The Washington times., 1910-11-17
H. P. Blair Declares Body
of Which He Is q Mem
Der, UnbusineSSlike.
OBJECTION OFFERED
TO TESTS OF EYES
Teachers Already Overburdened, IS
Plea--Open Season" for
Shooting Children

Business methods OF the Board OF Ed
Ucaticn are under IRE from Ccnmis-
siOneT Rudolph and from one OF its own
members, Henry p Blair
The procedure OF the boa-d in the
matter Of referring letters of complaint
10 the Commissioners without investi-
cation and its delay IN returning checks
Tor bids after It had been decided 10
ask for new bids was sllarpIy. criticised
by AIr- Blair in the course Of a pro-
longed and eventful session at the
Franklin School yesterday afternoon
Mr- Blalr furnished another topic for
prolonged debate when he objected to a
proposition 70 compel teachers 10 test
the eyes Of their pupils. declaring The
teachers were given already more TO Go
than they had time TO accomplish ana
said he had arranged with one instruc-
tor 20 give him program Of her work
at the close OF the present term
The tilt about the method OF the board
in referring complaints 10 the COmmis-
sioners came up when a letter was re-
ceived from Ia sngGca citizens pointing
out that childzs'- could not attend the
school there without walking through
mud il rainy weather or taking 70 the
car tracks, which was considered dan
geIous- IT was moved that the Commis-
siOners be asked 10 lay a cement walk
10 the school
Position Ridiculous.
''Our request would carry more
weight" interrupted Mr. blair, 'if we
knew what we were recommending.
don't think the board should forward
these requests 70 the Commissioners
when we don't know but what II would
there"
IF there Is school house. there
should be q. way 70 get 10 IT," President
Cox reLOTted-
3lr. Blair. finally carried his point,
ana succeeded IN having the secretary
ordered 10 Investigate the conditions
before making any recommendation 10
the Commissioners
The trouble over the retention of
checks arose after a letter had been
read from Comm issie@er Rudolph, cali
~ ing the board : attention 10 the fact
that such delays often resulted in cri-i-
cism for lax business methods being
aimed at the District.
Secretary Hine said his minutes did
not show that new bios had been au-
thorized for the Mckinley Manual
Training School clOck-and-beu system
Then the minutes VIII have 70 be
changed" replied AIr- Blair This was
done
- Jrst-. how far the school heads should
assume the responsibility for the per
Eonal hygiene OF pupils arose when q
proposition to have the pGpiIs' eyes
proved By Health officer Dr. " c.
Woodward, was submitted by Superin-
tendent Stuart
Teachers 0verworked-
1T IS not the province Of the schools
70 attend 10 these details. Moreover, I
DO not think teacher competent to
make such an examination The city
l. full Of dispensaries, where pupils
may be sent and treated free said
1Ir Blair
Moreover, the teachers in this city
are already OvGrbuTdened with work
A teacher came to my Office this week
complaining that she could not carry
out the program given her for one
course because an exercise demanded
by the board took fifteen minutes week
y from that subject She IS keeping q
record for me TO show Just why it Is
impossible for her TO complete the work
assigned for her
The physical condition Of pupils is
closely allied 10 u cir mental develop
ment," answered Mr. SjEaTt, and We
are just beginning 10 realize that Too
often children are thought dullards be
cause they sit silent and tbeK are only
deaf. or because they fail tO-sOIre a
problem placed on the board when they
really cant see it
That the duty OF the board lay first
= the child and not tc the teacher was
lion 10 introduce Ihe eve test was car
Tied over the dissenting votes OF Mr
BIaIr and 8Ir- Homer.
As soon as the necessary charts a~a
procured The work VIII be begun II
is not the intention OF Superintendent
Stuart to have teachers make q dag
noSis of the childS optical condition,
but merely to determine u simple read
ing tests whether its vision IS normal Il
the sight is found defective, then the
teacher viii communicate with the par
ents and recommend that an CcGiist be
consulted
Mr.. Blair furnished considerable nner-
Ffment after the reading Of 4 renort
from Principal H Wythe Lewis, con
ccrninz the accidental shooting of thre5
ahtIdTen- Annit. Maize. and Norman
Carroll. while OF their WY 10 school by
q white youth with a blue cap" sup
posed to have been q hunter
The report was read and the secretary
was about TO pass on to another mat
ter
Closed Season for Children.
Il object TO our overlooking this mat