madison School, was referred to Ma
jor II. II. Twomby, the Secretary of the
Board, who granted it.
The Board was also in receipt of re-
port from Mr.. Montgomery. Assistant
Superintendent of Schools, in regard TO
the recent fire in the Randall School on
March 20, generating the janitor Of the
school, A. II. Wayne, from all blame.
The following changes in the janitor-
ships OF the various public schools has
been ordered by the Board Of Education:
William McQueeney. Berret School, trans
ferred to Business High School, vice Jo-
seph Gully deceased: Highland Maddox.
Dion, temporary janitor of Business High
School 10 Cranch. vice Maddox; Ed. I.
Offutt, appointed janitor of the Harrison
School, in place of w. b. Berlin. resign
ed; George 7. Bateman, to new Dent
School.
The Board also approved the appoint
ment of Edward Stacey as teacher In
the first grade, vice Miss Fannie H. Wool
worth, promoted to the position of
teacher of physical culture through a
competitive examination held March g.
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