The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-11-08
SEES MORE SCHOOLS
Capt. Oyster Continues Tour
Of Inspection.
IS IMPERvIOUS TO CRITICISM
President OF Board Of Education
Thinks He is Doing Duty-COm-
missiOners Also Visit SchOOls-Dr.
Chancellor Has Support-Mny Sell
Old District Buildings.

Notwithstanding the expressed opinion
OF Building Inspector Ashford. that Capt
| Oyster, president Of the board Of eda-
cation, would better confine hts activities
and interest to purely educational mat
tiers, concerned with the public schools
and leave the physical condition Of the
school buildings 20 the care of the
building Inspector Capt. Oyster yesterday
continued his visit and inspection of a
number Of schools. taking note OF exist
ing conditions.
Capt Oyster considers # not only his
privilege. but his sworn duty, 10 use
every endeavor to provide sanitary build
ings for the pupils, and he said yesterday.
Il shall continue 10 visit and inspect
schools even though Mr.. Ashford does
object / feel that I am doing my duty.
and I intend to do it no matter who OBJ
jects"
Speaking Of the recommendations made
by DR.. Chancellor. superintendent OF
schools. to the committee on legisla-
ton, Capt oyster said that they had
created considerable discussion among the
members Of the board. Capt. Oyster did
AHdDCcll0E s
plan beyond saying that he had not fully
fsmiliarized himself with the recon-
mendations.
DIR. Chancellor Is Hopeful.
DR.. Chancellor expects that favorable
action will be taken on the plans sub
mitted by him to the board of eduea-
tons committee on legislation. for in
I ~ IN,
changes affecting the salaries and super
vision Of the entire teaching force. He
said support in Congress had been prom
ised him for the plan by influential mem
bers of the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives.
The plan submitted by me-" said Dr.
Chancellor, "arranges for the payment
of the teachers on a per diem basis. and
does away with the contradictions now
existing in the school law. The Treasury
authorities desire that the per diem
method of paying teachers be reached
In some way"
DR.. Chancellor also said that the colored
schools have particular cause to be
pleased with the new classification, as IL
gives them two associate superintendent
and sixteen heads of departments.
whereas they now have one assistant
superintendent. four supervising princi-
pals. and only four heads Of departments.
Commissioners Inspect Schools.
District Commissioners West and Nor
row were busy yesterday in visiting some
OF the schools which have been the sub
jet of so much controversy recently on
account Of their reported bad condition
as TO sanitation.
In the morning the Berret and Emery
schools were inspected by the Commits
sioners- Commissioner West. when seen
on his return. reported the former in ex-
Cellent condition. More modern plumbing
and better ventilation is necessary at the
latter building. in Mr.. Vests opinion, as
the building is an old one
In speaking Of the BerTet School. Mr..
West said that the repairs had been COM
pleted before the board Of education met
and decided to close the building.
May Sell school Buildings.
Complete revolution in the plan of
school buildings in the District. and the
sale of at least ten. and perhaps thir-
teen. old school buildings. are the two
principal things that will be recon-
mended to Congress by the report of the
school buildings commission, which will
be given TO the public within the next
two weeks
The commission, which has held nu-
merous meetings recently. and has done
much investigating in this and other
cities, will ask Congress to adopt plan
that Will provide for the following
things:
A system Of school buildings Of three
sizes; an eight-room capable of extern
sion; sixteen-roOm capable of extension,
ana twenty-four-room complete.
A playground around every school
building in the District.
The sale Of ten or thirteen old build
ings. which, because of their undesirable
location or poor construction. should be
done away with.
The commission will ask that none of
those buildings be more than two stories
high. and that all Of them be OF brick
construction and absolutely fireproof.