Evening star., 1907-11-14

THE EVENING STAR,
supt. Chancellor declared. TT depends
upon whether you regard writing and
spelling for instance, as two di-erent
studies or as the same, which they really
are"
Mrs Justina r. Hill said she wanted to
put in q plea for modern langua ges.
II would rather have my daughter
taught modern languages than arithmetic
and geography she said.
Says He Could Explain.
'Tf had a chance could explain this
whole matter" the superintendent inter
jected.
''If you had told the hoard what was
being done. then tie board would have
known. In your original letter you said
you would report the plan to US in de-
tail" was Prof. Evermann's reply.
You consulted Mr.. Bruce and Mr..
Hughes to get information about this
matter and neither of them told me of
the conyersa TONS DR. Chancellor said.
THAT is just the sort Of thing we are
criticsing at present. Mr.. Cox remarked.
Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mussey suggested
that as 1t was nearly o'clock q special
meeting be held to consider the resolu-
tton introduced by Frof. Evernlann.
William n. Hoover remarked that the
consensus of opinion among business men
and citizens of Washington in general IL
that there is not enough English taught
In the schools. He did not think there
was any need in waiting longer for vote
on the resolution.
MY resolution condemns the establish
ing of the schools without proper COLI
sideratlon by the board. II does not go
into the merits of the case" Prof Ever
mann explained.
Without Dissenting Vote.
The resolution was passed without
dissenting vote. after it had been decided
not TO hold a special meeting.
Then Iask that DR.. Clark and Or.
Montgomery be discharged by the board
from further connection with the plan
the superintendent stated. You appointed
them to do the work and YOU must dis
charge them.
Make your recommendations, Capt.
Oyster said.
II do" was the reply.
I'm writing the president Of the board
added
DO Won want me to do 1t right away"
1T doesn't make any difference.
Prof. Evermann broke In upon the dia-
logue moving that DR.. Clark and DR..
Montgomery be discharged from further
come ction with the matter. The motion
was adopted unanimously
Text Of Letter.
Following is the letter written to the
board by Superintendent Chancellor Sep
tember g. 1907. he asking permission to
prepare plans for special high school
preparatory grammar classes" in some of
the schools:
81 have had some conversation in the
past year with various members Of the
board of education in regard to a PROPOSE
ton to establish what would like to call
special high school preparatory grammar
classes in some of the schools. In A
tentative way I should like to have the
board authorize me to prepare plans for
establishing eight such schools in the
course of the next month or two.
Il do not desire authorization to change
the status of these schools at present, but
| should like. to be authorized to change
the plans that / may submit the dehnlte
details at future meetings of The board.
The general idea is to make it possible for
boys and girls who are going to take
classical courses in the. high schools to-
begin German and Latin a year or two
before they enter the high school.
Also I would advise in these prepara-
tory high schools a more thorough course
in algebra than is given in the other high
schools 1t is not my Idea to exclude
graduates from all other schools Of high
school work but simply to facilitate the
progress of those who are already inter-
This kind of high school preparatory
grammar school has been established in
number of places in this country
Prof. Evermann's Report.
Following is Prof. Evermann's report:
"a: meeting of this board September
81 the superint endent submitted a request
for tentative authority to establish eight
special high school preparatory grammar
T. Vt4 tv,-
utes of that meeting show that the ten
tative authority was granted. The super
intendent issued instructions to Supervis-
ing Principal Clark.
by tentative authority take 1t the
superintendent desired to be given per
mission to formulate a definite plan which
he would then submit to the board for
consideration The board certainly did
not intend that any plan should BE- put
into effect until it had been fully ex-
planned to the board in all its bearings.
Carte blanche should not be given in a
matter SO important and revolutionary.
1T was, therefore, with no little sur
prise, not to say CONSERVATION, that l
learn that twenty-one such classes have
been already established or arranged for.
and at least four more are contemplated.
The putting of the plan into effect was
placed by the superintendent in the hands
of Mr.. Clark anu Dr. Montgomery. and
they have endeavored to carry out the
INSTRUCTIONS III SOOu 1dllN,
as was, of course, .-.eic duty.
Scheme as Perfected.
The scheme as finally perfected is as
follows:
The Force, Morgan, Henry and Grant
(white) and Stevens Garnet and Ban
neke- (colored) are Latin centers, the
Ross, Adams. Harrison. Berret and Web
ster (white) and Banneker, Miner and
Lincoln (colored) are German centers.
The original intention was to put these
languages only in the eighth grade. but
to evade a plain legal requirement re-
garding salaries it was found necessary
to put them in the seventh grade also.
Every seventh AMI eighth grade child
in school selected as a Latin center
must take Latin whether be wants it or
not, or leave the school. Every seventh
and eighth grade child in every school Sc
lected as German center must take
German whether he wants it or not. or
clear oEt.
Many families have bought or rented
homes in certain sections of the city in
order that their children might attend
a certain school which tney believed pos
sessed exceptional advantages Their chill
dren have become attached to the schools
they have attended and they are loath