Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-10

schools than Mrs. West, and the community
is to be congratulated upon securing her
services for another term.
I'm the four years since her first appoint
ment Mrs. West has given much time and
thought to the work of the board, and as
chairman or member of several of its most
important committees has done much for
its success. She has been able to keep reg
ular office hours DIT the Franklin building
two days in the week for the benefit of the
women teachers and others desiring to see
her on school business. in addition to all the
rest that she has done. Her former expe-
rtence as teacher in the public schools
has been invaluable 1 know that the other
members of the board of education and the
officers and teachers of the schools will be
especially gratified by her reappointment."
Reappoinment Requested by Board.
1t is learned that all the members of the
beard of education urgently requested the
reappointment of Mrs. West as a member
Of the board, and Mrs. Francis, the MEM
Der of the board who has supervision over
the colored schools. personally called on
Commissioner Macfarland to request Mrs.
Vests reappointme mt. Mrs. Francis stated
that she urged Mrs. Vests reappointment
on account of the pleasant relations that
have existed between Them and also on ac-
count of the deep interest which Mrs. West
has always manifested in the colored
sc hools of the District
Mrs. West is the wife of District Commits
denTy LltCnUelQ west ana is a ma
tive of Portsmouth, Va. but has resided in
Washington since she was six years of age.
She comes of an old Virginia family Her
father, William H. White, was lieutenant
In the confederate army and was killed at
the battle Of Malvern Hill. Her mother
was a Miss Eskrdge, whose father was
chaplain in the navy.
Mrs. West was educated in the District
public SCHOOLS and for a number of years
was teacher therein. and she therefore
brought to her work a member of the
be ard of education a valuable practical ex-
perience which has greatly aided her In
her work and likewise benefited the public
schools. Her work on behalf of the Dis
trict schools Is regarded as eminently sue
cessful, and her reappointment is consid-
Ell ed a happy one. She was appointed on
that time as chairman of the committees
on teachers and tanitors.
Janitor System Revolutionized.
During her term of office, it is stated, she
revolutionized the whole tanitor system In
the District schools, insisting the APP
pointment of only capable men as janitors.
1t was on her recommendation, it is-stateG,
that Congress authorized the appointment
of a superintendent of janitr (. who has
supervision over all the janItors of the
schools in the District
AS chairman of the committee on teach
ers Mrs. West has kept in close touch with
all the teachers in the national capital Her
experience as an instructor fitting her to
perform her work with admirable intelli-
gence, and success. The keeping of regular
Office hours at the Franklin School building
Is regarded as both helpful and convenient
to the teachers with whom Mrs. West con-
suited on many phases of their work.
Mrs. West has also practically had charge
of the kindergarten work in the District
and the development of the system since
her term on the school board began has
been marked. The work of the kindergar-
tom Mrs West became a member of
the board has been so excellent that Con-
gress recognized its Importance and devel-
opment by largely increased appropriations
for the work.