Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-23
REPORTS To THE BOARD
DR.. MoNTGoMERY's VIEWS OF
LOCAL CONDITIONS.
Celored School Pupils and Teachers
Given Attention by the As
sistant Superintendent.

the local colored public schools is containe
in the semi-annual report of Assistan
Superintendent w. S. Montgomery whic
was submitted to the board of education a
its last meeting. AS whole Dr. Montgom
cry Is pleased with the way affairs are pro
crossing under his supervision.
He says in part:
THE operation of the compulsory act ha
filled and kept filed all classes in the ele
mentary grades. The public is gradual,
being led to appreciate the meaning ant
force of the law. Poverty is the great hind
| ering cause. but through the activity ant
| the intelligent work of the Associated Char
tiles and that of the Prudence Crandall AS
! sociaton, an organization among the col
ored ladies. many bare feet are being shoe
| and many bare shoulders covered
High Schools.
The numbers entering the II street High
| School were quite up to the average for the
| past few years. To most, this is the fin.
| ishng point in education and a high stand
| ard should be kept. The idea of work, OF
purpose, of scholarship must be placed be-
fore the students
The policy of requiring graduation from
an eighth grade a prerequisite to the
work in the Armstrong Manual Training
nun her in the enrolment. The pupil in this
branch of the system should feel that he
is required TO show intellectual power quite
equal to that demanded in other secondary
schools. He ought TO realize that he is not
merely to go through the school but to get
all the school offers while he is going
through
Teaching Force Commended.
Fortunate in the high character of tie
teaching force. the public schools have
moved forward without a hitch in the
general work of instruction. Energy and
spirit OF work are conspicuous among the
teachers. Deeper and wider preparation
is Icing sought by most in attendance
upoa courses presented by the higher insti-
tutCns of learning in our midst To one
who has knowledge o. the past there is
unm;sta kable evidence of quickening among
the teachers in all grades.
The reception of time program has
directed the minds of the teachers to more
tional values In time. although the criticism
is heard that the time program is rather
ideal, the teachers will find themselves and
successfully adjust their work to the de-
mandS.
1.-The creation of four heads of depart
ments in these schools has made definite
and unified the instruction. No radical
changes have yet been made in the course
of study. The impression is felt among
teachers and students that these schools
stand for high effort, accurate scholarship;
that reasonable standard must be reached
by all who hope to win the diploma. The
corps in one of these schools has received
several new teachers, and from the prin-
cipal and heads of departments the report
comes that they are daily growing in
efficiency.
Changes Recommended.
Il am of the opinion that the business
dana fyt,nn in, hn Nov ol
Training School would thrive better under
different conditions, preferably in a sera-
rate building, but if not possible. then as
a part of the academic high school. The
Manual Training School ought to have
every opportunity to do to the full the
work 1t has before It, unhampered and I'M
hindered by the presence of classes pur-
suing course quite foreign to manual
training.
TO carry out the intent of the compul-
sorry act three ungraded classes have been
established in the following school build
ings: Stevens, Abby Simmons and Cardozo.
A slight misrepresentation of the true
purpose of this kind CT class at first ex-
listed among the teachers. and there was
a disposition to hasten pupils to it, with
out due consideration. The number in the
several classes has averaged about ten
each. Quite a number G boys have been
returned TO the regular classes. Only two
or three lapses have occurred among those
returned 10 the regular teacher.
The classes are in charge of young men
specially fitted to deal with pupils of this
character. In discipline it has rarely been
necessary to resort to severity or corporal
punishment.
Action Rescinded.
only two females thus far have been
sent to these classes, and 1 am quite sure
one of these ought not to have been sent
She was sent before the procedure was per-
fected and safeguarded. 1 at once had
her restored to the ordinary class. The |
other spent only short time in the I'M
graded class, and was then received by her |
teacher.
The plan of picking out another teacher |
and placing the boy returned from the |
class in her charge was adopted, |
because 1t was thought best to let him
have chance under new conditions to re- |
deem himself.
Weekly conferences between the teach
Frs OF these classes and myself occur In |
for this work a letter was adj
dressed to the leading cities for informa-
lion, and some of the replies were most |
helpful I-desire especially to direct at
'ention to one from DR.. L. r. KIemm spe-
cialist in the Office of the commissioner of |
of the United States. The one
rom Boston was also most suggestive"