Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-14
BY EDUCATION BOARD
Discussion of the Method of
Rating Teachers.
WILL ADOPT SIMPLER PLAN
Action as to Alteration of Certain
Buildings.
CRITICISM OF COMMISSIONERS
Decision to Accept Offers of Scholar
ships-Authority to Improve
School Fairgrounds.
CRITICISM OF COMMISSIONERS

That the method of rating teachers OF
the public schools of the District OF Co.
lumbia. inausurated by W. T. Chancellor.
when he was superintendent. IL which OBJ
lection was made. will probably be super
seeded next year by simpler system. and
that the District officials in charge of the
construction Of school buildings will make
alterations in the Langdon and Petworth
buildings. were among the announcements
at a meeting of the board of education
late yesterday afternoon
The board adopted textbooks to be used
in the local schools the next three years,
they being practically the same as those
now in use. and accepted offers of several
scholarships. The promotion of a colored
teacher. TO which one member of the
board raised objection. was discussed. and
the secretary was instructed to write to
the District Commissioners insisting that
they forward reports of the health officer
regarding the sanitary conditions OF school
buildings.
Rating of Teachers.
The plan for a new method of rating
teachers was not presented To the board.
During the course of the discussion of a
promotion of colored teacher ahead of
others who mad been in the service long
er. members of the board examined the
records of some of the teach6 involved
and found that they called for markings
such as voice. manner. Self-control. abil-
ity to see what is going on. fitness in
scholarship. general scholarship and Gull
rure disposition and character, etc. The
system was introduced by former Supt.
Chancellor.
Does it call for the color of the eyes?"
some one asked
Il will recommend simpler marking
system. covering three or four general
points instead of the twenty or more in
: that system" Supt. Stuart stated: land
/ will ask the board of education to
adopt it and general plan of promotion.
with it as basis. to be used next year.
j have never had time to count all the
points covered by the present system of
marking"
The announcement regarding alterations
of the Lansdon and Petworth schools.
now under construction and about (which
complaints have been made. followed the
reading of a request by pupils of the
Langdon School that the attic of the an
mex. now being built. be set aside for a
gymnasium. The committee of the board
which considered the request recommend
ed that the Commissioners be notified that
the request has the approval of the
board. provided that adequate exits be
provided In the building" The complaint
be without exits. the pupils being ex-
pected to use the exits of the old and
INHALER four-room building which the an
mex adjOins.
spector Ashford today Capt. Oyster ex-
planned. and he agreed to put four exits
In the Langdon annex. And he also said
he will provide for a teachers retiring
Petworth building. And if he doesn't keep
his promise he will hear from u.s.
Closing of School Buildings.
When the board meeting was called
to order by President Oyster all the mem
bers were present. The first act was the
approval by the board OF the action of
the school authorities in closing schools
in buildings condemned b. Fire Chief Belt
as dangerous in the event of fire. which
the board ordered to be without heat and
in which the temperature was too cool 10
allow for school without starting the heat
ing plants Supt. Stuart also presented
reports OF the heads of the biology de-
pdrtments Of both coored and white
scnoois. DENYING that vIvisection has been
practlced in the public schools
The board voted to accent the offers ~
Scholarships and medals from several
sources President E. D. .Warfield Of
I-aiaSette College offered two Scholarships
each 10 graduates of the Central Eastern
and Mckinley High Schools The Draush-
ton Business College offered scholarships
10 one graduate of each of the local bigh
schools. Ihe offer was accepted except
as 10 the Business High School i'm uhic;,
II was pointed out, the course of stud,. i;
similar in many respects to that proyided
ny the school Offering the Scholarships 4
lnedai Tor the member of the graduating
Grass OF the Washington high schools
writing the best essay on a mai rjotic s,I,
1eci was offered by the Mary Washington
Chapter, ID. A r.
letter from an official of the Con-
eress OF Mothers asking nermission 70
organize parents and teachers, &C
sociatlons in connection with all loc.l
schools Was referred to the COMMITTEES on
normal and high schools
Protest as to Promotion.
Inc promotion of f. A. Howard called
~ the attention Of tn" board by A protes,
ny L. T. Jean and report on the case bv
"uP'' stuart provoked discussion The re-
port OF the superintendent in regard n
inc standing OF the teachers available for
the promotion at the time Miss Howard
was advanced. was a follows:
p. j. Barney. appointed February :
Iva. excellent: \. b. Johnston. appointed
September l. 1904. excellent: l. Y Tn
ley. appointed December q 1goa ercn,
lent; T. y. Howard. appointed March -
l@'3 excellent: l.. r. Jean. annointad
MarIh L. 1879 Very good, but originally
i. nod
marriage and reappointed at above dat
III seems to me from that report tha,
tne rank 81 certain teachers was not con-
sfdered, Mr. Horner remarked ut an
pears that the standing of teachers doesn't
amour. to anything"
Several things are considered i'm MAX
Ing promotions" Mr. Evern,ann eynlajn
ed IF an old teacher does not stand
higher than younger one il is an indi-
cation that she is not as good"
But in this case several who had been
longer in the schools We're marked excel
lent anu they could not go higher" Mr.
Horner replied
might be marked very excellent" DR.
E"ermann suggested.
IF there is no action to be taken o..
this matter will take UP other bust
ness. President Oyster rema rked
Il want 10 go on record standing by
the records Of teachers" Mr. Horner per
sisted. And | doubt the advisabil
OF dropping this matter here. If a
teacher has this time been promoted over
another longer in the service and marked