The times., 1901-06-27
MAJOR TWOMBLY RESIGNS
Leaves the Board of Education Sec
retaryship for Business.
A Resolution of Regret Passed A
Special one-Iear Course at Bust
ness School - Some Appointments
Made and designations Announced


| Amid general expressions of regret, the
| Board Of Education last night accepted
the resignation of Major II. IL. Twombly.
its secretary, who has filled the position
ever since the establishment of the board,
almost year ago. Under the new regime
the marvellous improvement Of the public
schools of Washington has been in no
little part due to his splendid executive
ability. as displayed in the discharge of
the duties of his Office. Major Twombly
has accepted an important post with the
| Perpetual Building Association, of this
city, and will enter upon the duties of his
new office soon as another secretary
is appointed by the board.
The regret OF the board at the resigna-
| tion of Major Twombly was voiced in the
| following manner:
| Resolved, That the Board of Educa-
| ton accepts the resignation of Major II
| H. Twombly, it's Secretary, and thanks
| him most heartily for the services rem
/ dered by him to the public schools OF the
! District of Columbia. "
The Washington public schools now en-
| joy the reputation of being among the
best in the country. From the point of
business operation, they are second to
none and approached only by those of
Chicago. year ago the system was in
chaotic state The Board o, Educa-
ton was organized and the enti-e admin
istration of school affairs was reyolu-
tionized.
On July the Board of Education was
organized On July 10 Major Twombiy
was rendered, without solicitation, the po-
sition of secretary Of the board and he
accepted three days later. The labor for
all parties concerned IN the revision of
school government was prodigious. Upon
none, however did the load fall more
heavily than upon the shoulders of Major
Twombly. Prior to appointment he had
been engaged in the real estate business.
With practically no experience in edu-
cational matters Major Twombly took up
the duties of the secretaryship of the
board with enthusiasm. There is today
nobody in Washington who Is more closely
in touch with the District of Columbia
school affairs than Major H. II. Twombly.
The plans on which the Board of Educa-
ton was organized were untried under
the existing condition, although they had
been well considered The change in school
government was made in July. BY the
time the schools were scheduled to open
in September last The system was In fine
working order. At the present time there
is not a hitch in the operation, which
comes nearer TO perfectly satisfying
everybody than any other ever tried
The position of secretary Is a--highly
important one. Every bit of business
transacted by the Board of Education
goes through the hands of the secretary
Much of the business is left to his per-
sonaI discretion. A thousand and one
technicalties of government and discipline
were readily mastered by Major Twom-
bly,. whose term of office has been re-
markably free from friction in any form.
The proof of successful administration
is often personal popularity. Among
teachers in every branch of the schools
of the District there is no more popular
man than Major Twombly. He has done
much for the teachers and they have
fully appreciated the efforts made in their
behalf.
The strict business principles upon
which the affairs of the schools are con-
Quoted are largely due to Major Twom-
blys influence Among the commercial
interests which come in contact with the
schools the Washington Board of Edu-
cation bears an enyiabie reputation.
Major Twombly is practically a life
long WashingI-1ian. having come TO this
city from his native State, New Hamp-
shire, when sixteen years old. During
the civil war he served at the battle of
Fort Stevens. fought in defence of the
National Capital Later he entered the
national service in the Government Print
ing ONCE and after fifteen years expe-
ricnce in various capacities, was made a
clerk in the office of Public Printer. which
position he occupied for ten years From
1881 until the outbreak of the Spanish
American war Major Twombly was audi
fes.fal TyHuHN9
When the war broke out he was ap-
pointed paymaster in the volunteer ar
my with the rank Of major and WAS sta
toned during the war at various Southern
points where large bodies of troops We're
concentrated. After the war Major
Twombly returned to the pursuits OF
peace and engaged in the real estate busi-
ness in this city with his son, under the
firm name of II. II. Twombly & Son. He
continued in that business until rendered
the position of secretary Of the Board of
Education.
1t is Major Twombly's intention to
maintain an active interest in the affairs
of the schools, for which his experience
as secretary fits him to an admirable de-
gree. The firm with which Major Twom- |
bly, is to be associated is one of the larg
est OF its kind in the United States and |
the position into which he steps is one |
for which he is especially fitted.
a one-year special course viii be estab- |
lished at the Business High School. AL !
Ian Davis, principal of that school, has |
that a one-year course be |
inaugurated for pupils who have success
fully completed three years work of the /
high school course. The study |
Of English is omitted, but the more i'm |
portant Of the commercial studies. includ- |
ing shorthand and bookkeeping &, are re-
tanned and it will be possible for dill
gent students to get good foundation |
for business life
The board has extended thanks to Col |
w. c. Sanger, Assistant Secretary OF
War; Prof. Kelly Miller. of Howard Uni
versity, and Prof. Moore for addresses
at the commencement exercises
Of the various high schools. Permission
has been granted Miss /. l. Russell and
other teachers to establish a school for
colored children in the northeast section
Of the city.
Prof A I. Gardner, fnstructo- in the
manual training department OF public
schools. has been assigned principal of
A1anual Training School No !. which will
be opened in December.
Clarence NJ. Hall has been assigned as
instructor OF physics. II. r. Thompson
IS to be engineer, and Ii. Maddox to be
janitor
To fil vacancies caused by the transfer
school, Clara p Searie and Frances San
lers have been appointed teachers of Eng
ish at the Central High School and Frank
c. Daniel, instructor of chemistry.
The following appointments at the Bust
ness High School have been made: Mary
Baldwin, typewriting: Z. II. Webster.
English: Mrs. G. w. Gordon. one of the
faculty Of the Business High School. head
of the shorthand and typewriting depart
ment.
The designations of Charles x. Ed
High School, and Margaret Bailey, in
structOr of English and Emma CalVer. |