Evening star., 1909-07-02
TROUBLES ARE AIRED
Affairs of Colored Public
Schools Discussed.
BOARD OF EDUCATION ACTS
Citizens File Charges Against As
sistant Superintendent.
REFERENCE TO COMMITTEE
Result of Annual Election of Of
fcers-Announcem of Large
Number of Changes.
BOARD OF EDUCATION ACTS
REFERENCE TO COMMITTEE

Troubles in the colored public schools
were aired at meeting of the board
OF education yesterday afternoon and. at
its conclusion, matters affecting those
schools were left undecided.
When the meeting was declared ad-
iourned by President James f. Oyster.
after a session of two hours and a half,
one supervising principal had been re-
duced TO teacher in the NJ Street High
School: another supervising principal
and the principal OF the NJ Street High
School had been recommended for de-
motion. the former TO the principalship
Of a graded school and the latter to a
leadership in the Armstrong Manual
Training School, the board refusing to
ratify the recommendation before the
matter had been considered by the prop
er committees of the board: charges had
been fled y inst the assistent superin-
tendent. K. {. Bruce, by citizens COM
mittee and several colored teachers had
been denoted or dismissed.
After recess for dinner and until late
last night committees considered the rec
concentrations for the reduction of
Principal Jackson and Supervising Princi
pal Nalle. 1t was announced by Presi-
Supervisor Male was approved by the
committee. Additional time for investi
cation of the recommendation that Primo
ipal Jackson be reduced was desired by
the committee.
The conditions In the colored schools
were considered in connection with the
appointments for the next school year,
beginning in September. The session
was largely taken up with a review of
the last year and the making of plans
for the new school and fiscal year.
Election of Officers.
The session yesterday being the annual
meeting. the election of officers and the
reception of new members of the board
was the first business BY unanimous
vote Capt. Oyster was reelected pres-
dent and William V. Cox reelected vice
president. The only new member of
the board was William V. Tunnel. sue
ceedng John F. Cook. He was formally
welcomed by President Oyster and told
that he was expected to do his duty to
the children of the schools. and he
pledged himself to fulfill that duty.
In a review of the work of the board the
past school year, President Oyster outlined
a policy for next year about as follows:
More and better and safer school build
ings: more and better equipment in the
schools
Touching first on the successful efforts
of the board to have removed from school
buildings all unserviceable material, with
the idea of avoiding any risks to life
from fire and in order 10 put the school
management upon more thorough busi-
ness basis President oyster said:
1T is to be deplored that after the
most careful consideration by the body
in closest touch with the school situation,
The board of education, that Congress
should so seriously cut the appropria-
tions for the use of the schools as to
prevent their best operation.
Need Of Large Appropriations.
There is a serious need of increasing
appropriations in several lines namely,
in the provision of new buildings larger
Fairgrounds. additional manual training
equipment, increased amount for books
and larger sums for the repair and main
tenance of buildings and the protection
of the children from fire dangers. The
crippled condition of the school system
through lack of clerical assistance in the
office of the board of education and in the
offices of the supervising principals has
been repeatedly brought to the attention
Of Congress. The lach of Fairgrounds
and provision for the maintenance of the
same has forced the board of education
TO take up repeated collections in the
schools In order that this activity may
be maintained. The limitation of funds
Ill manual training in the grades is con-
stantly Gripping the development of that
work.
In regard to buildings there are no
more serious needs than those of a new,
modern, properly equipped building to
accommodate Normal School No. /, and
modern, well equipped buildings with
ample Fairgrounds for the accommoda-
ion or the Central and NJ Street High
Schools The continued use of the Frank
I'm School building the home of Nor
mai School No. / is nothing short of crim-
nal when We consider the effect of the
necessary stair climbing upon the health
OF the young women who are to go out
rrom that school TO teach the children of
the coming years. l strongly urge that
the board of education continue to pre-
sent to the Commissioners and the COM
mfttees of Congress the needs of the
schools in these directions.
The use of the portable schools during
the past year has temporarily relieved
the congestion incident To insufficient
building accommodations.
Reference to Municipal Architect.
Following the request of the board of
education, Congress during its recent ses-
sion provided municipal architest, who
shall give his attention to the prompt
and proper construction of school build
ings. The desire of the board of educa-
tion in the appointment of this officer
did not have the support of the majority
of the board of Commissioners. Never
1heless the board of education sincerely
hopes that the school buildings to be pro-
yided in the future will be improve
ment over many of those constructed
during the past years. The loss of time
between the appropriation of funds for
school buildings and the finishing of the
same for the use of the schools has here
tofore been a most serious drawback.
Along the lines of safety to the chill
dren. both from the fire and sanitary
standpoints. ! am glad TO report that the
Commissioners of the District of Column
bia have recently taken steps for the fre-
auent and regular inspection of school
buildings. ! am sure that the board of
education will gladly cooperate with the
District officials in this matter.
During the past year the special
schools have been developed. and their
number considerably increased While
this line of work is a new in educa-
tional circles and can only be said 10 be
in experimental stage. nevertheless,
we feel that Washington is we'll abreast
of the times in the work which is being
done.
Hopes for Retirement Law.
The board of education submitted to
Congress al its recent session retire
ment bill. hoping in this way TO
strengthen the schools by retiring teach
ers OF long and faithful service who
should not be expected to continue the
strenuous life of teaching, but should he
,-,.I..< tl..t,