Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-10
MAKES REPLY Ta>cRITICISM
Oh. CHANCELLOR EXPECTS MERE
LY TO INFoRN HIMSELF.
Has No Intention Of Subjecting Nor
NAL School Teachers to Rigid
Examination.

In an interview with a Star reporter this
morning. Supt. Chancellor commented upon
the action of the Northeast Washington
Citizens Association at its meeting Mon
day evening in adopting a report severely
arraigning his administration. He believes.
he said. that the association is right in its
condemnation of the system Of marking
teachers which has been employed by him,
as, in his opinion, it would be better not to
subject the teachers to such a rigid ex-
animation of their ability. but he also be-
lieves. he said, that some such method as
this must necessarily be followed in order
that the teachers may be ranked for pro-
motion under the provisions Of the school
law.
Every teacher and every official of the
teaching force, barring only the Superin-
tendent himself, has been marked accord
ing to this form of questions, said the SUI
perintendent. The marks are all ln and
the employees are being rated accordingly.
In each case the marking has been per-
formed by the official next in authority. the
superintendent performing the task with
respect to the two assistant superintend-
entS.
In regard to the normal school examina-
ton. which has aroused so much interest
since it became known that the superin-
tendent intended to subject the graduating
class to special examination DR.. Chance-
loss to understand why he had created such
a furore, for he intended to do nothing
that need frighten anybody.
What He Intends to Do.
He said he had doubtless awakened an
echo Of the opposition to the former exami-
nation for entrance to the normal school,
for which the high school pupils were prac-
tically put upon the rack. He intends, he
said, to merely acquaint himself with the
nature of the courses of study of the STU
dents and Of their efficiency in the studies
taught and in doing so doe. not intend to
subject the candidates for graduation to a
long review of the work of the school, He
will do this If he finds the time, he says,
just as he would look pretty carefully at a
note before he might indorse it and make
himself liable for payment.
He said he has no idea but that all OF
the students will pass WELL for he does
not intend to ask them any questions OF
a purely TECHNICAL nature but of prac-
teal peda gogical nature.
On account of business in connection
with the work of the building commits
sion for the public schools, of which the
superintendent is a member, and which
commission expects to go to New YORK
city to study school buildings next week.
the superintendent may not have time.
he says, to hold any sort of examination.
nation.
DR.. Chancellor does not consider he has
acted contrary to the spirit of the action
o. the board against an examination Of
normal school pupils by the board of teach
er-examiners. He is in favor of an exam
nation of that character. but says that as
it has been disapprOved by the board for
the present graduating class of the normal
school he will, of course, not hold 1t.
A Democratic Body.
In respect to the adverse criticism of the
Northeast Citizens Association of the
teachers advisory council, Dr. Chancellor
said this morning that he regarded the
council as a democratic body and not a
clique.
1t is understood that the members Of the
school committee of the Northeast Wash
ington Citizens Association have not chang
ed their opinion of the condition Of the
schools Notwithstanding the defenses OF
Superintendent Chancellors administration
that have appeared since Monday night.
Chairman Foster of the committee has stat
ed to a member of the board that his report
was based on accurate Information. This
report was adopted by the association, after
debate by a practically unanimous vote.
The election of Mss Bertha A. Yoder of
the Wallach School to represent the prim
airy grades on the teachers advisory coun-
Gil was announced today by the secretary
of the council.