Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-26
I'm A THANKFUL MOOD
Board of Education Expresses
Appreciation.
PRAISES TEACHING FORCE
Has Kind Words, Also, for Officials
of the District.
MONEY FOR CHRISTMAS TREES
Kindergartens to Have Yuletide Elk
ercises-Appointments, Transfers
and designations.

Thanksgiving yesterday.
At meeting in the Franklin building
members voiced thanks to teachers
school officials and District authorities
for efforts to make the schools of the
District better and appreciation of in
creased cooperation between school and
District officials
In contrast to the spirit of gratitude
however. were criticisms OF school en-
ployes, which evlivened the session.
statements which reflected on the ratings
given pupils by one principal and on the
action of the board itself in demoting a
teacher.
President Oyster voiced the Thanksglv-
ing sentiment of the board.
This being the day before Thanksgiv-
ing" he remarked, II think the board
can justly thank the teachers for their
! good work the past year, for the schools
and the children. and thank the District
| authorities for the good repair work we
are getting.
Schools in Good Condition.
'In looking over the schools we find
| them in better shape now than at any
time since this board took charge. Much
credit is due to the committee which pro-
vided for the removal of the debris which
| had accumulated in the buildings; and
| their present condition proves that they
| can be kept clean by our janitors. when
| we visit the schools we find they are per-
| haps not the best, but much better than
| ever before during our administration.
| When Secretary Hine stated that he had
| received a number of letters from the
Commissioners telling of work done or
| contemplated in the schools, Capt. Oyster
| added:
There are several letters here from
| District officials, showing cooperation for
| the good of the schools, and indicating
| that they are giving us better work in the
| schools.
I'm one letter they state that. in re-
| Spouse to our request, the committee on
| the inspection of sanitary conditions in
| the schools, which was recently appointed.
| will inspect suburban schools and invites
| us to send representative with this COM
| mittee to cooperate in the inspection. In
another letter Commissioner Mcfarland
voices his willingness to cooperate.
Christmas Trees for Kindergartens.
Shortly after the transaction of bust
ness began a request was presented from
| Miss c. r. Watkins, superintendent of
| kindergartens with the approval of Supt.
Stuart, that the board appropriate $36
with which to buy Christmas trees for the
tkindergartens.
II hope that any hard-hearted member
| of the board who has opposed this appro-
pration in the past will have a change of
heart this year." Mrs. Terrell remarked.
with a smile, as she moved granting the
request.
| could be used to better advantage. The
request was granted.
| A request Of the District of Columbia
branch Of the Red Cross Society for au-
l Y011 fcfv oCo
stamps in the upper schools was OPP
posed. Mr.. Cox classed the communica-
ton as a begging letter"
II would like to see things OF this KIND
cut out Of the schools" DR.. Evermann
added
| Mrs. Mussey moved that the sale be al
lowed in schools in which the principals
desire it, and her motion prevailed.
Error in Ratings.
When appointments of teachers were
read, Mrs. Terrell declared that one of
the girls appointed had been wrongly rated
| by the principal of the Colored Normal
School, from which the appointee gradu-
ated, and that 1t was only after her
case and that of others had been investi-
gated that the former normal students
were given proper rating, such as to allow
their appointment as teachers.
| II think that there should be some ex-
l
Wood, because the board has been criti-
cised for this and other appointments of
a similar character" Mrs. Terrell stated
Three girls who graduated from the
school-Isabella Wood Matte Scurlock
and Willie Brown-were rated by the prin-
cipal as fair, while a graduate must be
rated as good to be appointed a teacher.
They thought their rating was unfair, and
Assistant Superintendent Bruce investi-
gated the matter. From the record of the
students 1T was found that these girls
should have been rated good and as
result Of the investigation they were
placed in the good group and thus made
eligible for appointment AS these girls
were originally marked fair the board
has been criticised for appointing them
SO think it should be explained they were
wrongly rated before. and are now in the
| good group.
1t was added that the attention of the
principal of the Colored Normal School
| had been called to the matter Of rating,
and that she has promised to be more
| careful in the future.
Devotion Without Hearing.
| Mrs. Terrell called attention to the case
of Samuel A. Hayes. who was denoted
financially several weeks ago, she re-
questing that a letter from him be read
He stated that before the action was
taken he asked for a hearing, but was
denoted before such was granted to him.
II think that as board we ought to
hear his side of the matter before finally
disposing of the case" Mrs. Terrell said
We should not execute any one without
first giving him an opportunity to pre-
sent his side Of the case. He has been
officially executed by this board, and 1
think he should be heard"
| Il think that if the superintendent or
the assistant superintendent has made
an investigation and heard his statement
in behalf of the board that is sufficient"
Dr. Evermann commented.
He was not heard by those officials"
Mrs. Terrell responded
! The matter was referred to the SUPER
intendent for investigation.
Enforcement Of Rule So.
"A good deal of annoyance has been
| caused parents and the board through
the enforcement Of rule SO of the bylaws
in way that was never intended" Mr.
Cox asserted. Il understand that per-
sons like Justice Gould have been COM
PEELED to make an affidavit that thew are
doing public work in the District in or
der to have their children attend the
| District schools. There ought to be an
intelligent handling of this thing"
| The tuition law provides that pupils