Evening star., 1901-12-11
THE PUBIC SCHOOLS
First Report Of the Board of Educa-
ton.
fs
IMPROVED . CONDITIONS SHOWN
Suggestions for Action to Be
Taken by Congress.
TO EQUALIzE SALARIES
TO EQUALIZE SALARIES


A report Of interest to all parents within
the District of Columbia was submitted to
the District Commissioners today. It Is the
first annual statement of the board of edu-
cation of the District of Columbia, which
July 1, 19O0,' succeeded the old board Of
school trustees as the controlling body Of
the public school system of the national
capital.
ION entering upon It's duties" the report
of the board says, "it found school organ
ization with vigorous life and large dlmen-
sions Of which any city in the land might
well be proud 1t then refers to the In
vestigation by the Senate committee and
the formation of the board as result, and
speaks of the changes made since the board
has been in existence.
Standing and Pay of Teachers.
''The whole body of teachers" it says,
SIS most enthusiastic force. and the
scholars take rank with the best to be
found in the common schools of the land.
''The board regards it as duty, as it Is
pleasure, to urge that provision be made
for an increase of salaries both in the lower
and intermediate grades. Some recommen-
dations with regard to the higher salaries
have been incorporated In the annual esti-
mates, and the board expresses its earnest
desire that an advance for the lower
grades, also. may receive the approval or
Congress. These latter salaries are so much
below what Is paid for similar services in
the larger cities Of the country that 1t Is
difficult to command, and much more diff
cult to retain, for long terms, the highest
class Of teaehing ability.
"As to the teachers in the lower grades, 1t
does not seem to be In keeping with the
other elements of the splendid school or
ganiZation which Congress has provided
that SS teachers should receive less than
assistant messengers; that 1877 should re-
ceive less than laborerS; that 131 should
be paid less than hostlers; that 15S should
receive less than elevator boys and the
head scrubbing women and spittoon clean
ers'
Reference is made to the practical, es-
thetic and patriotic training and to the fact
that the new buildings of the white and
colored manual training schools which Con-
gress, in its desire to promote practical ed
ucation, has provided are nearly COM
Nleted. -f--.-s-
The kindergarten schools and their prog
ress are referred to and says that the teach
ers In these kindergartens have all been
especially trained for the work at their
provided for them in the Washington
Normal School. ~
The development Of the high and normal
schools Is spoken Of and the need of
building Tor the latter Is shown.
Night Schools.
fii every community tnere Is 1OunQ q large
class of young men and women who were
compelled to leave school for the purpose
Of seeking livelihood before even an ele-
mentary education had been acquired. Our
night schools aim to provide means by
which such persons may be helped in their
commendable efforts toward self-improve-
ment. but so great are the differences in the
ages of pupils and, their degrees of advance
ment that our courses Of instruction must
oar arn1 In hot. at,,ro
mitting neither a close classification of pu-
pills nor much attention to the needs of In
divfduals. The sessions are necessarily
short. the opportunities on the part Of the
pupils for methodical study few and the
attendance liable to be irregular from va
rious causes. For these reasons a high
standard of teaching, combined with a real
enthusiasm for the work In hand on the
part of the teacher. seems even more es-
Sential than in the day schools
Plans are already formulated for consoli-
dating all evening schools throughout the
city into stronger, more centralized and
more carefully graded organization, and
placing them under the immediate super
vision of director of night schools. -.
Physical Culture.
Physical culture is an accomplished fact
Of our school curriculum, with reach that
extends from the beginning of the kinder
garten period, where 1t expresses itself in
games and plays" to the end Of the high
school and manual training courses, where
it eliminates in the definite work of the
gymnasium and the military training Of the
cadets All along the line between these
two points there Is an adaptation of exercise
to condition that makes a completely or
garized and well-fitted instrument of devel-
opment.
When the value of the school garden and
the public playground Is fully realized by
us and the way for their accomplishment is
open to us they too will relate themselves
logically to this subject, becoming a certain
means in the fulf1llment of it's purpose. We
are not completely supplied with all facili-
ties and appliances but these will come as
the result of time and effort. The subject
as a whole is in very satisfactory condi-
tion.
Committee Reports.
The report of the. committee on rules will
show the attention which the board has
system, by assuring teachers secure
tenure during efficient service, and declar-
ing that merit shall be the controlling ele-
ment in promotions.
The question of sanitation has received
constant and close attention. The commit
tee having that subject in charge has been
untring in it's work, and this work has re-
suited in securing for the school buildings
sanitary condition which is not surpassed
in any city or in any of the public build
ings of Washington. The board gives most
emphatic approval to the proposition for
daily medical inspection Of the schools for
the purpose of discovering the earliest
symptoms of contagious diseases.
1t is respectfully urged that the Commits
sioners of the District give special atten-
tion to the question, raised by the commit
tee on buildings, repairs and sanitation, of
admitting the board Of education to con-
ference upon the, plans and specifications