The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-02-01
FIRST OPEN MEETING
OF EDUCATION BOARD
Routine Work Only Is Brought Before Meeting But Bust
ness Is Transacted With Great PromptneSS-More Pay
for Teachers Again Talked About.

The first open meeting ever hsid by
the local Board of Education occurred
last evening in the Franklin School
building and lasted twenty-three min
utes. All the members Of the board eN-
cept Dr. Needham were present I. Ed
ward Clark and the newspaper men
comprised all the outside attendance al
the meeting.
Routine work alone was transacted
and the members of the board did not
diIly-dany over it. Communications
We're read. reports heard. and motions
made with a promptness and swiftness
that would have put the dilatory tactics
of Congress to shame.
As has often been the case in The Sc
cret meetings. the attention OF the pub
lie gathering was called to the fact that
the District teachers receive salaries SO
small as 10 compel them TO resign their
positions here and seek other cities
where the pay is larger. Prof. Clarence
NJ Hall of the Mckinley Manual Train
ins School, resigned. and the resignation
was accepted 20 take effect in two
weeks.
To Receive Better Pay.
In his letter or resignation Prof. Hail
nsId Mass. schools at a better salary.
He said he had waited here hoping for
relief in the salary line from Congress-
blt that he thought al last he ought
10 go
The following letter 10 the board from
Director J. a. Chamberlain, sets forth
the reasons for teachers leaving the Dis
trict schools,
Dear Sir. Again I have to forward
70 you the resignation OF a head of de-
paTment in the Mckinley school Clar-
Cnce NJ. Hall, who has accepted an at
tractive offer from Springfield. Mass,
came 10 us upon the organization Of
this school, and his work has been sue
cessful 10 a marked degree. I believe
+ only fair 10 say that he has made his
department the leading one IL physics
in any OF our schools. and l refer in
this statement. not only TO the mum
her OF pupils. but 10 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 10 which we
have applied and. what IS perhaps more
noteworthy, has been the means Of
numbers OF our graduates obtaining po-
siuons. mostly in the electrical lines.
which have heretofore been beyond the
reach OF any but college graduates.
His Departure Regretted.
"Mr. Halls training and previous ex-
perience fitted him for work in a school
of this kind. and it is greatly to be re-
GREETED that we are unable 10 give him
proper recognition. It is some consoIa-
tion TO know that his work here did
much to secure for him a better po-
sition in a school of. the same kind
Il wish TO call your attention 20 the
statements included in his letter of
resignation. as iJ affords another argu-
ment in favor. not only OF better sala-
ries. but OF a definite schedule Of sala-
ries, so that teachers may have some
assurance that good work viii bring
fair recognition. It is very discourag-
ing 10 see these unusually 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. compelled
to look elsewhere for fair salaries just