The Washington times., 1906-03-02
Charge Made by Witness
in Education Board
Hearing.
STUDIED BY GASLIGHT
Other Sensational Features
Brought Out Before House
Subcommittee.

Charges that some Of the school build
ings in the District are unsanitary and
that the system OF teaching in the
schools is sadly deficient were made to-
day before the House District Commit
tees school subcommittee by T. Edward
Clark and Mrs. A. 81. Curtis. coIored.
Mrs. Curtis cited to the subcommittee
the case of a thirteen-year-oId girl who
was recently totally blinded By having
TO study by gas light in a room in the
Mott school
DR.. A. p. Pardon, representing the
Board Of Trade, spoke in favor Of com
pulsory education here and a Board OF
Education of nine members.
Replying TO Mrs Curtis plea for Iarg-
eT powers for the coIored superintendent
Of schools, Superintendent Stuart said
this could only De accomplished By hav-
ing an independent coiored board Of
education. and TO this he would not
agree as being wise or economical.
Mr. Clark said, in the course OF his
remarks. thai Commissioner Macfar-
land had insuIted him by referring TO
him and others interested in the schools
as outsiders and meddIers."
Wants Board Enlarged.
DR.. Pardon. chairman of the Board Of
Trades school committee. said he fav-
ored enIarging the Board of Education
TO a membership OF nine. who shall
serve without pay He thought the men
and women of the District of Columbia
would be glad TO serve without remuner-
alton
''It is immateriaI" he declared. who
appoints the board Speaking for the
Of - s-
to leave this power with The Commis-
sioners.
Il am also in favor of compulsory
educa ton here"
DIT. Pardon then paid high tribute
to Supcrintendent of Schools Stuart and
the corps OF local teachers. He wanted
more pay for the TEACHERS. An import
ant recommendation he made was that
some man. an architect preferably.
should be employed 10 keep watch on
the school buildings and recommend and
estimate Tor any needed improvements
from time 10 time. He thought such an
official should be paid $3.50 a year
Mrs A NJ Curtis coIored said the
colored mothers of Washington had
studied all the pending school bills. and
she had been instructed by the 2s5 Yaofn-
eFs whose children go 70 the NJ street
high school. TO advocate such a measure
as shall define and make more distinct
the duties OF colored superintendent
of schools.
We do not want a director of high
Schools she said. because the cOJored
superintendent could dc everything ne
are said TO be one-thiTd of the city's
population. and We think we ought TO
have one-third of the membership OF
the Board OF Education.
Satisfied With Teachers.
We are satisfied, as a whole, with
the teachers of the N Street High
School, only We think they ought TO be
paid more. I do not think the school
is reflection on the District school sys-
tenn. TO insure its not being SO, We
ask you keep on a high plane the curri-
culum for the school
In reply 10 question from Mr. Nor
reH, Superintendent Stuart explained
that where the colored superintendent
power is now limited is in regard TO the
nigh school and the eolored normal
senoOl- The colOred superintendent. he
said. IS frequently in conference with
aim in regard to the colOred schools.
The exact relation between the white
and COiOred schools he said. has al
ways been one of the most difficult ques-
tons IN the District of Columbia The
,olored superintendent is under the
white superintendent, and this has
brought out some dispute.
Il would say that an Independent col
)Ted superintendent should have the
Oglcal accompaniment Of a coiored
BOARD CT education. 90 not believe in
'uch a double system of education for
his or any other city.
Il VIII say here that / have never
wanted different standards for whites
md the colored people, in the NJ Street
High School. or elsewhere. The board
las always taken this same stand.
George J. EasteTday, Il real estate
ran, said he merely wanted to say he
aW no necessity Tor any changes in
he school system, except to give the
eachers more pay
Principals Underpaid.
Continuing. Mr.. Stuart said there are
many small school buildings here as