Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-05
ONE WITNESS HEARD
MATTER LIKELY TO TAKE SEW
ERAL MEETINGS.
Controversy Likely to Be Settled for
a While--Changes in Teachers
Ordered.

The board of education at the weekly
meeting last night continued the investiga-
ton of the charges against Anna j. Cooper,
principal of the NJ Street High School, coll
ored. The only witness heard last night
was Percy NJ. Hughes. director of high
schools The board sitting as a committee
of the whole decided to hold nightly sessions
until the case is concluded.
President Charles w. Needham of the
George Washington University, a member
of the board of education, has, 1t is said
created much surprise by saying:
1.-THE matter will be settled probably at
one more sitting of the board" 1t is gen.
orally understood. on the other hand, that
the presentation of the case OF the NJ street
school was practically only begun last
night with the testimony of Mr. Hughes.
A very general misconeeption Is said to
have arisen to the nature of the case.
1t is reported that all charges of ineompe-
tency against Mrs. Cooper and of lack of
discipline in the school have been with
drawn, and that the now stands
there is merely the question OF the eurricu-
lum to be considered
1t is emphatically denied today that any
charges have been withdrawn, and as to the
statement that an effort has been made to
deprive the coIored high school pupils OF
the advantages given to white pupils Ii Is
of the M street school have been made at
the request of the administration there. and
not by the order of the directorsThe school
board. for example, is said to have author
lied, year. or more ago. the use OF sim
pier textbook in English history for the
use of the second-year class at M street
In place of a more difficult book In general
use at the other high schools The author-
ization was made at the request OF the
teachers of history in the school and In
dorsed by the principal.
Sensitiveness Existed.
Great sensitiveness Is said to have ex-
listed for some years as to the question OF
equal privileges between the white and coli
ored schools, and discussion has Deen CEN
tered more on what rights the pupils are
entitled to than as to what their needs
may be.
II is intimated todar that the decision OF
the controversy will De left in the hands
of the two colored members of the board,
who are understood to be strongly in favor
of Mrs. Cooper. Mr.. Hughes. under these
circumstances. cannot possibly be sus-
tanned in his findings, and, while nominaily
left in his position of director of colored as
well as white high schools, will, 1t is
| prophesied be required to refer all admin
| istrative details not to superintendent
Stuart. but to the coIored assistant super
| intendent, w. s. Montgomery. Such rul-
| ing will practically restore the independent
| colored supervision of colored schools: set
aside by act of Congress at the time OF the
retirement of Superintendent w. b. Powell.
Declines to Talk.
| Director Hughes declines to make any
statements concerning the condition of the
school or the progress of the investigation.
| It is rumored, however. among the teachers
| of the high schools that any evasion of the
| real points at issue by the board of edu-
| cation would be highly distasteful to him
| and probably entail further inquiry.
| In regard to the efficiency of the colored
| pupils of the NJ Street High School, DR..
| Needham said:
| same text books in the colored schools
| as In the white schools. The question,
| however, concerns the curriculum. and In
that too l believe there should be an
equality of studies all the way through.
| 1t would be better to have ten scholars
| out of fifty pass their examinations In the
| colored schools than to have their curricu-
| lum In any way restricted
Mr. Hughes, the director of the high
schools takes this position also. There have
| been failures in the colored schools and
| some of the pupils have had to go back
| again because not up to proper STAND
| ard Just as there have been In the white
schools. In the white schools the pupils
| were forced back and compelled to make
nm the deficiency. In the NJ street school,
| however Mrs. Cooper was not anxious
| that the students who had been defcient IN
| their training should be kept back Mr.
| Hughes took the position that there should
| be no differentiation, and he so instructed
| Mrs. Cooper, who had other ideas regarding
the matter.
Changes Ordered.
| At the business meeting of the board,
which followed the committee session, the
| following changes were ordered:
| Resienatfons were accepted of Charlotte
| M White, teacher of sewing, to take effect
| October 5, and M. S. Hart, teacher In the
| night schools.
| The following appointments We're made;
Kate Bresnahan, teacher of sewing 10 take
| effect October 16; Mabel c. Sands, substi-
| tute teacher; Charles Anderson and George
r. Bateman substitute tanitors. For the
night schools, HI. H Burroughs, L. 5:
| WEIGH, H. A. Brecht, M. NJ. Donovan and
| B. B. milford.
| Promotions were made as follows: v. c.
| Shepherd from third to fourth grade: III. q.
Gillen, from second to third grade; g y
Bannister, from first to second grade; M N.
/ Bridges, from second to third grade.
| Leave of absence was granted s. ii. Card
! ner. teacher In the night schools.
Clara Hartogenss was transferred from
| the ninth to the second division
| N Meriwether was assigned to the first
/ grade.
| TO the second grade at her own request.
| The following successful candidates were
| admitted to the kindergarten department of
/ Washington Normal School No. 1: NJ. B.
| Weyman. A. B. Paret, M. NJ. Duvall, Rosalie
| Walker. NJ. A Maydwell. I. r. capeii, F. A.
Brown and Edna Shaw.
| 1t was decided to establish the night
/ school in Georgetown in the Corcoran in-
1 stead of the Curtis building.
| There will be An examination of candi.
/ dates for positions as teachers of sewing
| held at the Franklin School building on Fri
| day, October g. There will be an examina-
| ton of candidates for positions as teachers
| of drawing held at the Franklin School
| building on Friday, October ID.
Death Of Mrs. J. Sayles Brown.
| The death at her home in 0caan pa III