Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-09
AFFAIRS OF SCHOOLS
Board of Education Transacts
Routine Business.
DIFFERENCES OF OPINION
Proposition to Amend Rules Causes
Discussion
DATES FOR COMMENCEMENTS
Committee on Buildings Suggests
Changes in Plans-Promotions,
Appointments, Other Changes.


adopted recommendations. to be sent to
the District Commissioners. that the
plans for new school buildings, prepared
bv the District authorities. he changed TO
prevent serious defects The session was
largely devoted to consideration of rou-
tine matters
One of the differences was responsible
for discussion between w '. Cox and
w D. Hoover. Mr.. Hoover had written
To Mr.. Cox. as chairman of the commit
tee on rules asking that the rules be
amended so that parents of pupils receive
eight reports a year instad of six, as
provided at present.
Mr. Cox explained that the committee
of which he is chairman mad not met.
hut that he saw no reason Tor amending
the rules suggested.
Il want Il report this matter from
the committee. either favorab!y or ad-
versey. Mr.. Hoover remarked.
Il have talked with some school of1clais
and see no special reason tor the change,
Mr. Cox replied.
IT is not what you think Mr. Hoover
thinks I intend TO bring this matter to
the attention of the board.
That s Your privilege. Mr. Cox an
swered
1t was explained that it had been
tomary to make monthly reports to par
entS. or eight reports year. Under the
new rules. requiring only six reports, 1t
was explained by MIR Hoover, parents do
no; know what their children have been
doing two months of the school year. No
action was taken yesterday. but notice
was given that the motion to change the
rules will be presented at the next board
meeting.
Dates for Commencements.
Mrs. Terrell was the only member alb
sent from the meeting. The dates for the
commencement exercises of the high
schools were decided on as follows:
Friday. June L. evening in Convention
HaI-M. Street High School. Armstrong
Manual Training School and Normal
School. No. y.
Observation-Disclosures High School.
Tuesday. June IS. 10 O'Clock am. in
Franklin School-Normal School. No. I.
Tuesday, June 49, evening, in a local
theater = Mckinley Manual Training
School.
Wednesday, June II, O'Clock pm. in
Convention Hall-Central, Eastern and
Western High Schools.
1t was voted to leave the choice of
speakers for the commencements to the
committee on normal, high and manual
training schools. 1t was suggested by AS
sistant Superintendent Bruce that w H.
Lewis OF Boston be selected to make the
commencement address to the colored
school graduates. The suggestion was re-
ferred to the committee
A suggestion by Asst Supt Bruce that
pupils of the schools be allowed TO make
voluntary contributions April Is toward
fund for the restoration Of the Frederick
douglass home at Cedar Hill. as a memo
rial to the colored race and as museum
TO show the progress of the race in the
country, was approved.
Drill of Colored Cadets.
recommendation that the competitive
l-,n
be held June /. from TO $50 pm. in
American League Park, was referred to
the committee on military affairs 1t was
suggested also that charges for admission
OF Is and % cents be made, the proceeds
TO be used for athletics. Fairgrounds, etc,
and that complimentary tickets be FUR
nished members of the board of educa-
tion proper officers and teachers OF the
schools. some eighth grade boys and all
high school girls.
A report by Health Officer Woodward
that the walls of the Mount Nebo Church.
used for school purposes, are damp and
the building unfit for was referred TO
the committee on buildings.
Mrs Ellen Spencer Mussey. chairman.
reported that the committee play
grounds had received request from the
assistant supervisor of Fairgrounds of the
Washington Fairgrounds AssOciat ton ask
ing that the director of music have the
assistance of - first grade and % sec
8
songs at enterta inment for the benefit
of the school Fairgrounds. The commit
tee recommended that the request be
granted. provided the parents Of the chill
dren consent.
Examinations for Teachers.
The board decided that after the be-
ginning of the next school year examina-
tions for teachers in high schools and
in special schools shall not be held more
than four times year. and examina-
TORS for teachers in grade schools not
more than twice year. During the pres
ent school year examinations for posi-
tons in the graded schools have been
held every month. The change is the
result of a discussion at a previous meet
ing of the board.
Henry S. Curtis was appointed director
of school Fairgrounds at salary of 81
per annum. Permission was granted for
the holding of an entertainment for the
benefit OF school Fairgrounds In the Gid
ding School. Sd and G streets southeast
next Wednesday.
The board decided that the recent re-
ducton Of Miss Wv. Brooks teacher
in the fourth grade, TO the second grade
was proper but recommended that she
be promoted again to the fourth grade
soon improvement in discipline
warrants. The board granted permission
for DR.. S. A. Knoph 10 give a lecture
on the prevention of tuberculosis before
board declined to grant a request of the
Petworth Citizens Association for the
use of room in the Petworth School
building, in which to hold the associations
meetings
Prize for an Essay
The second division of opinion in the
board was noted when Secretary Hine
read a letter from Marcia Burns Chapter
No. II. ID. A. r.. offering "A prize of s.
to the pupil OF the Maury School who will
write the best essay on Our Flag" Mrs
Mussey moved that the offer be received
with the thanks Of the board. Mrs Hill
suggested that the matter should he re-
ferred TO the proper committee remark
previous occasions. Discussion fol-
lowed, and vote was demanded The
vote was , in favor of accepting the offer
anu - asains; il.
Mrs. Mussey announced that a prize Of
fered IL the pupils in the foreign night
classes for the best essay on American
IIlZsnSnip will be awarded next
Wednesday evening about $40 o clock in
the Franklin School building.
The committee buildings suggested
several changes in the plans for the new
schoG buildings tn be erected soon one i'm
18th street and the other in Il street be-
tween 18th and 18th streets southeast
The report was approved and ii was
directed that the recommendations be sent
10 the commissioners.
y