Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-01
BOARD OF EDUCATION
DistressingIy Lax in SuperW-
sion of coIored Schools.
CHARGE BY DR.. ATWOOD
The N Street Affairs Again Gone Over
by Him.
MR.. A. R. sERvEN's STATEMENT
Believes Schools Were Never in Better
Condition Than Today-No Gen.
eral Dissatisfaction.
CHARGE BY DR.. ATWOOD
MR.. A. R. sERvEN's STATEMENT


the colored schools of the city were made
to the Morrell subcommittee of the House
committee on the District of Columbia to-
day by DR.. NJ. o. Atwood, colored, Of 1915
T street northwest. DR.. Atwood and A. r.
Server, president of the North Capitol and
lexington Citizens Association. were the
only witnesses heard by the subcommittee
at the morning session. Adjournment was
had at 1880 o'clock owing to the fact that
this was the regular meeting day of the
House District committee. The session of
the subcommittee was resumed at 2 O'Clock
this afternoon.
DR.. Atwood, who was first heard, said
that he appeared principally for the pur-
pose of reiterating the statements made
at yesterdays session by Mr.. Leisinring
and vouching for their accuracy. The wilt
ness said that he was chairman OF a com.
mittee of seven members who had charged
themselves with the duty of looking after
the colored schools of the city. DR.. At
wood said he had been much surprised 10
learn some years ago that 1t was INTENDED
to reduce the curriculum in the colored
high school, He made some inquiries about
1t and found that there was a general I'M
derstanding that this was to be done. Final
ly, he said, he went to Mr.. Bundy, one or
the colored members of the board OF edu-
cation and was told there was nothing IN
the report He had made further inquiries,
however and learned that this latter state
ment was not accurate.
DIR. Atwood then read before the subcom-
mittee a copy of letter written TO the
board of education on this subject, in which
the director of the high schools of the
city was quoted saying that con-
siderable number of pupils In the NJ street
High School were not able to keep up Win
the work. Dr. Atwood said he thought
at that time that the remedy should be
applied not to the NJ Street High School,
but to the elementary schools IN which
the pupils were prepared for the more
much better to have fewer high school
pupils II necessary, but to have them pre-
pared so that when they reached the high
schools they would be able to do the work
Rumors of Drinking.
With regard to the rumors of drink
ing and the like in the NJ Street High
School, DIR. Atwood said that according
to his opinion pupils at the school had
been led to believe by the leniency exer-
cised toward some of their number that
drinking was not serious offense He did
not think that sufficient care had been ex-
ercised by the administrative authorizes
of the school to stamp out the had habits
among pupils and teachers. He made the
further charge that teachers had been ap-
pointed through favoritism, that some In
structors of inferior attachments had been
promoted over others who really deserved
advancement, and that In general the state
of affairs in the NJ Street High School was
deplorable.
.ue witness in answer to questions by
Representative Green of Massachusetts,
member of the subcommittee, said he
thought that in a measure Dr. Atwood
and Mr.. Leisinrng and the other members
of the association bringing the charges had
been ignored by the board Of education.
"You and Mr.. Leisinring," suggested Mr..
Green, found that you were not running
the public schools didn't you?"
I'VE did not want to- replied Dr. At
wood
you came pretty near it, 1t seems to me-"
said Representative Green.
DR.. Atwood said that in his opinion the
fact that the board of education had prac-
tically acauiesced In the corruption In the
NJ Street High School was serious thing.
In reply to number of inquiries by MI
Green, the witness admitted that IN ms
opinion there appeared to be considerable
discrimination against the colorea DIVISION
of the schools. DR.. Atwood said that he
had noticed that when there was any trou-
Bile in the white schools the board of edu-
cation settled 1t offhand in very short order
But when there was any trouble IN the cor
ored schools matters were allowed to drag
along and final disposition OF whatever
case arose was usually left to the colored
members of the board. He said that ne
would rather suggest that the colored men,
hers of the board of education were en-
tirely incompetent to handle the situation
than to make the assertion that the entire
board had Disseminated against the coloreo
schools.
.'In other words" interjected Representa-
tive MorreIl you make the claim that the
same rigorous policy employed In govern
ing the white schools has not been en-
ployed in the colored schools
at seems that way to me, replied she
witness.
DR.. Atwood concluded his statement to
the subcommittee by stating in his opinion
the whole coiored school system should De
oyerhauled Whether discrimination was
the right word or not he did not know, but
he was sure that the whole thing was
wrong. The supervision Of the colorcd
schools was entirely too lax
Mr.. Serven's Statements.
Mr. Server, who was formerly chief ex-
anlner of the civil service commission, was
then heard He was now president of the
North Capitol and lexington Citizens AS
ISOLATION. he said. and for five years up to
last October had been chairman OF the
school committee of the association. II was
the action of his association in 1879. MT.
Server told the subcommittee that started a
discussion of the public school system OF
washington, and that resulted In the ex-
animation In 1900 OF about 1,500 first-year
high school pupils. He had assisted the
committee by preparing the examination
papers and had read very nearly all OF
tLem He had found that the abandon
uient or the urlil~JeSSoiS III tio OiShiShe.AAs
grades had resulted in the first-year high
school pupils being but poorly grounded IN
the principles of elementary education
Mr. Server said that up to two years ago
the school committee, of which he was
chairman had been In receipt of great
many complaints about matters in the pub
Hc schools. but for the past few years the
complaints had been very few and far be-
tween.
1T is my opinion" said Mr.. Server. "the
public schools of this city were never before
in as good condition as they are today"
The witness admitted that there was still
considerable room for Improvement, and
said that II he happened to be a member of
the board of education he should make
number of changes. But he thought there
was nothing that could not be handled by
the ,,racapt hna ri af adfcaffop He fhO,pht