Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-11-08


SCHOOL BOARD.
Al the monthly meeting of the City
School Board held last night all the
members and tho superintendent were
present and the chairman, Capt. Herbert
Bryant, presided.
Mr.. Yates reported that some Minor
work had been done on the buildings
since the last meeting aud that the trees
around Washington building had been
trimmed.
Mr.. L. Fl. Thompson, from the con-
mittee on stadies and discipline, made
report in reference to the hours OF open
ing aud closing the schools. The report
recommended that the colored schools be
opened at $50 and closed at liz 80 a. N,
and reopened at SO and closed at o.SO
%. m, and that the hours for opening
Rod closing the white schools remain
unchanged. >,
Mr.. Bradshaw sci d he had talked with
seversl patrons of the schools and with
acme of the teachers who we're OF the
oninion that one hour recess was sul1-
Gent. He offered as substitute Tor tine
report that the white schools should
open at Q q. M, close at IL, and reopen
At D. N. and close at s, and That the
coIoted schools should open at = and
close at 1880 and reopen at l.SO aud
close at $50. =,
Messrs. Ramsay and Yates favored
4hs snbstitute, and said many patrons OF
the schools wanted one hour only re-
cess.
Mr.. Thompson opposed the change,
and said when an attempt was made
some time ago to contract the recess he
had spoken against such a procedure
and at that time had given his reasons;
Teachers, he said, had often suggested
the change. bat be believed 1t would
prove Impractical TO make locomotives
out of children by allowing them barely
time to 90 home, eat their dinners and
return to school. Children naturally
epioyed half hours recrestion before
resumipg their studies. Besides, there
are always more or less duties TOR boys
TO perform at home from IL to O'CLOCK
ia the way of running CT errands, which
we,e expected of the boys of most par
EMS while many we're compelled to
carrv dinusr to their fathers st depols,
glass factories and other places where
y they are employed.
: The superintendent said ne hsd 3een
in favor OF q shorter recess; nc Ieacner'
however, had spoken to him on the sub
isct. but some of the patrons had ex'
dressed the hope that the noon recess
would be shorlered.
The substitute was adopted, the change
IA go into effect on Monday, Nov. 10.
r. - bills for repairs were ordered to
be paid. 1919 A.. rona
Of the teachers had sslu @nytblng TO hlm
about an increase in salary, 80
under the boards rules four Of !.
teachers we're entitled to an advance of
$50 per year, and he thought there
would be sufficient money in the treasury
to pay this increase.
Mr.. Ramsay thought that action
should not be taken till the board heard
from council in reference 10 the Request!
for 40 additional appropriation.
Mr.. A. II. Thomson favored a joint
nxetiug with the board and the council
COZ Enmiltees on schools and 6nance.
After further debate the matter vent
~ y till council should act on the
s5ard's application.
y The superintendent reported that the
schools were all 10 good working order
and thst the new teachers were doing
we'll.
Dir. Yaes reported that he had given
permission to have electric lights put in
the principals room in Washington
building, without cost TO the board, for
the night school.
Mr. A. II. Thomson wanted to know
the character OF the boys attending the
night school. He did not want the
building which the board kept 10 repair
to be used by undeserving boys or by
those who could go to school in the day
time il they chose to do so.
1t was explained by the superintend-
emit aud clerk that the school was at
tended by well-behsved boys who
worked during the day, and Mr.. Thorn
sou expressed his satisfaction.
Mr.. Yates then called up his resolu-
ton to so amend the bylaws as to per-
nsit non-residents who paid license to
do business in the city to send their
children to the public schools.
Mr.. Yates urged the change, and Mr.,
Garter favored the granting of the re-
quest oil a nonresident applicant to sd-
mi: bis children.
After considerable debate, during
which the various laws and rules on the
subject were read, the resolution OF Mr..
Yates was lost, and the board adjourned.