Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-01
FIRST OPEN SESSION
BOARD OF EDUCATION TRANS
ACTS BUSINESS IN PUBLIC.
designations, Appointments and Pro-
motions-Reasons for Loss of In
structors-Other Matters.

Matters before the board of education last
night at its first meeting open to the press
and the public were dispatched with celer-
ity and were referred to the standing COM
mittee so rapidly that adjournment took
place by 0 o'clock. The session was less
than an hour in duration.
Many of the members were in evening
dress. Only few visitors availed them
selves of the open doors, a hoy said to
be interested in the promotion of a favorite
teacher, the reporters and one or two men,
making UP the total number.
The committees report on the matter of
waste of city water by school children was
first received. A thorough canvass of the
different buildings had been made, as shown
by the report. and waste was denied in
every case. Janitors were instructed to
see that all faucets are closed after school
hours, and the District Commissioners were
notified that a strict watch has been or
dered.
The resignation of Prof Clarence NJ. Hall,
exclusively reported in The Star a week
ago today, was accepted. to take effect in
two weeks.
Loss of Instructors.
Director John Chamberlain of the manual
training schools in a letter submitted TO
the board setting forth the reasons why
the District is losing so many competent in
structors, says:
Again I have TO forward to you the res
ignation of head of department in the Nc
Kinley School Clarence NJ. Hail. who has
accepted an attractive offer from Spring
field, Mass. came to US upon the organiza-
ton of this school, and his work has been
successful to a marked degree. l believe 1t
only fair to say that he has made his de-
partment the leading one in physics in any
of our schools, and / refer in this state
ment, not only to the number of pupils,
but to the quality and scope of the work
done as evidenced by results obtained
THE work of his department has won
for us the certificate privilege from all of
the colleges to which we have applied, and
what is perhaps more noteworthy, has
been the means of numbers of our grad
yates obtaining positions mostly in the
electrical lines, which nave heretofore been
beyond the reach of any but college grad
yates.
Mr.. Halls training and previous ex-
perience fitted him for work in a school
of this kind, and it is greatly to be
GREETED that we are unable to give him
proper recognition. 1t is some consoa-
ton to know that his work here did much
to secure for him a better position in a
school of the same kind.
Il wish to call your attention to the
statements included in his letter of resg-
nation, as 1t affords another argument in
favor, not only of better salaries, but of
a definite schedule of salaries. so that
teachers may have some assurance that
is very discouraging to see these unusual
~ competent teachers, peculiarly fitted for
the task of building up this school. who
have worked hard to that end and. who
have remained here at a sacrifice, compelI-
ed to look elsewhere for fair salaries lust
when they are becoming most valuable TO
u.s.
Referred to Committees
To the military committee was referred
a communication, which was read from
Commissioner Macfarland, stating that the
George Washington Birthday Association of
Alexandria has invited the High School
Cadet Corps to attend it's celebration, Feb
ruary D. The association In its invitation
offers free transportation to Alexandria for
the cadets.
To the committee on rules was referred
the suggestion of DR.. William Woodward
regulations on the subject of vaccination
To the committee on lectures was referred
a recommendation from President A. S. Git
terman of the Public Education Associa-
ton, chairman of the volunteer committee
on free lectures to the people. The recon-
mendation proposed that two public lectures
instead Of one be given at a popular center
each week, and that series of course lee
lures be given. The committee was in
structed to look into the proposal and re-
port at the next meeting of the board.
The board announced that Miss Eliza beth
Bryant Johnston, chairman of the commit
tee on medals of the Martha Washington
Chapter of the Daughters of the American
Revolution had offered the annual gold
medal to be presented to a graduate of the
white academic high schools who shall
write the best essay on some topic connect
ed with the American revolution
Permission was granted to the Rusiness