Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-02
SCHOOL CENTENNIAL
One Hundredth Anniversary
to Be Celebrated.
BOARD TAKES ACTION
STATEMENT OUTLINING PLANS
ISSUED YESTERDAY.
Program of Observance to Be Prepared
by Committee--Other Bust
ness Transacted.

The board of education held speclal
meeting at the Franklin building yesterday
afternoon and considered plans OF celeorat-
ing the centennial anniversary OF the es-
Establishment of the public school system In
the District.
The following statement was given out
by the board:
Monday, December s. 1904 is the one
hundredth anniversary CT the passage by
the city council of Washington of the law
which organized the public school system,
entitled an act TO establish and endow
permanent institution tor the education of
youth in the city of Washington
THE law placed the management of the
schools in the hands of thirteen trustees.
seven to be chosen by the joint ballots of
council and six to be named by the indi-
viduals contributing to the support of the
schools. The board held its first meeting
on August 5, 1905, six months after the
law was passed, and Thomas Jefferson,
then President of the United States having
contributed 5000 to. the support of the
schools, was named as one of the trus-
tees, and on August IA, 1905, accepted, in
a cordial letter, his election to the pres
idency of the board. Following is the let
ter:
Text of the Letter.
MONTICELLO August IA, 1905.
'Sir: A considerable journey southwark
ly from this place has prevented my sooner
acknowledging letters from yourself, from
Mr. Gardiner and from Mr.. S. H. Smith,
announcing that had been elected by the
city council trustee for the public schools
to be established at Washington and by
the trustees to preside at their board.
Il receive, with due sensbility, these
proofs of confidence from the city council
and from the board of trustees, and ask
the favor of you to tender them nv Just
Acknowledgements
Sincerely believing that knowledge pro-
notes the happiness of man, 1 shall ever
be disposed to contribute my endeavor to-
ward It's extension; and in the instance I'M
der consideration will willingly undertake
the duties proposed to me, so far as others
OF paramount obligation will permit my at
tention to them.
Il pray you to accept my friendly saluta-
tons and my assurances of great respect
and esteem.
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
Robert Brent, esq.,, Chairman &c.
among his colleagues were Robert Brent
ana William Cranch, after whom the Brent
and Cranch schools were named many
years later.
THE first official act of the new board
was to set up two schools. one of which
snail be situated east of the Capitol and
within half a mile of it, and the other
Whhin half mile Of the Presidents House,
IL being understood that these positions are
SoiSi'SiSu ny rDOaFu dS temporary and
consequently subject at any future time to
alteration. 1t ordered tina. in these
SCHOOLS poor children shall be taught read
ing, writing, grammar, arithmetic and such
ranches of the mathematics as NAV uuali-
fy them for the professions they are in
tended to follow; and they shall receive
Sucn other instruction as, is given to paw
pupils as the board may from time to time
direct, and pay pupils shall, besides, be in
structed in geography and in the Latin lam
guage.
Opened in December, 1905.
''The minutes of the board Indicate that
these schools known as the Eastern and
Western Fee Schools, were not opened I'M
til late in December, 1905, or more than a
year from the time of the passage of the
organic act
The centennial year of the public schools
is therefore the period between December
4, 1904, and December, 1908. That this an
niVersary should be suitably commemorated
the board of education has already decided
and the tine is now ripe to determine the
most appropriate manner in which il
shall be done"
The board decided to have the anniver-
sary properly observed in the schools and
the arrangements will be made by special
committee of three to be appointed
Leave Extended.
At yesterdays meeting the board extend
ed for three months leave of absence % A.
B. Carr, Blanch NJ Hopkins ana Isabella r.
Meloy. The resignation of A H. Peabody
third division, was accepted, and NJ G.
Dickinson. a substitute teacher of music,
and Bess l. Lyon substitute teacher. were
appointed.