Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-25
OPEN bOARDMEETnGS
School Affairs to Be Discussed
in Public.
SESSIONS OF COMMITTEES
Will Continue to Be Held in
Secret.
AGREED UPON UNANIMOUSLY
Return to Practice Of Former Trustees
-Colored School Teachers Give
Assurance of Support.
SESSIONS OF COMMITTEES
AGREED UPON UNANIMOUSLY

On the motion of DR.. Richard Kingsman,
vice president, the board Of education last
night decided to hold open meetings in the
future. The discussion OF the matter was
brief President J. Holdsworth Gordon put
ting the question to a vote after the advan-
tages of allowing the press and the public
to attend the meetings had been urged by
several of the members. The motion was
carried by reclamation.
Tuesday at 2:3O O clock the Industrial
committee of the board, composed of Mrs.
Bette G. Francis, Mrs. Mary Hope West
and DR.. Richard Kingsman. met at the Of
flee of the board in the Franklin building
to consider the matter Of the appointment
for the position of director OF shopwork
at the Mckinley Manual Training School.
left vacant by the resignation Of Mr.. Frank
Skinner. The details of the committee
meeting were not given out.
Asked yesterday concerning the policy
OF the board In respect to open meetings,
frequently discussed in The Star since the
controversy began arising from the inves-
past summer, Mrs. Francis said she nd
not believe any member of the board would
offer serious objection That Mrs Francis
understands the situation was proven by
the action of the board later at the meet
Ing
Practice of Former Board.
1.-THE people seem to desire open meet
ings," she said land 1t was the general
practice during the administration of the
former board.
Under the cid board" continued Mrs
Francis, who was a member Of that body,
sit was the custom to have the meetings
open, and members came to the meetings
with their remarks ready. There was a
careful preparation for what was known
n he w
eleven members, each representing one of
the school divisions.
This local representation would now re-
quire thirteen members, but the organic
act of 1900 did away with sectional repre-
sentation."
That act of 1900. under which the present
organization Of the school system exists,
makes provision for seven members to be
appointed by the District Commissioners.
Compensation for actual attendance at
board meetings Is $40 for each member,
not to exceed $500 per annum The act
makes no provision for secret sessions,
committees, nor for local representation.
Since the enactment of the law the prac-
tice Of holding secret sessions abandoned
last night grew up.
Under the old board each member had
consultations with the superintendent"
said Mrs. Francis, land the results OF
these conferences were a matter of board
discussion. Naturally, whenever there was
any matter which 1t was deemed unwise
executive session.
Committee Meetings Secret.
A male member of the board said sig
nificantly that there would be no serious
objection to open board meetings since
the result would be merely to transfer the
present discussions in board meetings to
the committee rooms. Proceedings would
be practically as secret then as now.
n TY,,lno
and bylaws; ways, means and supplies;
buildings repairs and sanitation; normal,
high schools and scholarships; teachers
and janitors; text books Industrial educa-
ton, military affairs and public lectures
Each committee has three members.
Asked today whether the policy Of open
board meetings should not include open
committee meetings, there was an express
expected that any one should attend COM
mittee meetings!" was the exclamation.
What has been gained. then. IL all bust
ness is practically settled in committee
meetng?" was asked and there was no
reply.
Plots for School Gardens.
The offer Of DR. B. T. Galloway, superin-
tendent OF plant industry. to set aside 257
plots of ground in the agricultural grounds
for the use of school children in gardening
exercises was accepted by the board. Plans
have been approved by the Secretary Of
Agriculture which give seven times as much
space for the purpose as formerly. The
work OF all classes of children will be under
the supervision of experts In the employ of
the Department of Agriculture.
The resignation OF Winifred Whipper
teacher of the third grade, was accepted
NJ. Z. Hite was promoted to succeed her
The appointment Of Blanche Adams as
grade teacher was confirmed.
Many letters were received from teachers
and principals of the tenth, eleventh. twelfth
and thirteenth divisions as result of the
reports that these teachers are antagonistic
TO the board of education bill now pending
before Congress The writers In every case
profess their confidence in the board of
education.