Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-01
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

For the schools of the District of Column
biz the year 1908 came in like a lion and
went out like lamb.
When the year opened the then superin-
tendent OF schools was on trial for al
legged characterization and incompetency.
The trial opened several months before
and many sensational statements were
made in the course of the testimony. The
trial ended January 4, when the board
unanimously convicted Or. William Z.
Chancellor on nine charges and dismissed
him sumnarily. \. #. Stuart was una nj
mously elected as head of the District s
educational system. Under his admins
tration the schools worked smoothly dur
Ing the remainder of the year.
The strained relations between DIR.
Chancellor and the board of education
stirred up much congressional discussion
OF the local schools and Senator Deliver
introduced bill in the Senate providing
for a reorganization OF the system and
transferring control from the board OF
education to the United States commits
Sioner of education. Many citizens asso-
Citations passed resolutions opposing such
a measure and the Chamber of Commerce
voted against it. Although the Senate
District committee reported favorably on
the Dolliver bill, it failed of passage at
the last session.
Improvement of Buildings.
During the year the board Of education,
In conjunction with the Commissioners,
nave made repeated efforts to improve the
sanitary and fire-danger conditions In the
school buildings. Much has already been
done along that line and other plans are
matertalizing. When the news of the hol-
ocaust at CollinwOod, near Cleveland
Ohio, March i. was received here local
residents began to look to the conditions
nJy-r Entr1 nIa
cation and the District fire chief found
that some dangers still existed In the To-
cal buildings. AS result of the agitation
the board of education March 10 decided
10 ask Congress to appropriate S7OO 600 to
put the school buildings in safe condi-
ton. The District Commissioners Joined
in the request. Congress appropriated
$4,000 for the purpose, and that was ex-
pended In providing fire escapes. replacing
wooden steps and fireproof ones and in
similar repairs to lessen the danger to
the school children in the event Of a Gre.
In an investigation of the fre-danger
conditions in the public schools, the fire
chief condemneu several buildings notab bly,
the Potomac and Mccormick AS re-
suit the condemned schoolhouses were not
used when fires for heating purposes were
needed, and In the case Of the Potomac
and Mccormick buildings only the first
floors were used
The sanitary and fre-danger conditions
OF the schools again became a subject Of
much discussion upon their reopening in
the fall. The board of education seemed
to feel that the new buildings and new
additions to old buildings were not salts
factory and the District officials were
blamed. AS a result the board of educa-
ton decided that 1t would not accept new
buildings or additions until they were
pronounced safe by the fire chief and the
health officer. The result of the con-
troversy was that the District Commits
sioners appointed two committees to in
spect school buildings and they will de-
termine hereafter the sanitary and fire.
danger conditions In school buildings To
the presence of Snowden Ashford. the
building inspector. on those committees,
the board of education objected and fur
1her controversy resulted.
For Thorough Investigation.
The elimination came when Engineer
Commissioner Morrow appointed a COM
mission OF representative architects and
builders of the city to make a thorough
investigation of the schools and report
thereon. That commission. composed
of Appleton p. Clark. jr.. s. J..
Prescott, p. j.. Pelz, l.. F. Dessez
and James l.. Parsons visited near
~ all the school buildings in the Dis
trlct and in report made public Decem-
Der 10 declared the school buildings to be
In fair condition. Several recommends
tlons were made with regard to improving
the sanitary and fire-danger conditions
and these are expected to be considered
by Congress in dealing with the school
appropriations
The board of education last spring sinh
United to Congress the draft of a bill nro-
riding for the retirement of veteran teach
erS on pensions and requested its enact
ment. 1t failed of passage at the last
session. but the board has renewed its
recommendations to the present session.
During the past year the schools lost
several valued employees who accepted
more lucrative positions elsewhere. Charles
= Clark supervising principal for many
years and later director of intermediate
education, resigned to become superin-
tendent of public schools at Somerville.
Mass w. ". Black. another superyis-
ing principal, left Washington TO become
a college professor In filling some in, :
portant vacant positions the board OF
education adopted an innovation by ap-
pointing women TO the position of super
Elsing principal Miss F. l.. Hendley and
MISS l.. r. Shadd being promoted. s. e
Kramer was appointed director of inter-
mediate instruction
The annual competitive drill bet een
the cadet companies OF the High Schools
was won by Company d of the Mckinley
Manual Training School. The company
from the NJ Street High School won the
drill between the colored cadets.
The District schools opened in the fall
with larger increase over the previous
year than ever before. At the close OF the
second days registration there We're a.
S2l pupils enrolled In all classes, gain
OF about 600 over the registration at the
same time the previous year and gain
amounting TO twice the normal increase
Art in the Schools
For the purpose of decorating schoo!
buildings and grounds an association of
art enthusiasts was formed November -
and 1t has planned TO do considerable
work In the near future.
When the schools opened this fall there
were accommodations for about 1900
more pupils than last year. Additions 10
the Emery. Langdon and Gage grade
schools and the Mckinley Manual Train
ing School and new building. the Van
Ness, in the southeast section OF the city
were ready for occupancy in September
Thirteen portable schools have also been
put into use during the last month. they
relieving crowded conditions where such
relief was most needed. Three new
school buldings-the Henry ID. Cooke on
Washington Heights. the Lucretia Mott
near Howard University and the Bryan
near Lincoln Park-are nearing compile
ton.
The year ended with the suspension OF