Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-21

are very much improved, according to the
superintendent, and the same is said to be
true OF the seventh division. These por-
lions Of the system under new officers
appointed on the superintendent recon-
mendation.
I'm the colored schools continues the
superintendent, there was but one change
Of Importance. the installation Of Mr.. w.
T. s. Jackson as principal of the M Street
High School I have visited this high
school several times. At the time this
change was made 1 was not especially in
favor of 1t, as the board will remember, but
now that l know what the past of the
school has been, 1 am certain that such
change was necessary. The present prin-
cfpal is doing well and deserves to be en-
couraged. His task Is very diffcult-waS
and Is more difficult than that of any other
high school principal in this District.
Effort to Make Change.
For reasons that were entirely familiar
to every member of the board, endeavors
have been made persistently to change a
supervising principal-that Of the thirteenth
division. Under circumstances regarding
which I have expressed my opinion before
now to this board, the supervising prin-
Gipai was returned to the schools where
ne controls considerably more than hun
dred teachers. The influence of this SUPER
vfslng principal upon the schools since his
return may not have been direct to their
disadvantage, but has been certainly indi-
rect to their very serious harm He may
not have intended this, but every day the
condition. not only OF his own division, but
OF all the colored schools, both elementary
and secondary, is growing steadily worse
Visits to Schools.
Il have visited the Armstrong Manual
Training School a number of times The
condition of this school Is unsatisfactory,
and will continue to be unsatisfactory until
there have been transfers of teachers from
fh1 h,,n
the removal Of one person from the service
for incompetence. 1t is my opinion that
there are several persons teaching in the
colored high schools who are not competent
to teach In even grammar grades.
Il have visited all of the night schools
except one. 1 am glad to report that the
night schools are in good condition. The
courses are not as extensive as they should
ceptionally good. I saw no poor work In
the night schools, and feel that the selec-
lions Of teachers were made by the direct
ors with notable success
In saying that the work of the attend
ance officers has been very well DONE but
that at the same time we need more and
better attendance officers, there Is an APP
parent sontradiction: The work of attend
for the causes requiring their services are
constantly In operation We shall probably
have, next year, one additional attendance
officer. We require about six in all, equally
divided between the white and colored
schools. We shall require some such num-
Der even after the compulsory education
law has been in operation ten years, In
order to keep 1t in force However, enough
has been done to prove the value of the
law. In my judgment. considering this
matter on the basis of our annual statis-
tics. there are about nine hundred more
children tn the schools than there would
nave been but for that law.
Needed Legislation.
I'm this connection we need legislation to
enable US to take a census Of the children
Of school age. I hope that II there IL any
legislation by Congress next year this will
be included in II.
There - another matter to which I de-
sire to call the attention Of the board. and
that II the good nature and the admirable
patience with which the twenty persons
whose salaries were reduced this year have
taken that reduction / refer to the assist
ant supeFintendents, certain high school prin-
cipals and all the supervising principals.
whose salaries were cut various amounts.
These individuals have been az loyal to the
present administration as any persons In
the force, In spite Of the fact that they |
have had painful grounds for criticism. i
by providing m opportunity for the SUI
perintendeut Of schools to visit the cofored |
schools OF the south and TO attend the |
meeting OF the department Of superinteEd- |
eace the board has placed itself. among |
tina progressive boards OF education of the |;
country, and has enabled the supeFintend- /
ent here to inform himself as to the actual |