Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-09
PRAISES THE SCHOOLS
Report of Business Mems Asso-
citation Committee.
MORE PAY FOR TEACHERS
Washington Much Behind Other
Large Cities.
AGAINST PROPOSED CHANGES
Pending Bills DEMONSTRATING Be-
fore Representative Merrell's
Subcommittee.
MORE PAY FOR TEACHERS
AGAINST PROPOSED CHANGES

u. Coldren, chairman or the committee OF
school and library of the Business Mems
Association Of this city, were the principal
4 witnesses today before the Morrel subcom-
| mlttee of the District House committee
which is conducting hearings the local
public school system.
| Commissioner Biddie, when asked by
| Representative Morrell concerning state
| ment made before the subcommittee some
| days ago to the effect that local school
| houses were insanitary, said that in the
new school houses, at least, the sanitary
proposition was excellent. The plumbing
| was modern in type, and. II anything was
| too expensive. The playrooms were usual
| ly located downstairs, had concrete floors
/ and were sanitary.
The cloak rooms were located on one of
the class room floors, and In the nature OF
| things their sanitary condition must be as
good as that of the class rooms themselves.
| So far as the heating apparatus was con-
cerned. the most modern appliances were
| used and In all the new buildings. at least,
the scholars were supplied with ample
| quantities of fresh air. In reply to ques-
| lions Of Representative Green Of Massa chu-
! sets. a member of the subcommittee, Com
| missioner Bidde said that there had been
no complaints concerning the inadeouacy of
any heating plant in the local schools.
Conditions at Mott School.
| Mrs. Curtis. the wife of DIR. Curtis, the
colored surgeon-in-chief of Freedmen's Hos
pital. asked Col. Biddle if he knew anything
| OF the sanitary conditions at the Mott
| School. Col. Biddle replied that he was not
| familiar with the individual schools. and
Mrs. Curtis. for his information, stated that
| the Mott School, being located at the foot
of Howard HILL received all the draining
from that declivity. and very frequently a
pool of water collected benealt. the struc-
ture
Col. Biddle admitted that some of the old
buildings were not in proper shape. and told
the subcommittee that he would look into
conditions at the Mott School and report as
soon as possible.
Commissioner Biddle did not think much
or the Idea of having a superintendent of
buildings and supplies. He did not think
that man who looked after the heating
apparatus, for Instance, should have to also
care for the question of supplies
In reply to questions by Dr. Pardon
chairman OF the school committee of the
Board of Trade, the Commissioner said that
the new school buildings erected In Wash
ington We're not what might be called fire.
proof, although they We're considered to be
perfectly safe. having at least two sets of
stairs and three exits. The authorities had
not had sufficient money to make the build
ings actually fireproof
Returning to the question of a s,,Deriu-
tendent of buildings, Commissioner Biddle
said that the same purpose that was in
tended by the creation of the new office
would be served In increasing the present
force. IL additional inspect of school
buildings was desired an increase In the
force. he thought, was the proper way to
accomplish 1t. He did not approve of the
| tendency to specialize In this direction.
MIR. James F. Oyster, president of the
board of directors OF the Business Mems
Association. then introduced Mr.. Coldren,
who presented to the subcommittee the re-
port of the associations committee on
schools and Libraries, which had been
adopted by the board of directors of that
organization
Mr.. Coldren said that the committee had
devoted much time to the subject of the
| local school system, had held hearings ex-
tending over several weeks had heard a
very considerable number of witnesses
and had made vigorous efforts to obtain In
formation from any relia bic source bearing
| upon proposed changes in the school law
More Pay for Teachers Urged.
Mr.. Coldren said that the committee,
after all this investigation was very
| strongly in favor of one feature of the
| pending legislation-that providing better
| salaries for teachers. He asserted that
Washington teachers receive lower pay than
the teachers in nearly all the large cities of
the country, and much lower paw than the
teachers in those cities having the best
school systems. OF the thrty-nine cities
having over 100000 population only two, he
sara, pay lower average salary to high
school teachers than this city
He presented figures to the subcommittee
showing that the average salary paid to
principals and teachers in high schools in
the cities of from 100000 to loco, 900 popu-
lation was Sl.2SI In Washington IL was
1894. The average salary of principals and
teachers of elementary schools in the same
cities was 1852; in Washington it was $685.
The witness said that q considerab BILE
number of exceptionally valuable teachers
have recently left Washington to accent
higher paid positions elsewhere, and the
board OF education was experiencing con-
siderable difficulty In securing desirab
teachers because of insufficient salaries
Mr.. Coldren said that all the bills intro
duced made provision for increa sed sal
aries, and, speaking for the business men
| that the committee wants such increase in
the appropriation for teachers salaries as
will permit the board of education to secure
and retain teachers of the highest stand
ard and to compete with the other cities of
the country in doing this. The committee
had placed education the foremost of
local necessities.
Appointing Board Of Education.
Considering the proposition of having the
President appoint the members of the
board OF education. Mr. Coldren said the
committee would strongly oppose this
transfer.
whatever he said, might be the Presi-
| ueut utSts OF personal interest In the
| matter. it would be physical irnpossiblIity
| for him 10 be accessible to the people OF the
District for consultation about such an
| pontments The Commissioners are una,les-
| tionably in better position to know and to
properly judge OF the fitness Of our teach
| ers.''
| Mr.. Coldren said that II presented as an
| independent proposition the Commissioners
| would favor a change of the term of mem
bers OF the board of education from seven
| to three years. vacancies al the expiration
| of the terms of members OF the present
| board to be filed by three-year appoints
| ments. He believer. however, that this
| change should be made in a bill independent
| of the salary bill, as after the whole con-
| sideration of the subject the Commissioners
| believed that the salary bill would only be
| hampered and perhaps prevented from pass
| age by being loaded down with other prop
ositions for changes
Neither could any advantage be seen, he
| said. In changing the number of the board
from to o. the modern tendency In BUSH
ness. as well as in school organizations
being toward smaller managing boards
The association. Mr.. Coidren said favored
| the proposition that all meetings of the
board Of education, except committee meet
n