The Washington herald., 1911-01-20
OYSTER DEFENDS
SCHOOL RULINGS
Says Criticism of System Is
Uncalled F0E.
WOULD NOT DRIVE TEACHERS
Head Of Board Believes Instructors
~ . Rule Do Not Abuse Absence
Statements Of President-Eligibi
ity Ruling Under Discussion.

Hdl tHe ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OI city
should not be discredited and the school
system criticised because of the actions
contrary to the school regulations OF
a few Of the instructors, is the opinion
of Capt. James F. Oyster. given in a
statement at the meeting of the board
Of education yesterday. The question
arose when the matter of paying teachers
for the time they are absent from duty
was under discussion. Capt. Oyster an
nounced himself as not in favor OF
dragging teachers to their duties when
they are physically unable to teach.
II do not think it would he advisable. -
he said. Ito dismiss a teacher for being
absent from her duties for two or three
days. There are certain times when il
is necessary for them to be away. rs
in the instance of illness or death. Com
plants are being received by the board
relative to teachers who are absent, TO
the effect that they are in no way in
capacitated 1t would be impossible to
have a corps of detectives to watch the
actions of all the teachers in Washing
tom
Woodbury. Flair. who took active
part in the discussion, brought to light
the fact that as near as could be aScer-
tanned 50 per cent of the children attend
ed school every day. while only IS per
cent of the teachers were present. He
argued that if the children were able to
attend. in his opinion the teachers could.
AT least % per cent of the teachers
should be present" he said. Mr.. Blair
said that there were only from sixteen to
eighteen working days for the teachers
in each month. for which they received
pay for thirty days. He said that he
did not think Congress would approve
of <,f
absence with excuses. excepting where 1t
was by legal compulsion. as by quaran-
tine or subpoena Of a court
Stuart Defends System.
A. T Stuart defended the school sys-
tenn and declared that teachers have bet
ter attendance to duties than any lawyer,
doctor. or other professional man, and
employees in general. He said that dur
ing the baseball season nearly all of these
latter buried at least fifteen grand
mothers or other relatives
Supt- Stuart then read a report of the
absences from duties of the teachers for
the month of Decembsr. which, he said.
was generally misunderstood. The report
showed 30 absences during this period,
but he explained to the satisfaction of the
board that in most instances the teachers
day. ''One would be led to believe from
reading this paper" he said, that there
had been 800 teachers absent from their
duties for the entire month of December,
but such is not the case
The much-discussed question Of lon
Sevity pay for teachers arising from the
act of Congress of March 49, 1910. was
taken up by the board. The action of
the board will permit large number of
~, in he
service prior to 1896 to have the same
advantages as are enjoyed by teachers
coming from other cities. About $50
instructors are affected by this action.
AS soon as the auditor can pass upon
the merits Of the experience of these
teachers. and pay rolls prepared, pay
ment will be made. This will probably
be about February 1.
Advanced Courses Arranged.
Upon motion of Mrs. Mussey the
board decided to grant to the students
of the high school who graduated Feb
ruary 1 the privilege of continuing GER
tain number of elective courses. This is
done for the purpose of keeping the STU
dents familiar with certain studies. They
will be disciplined like the other students
and the studies will constitute a post
graduate course.
At the request Of Mr.. Blair, Supt.
Stuart explained the standing OF eligibles
for appointment who had qualified in
three subjects and who had been ap-
pointed as instructor in only one sub
ject The point made by Mr.. Blair was
whether. after having been appointed to
fill a vacancy in one of the three sub
jects for which the eligible had quail
fed, he was still qualified for the other
two positions for which he stood at the
top of the eligible list
Supt. Stuart explained that It has been
the practice to remove the teacher from
the eligible list upon his appointment, but
that the principal Of the school generally
decided the question t-The principal he
said. generally places the teacher to in
struct the subject for which he Is best
fitted
Chances Are Announced.
The following changes were announced:
APPOINTMENTS.
Ira NJ. Bearce. teacher d physics. chemistry. and
physical geosrap.y Business HiGh School.
Miss r l. Gon1enbach. teacher dpnss6e sa1nee
IN graded schools
Miss n e Wilson. teacher MeKinl1 Manual
Training Nsht School.
ginning February l. and extending not over June d.
Miss c. A. McAIog, teacher Of Latin in Central
High School. beSiminR Feeruay !. MI, and ex-
tending not over June D.
MISCELI.ANEOCS
Accept resignation Of M1A Z. NJ. Calhoun. tnach-
e in the Mckinley Manual Thinning Night School
Grant leave of absence without pay for three
months to Miss K. d. Jones. teacher of domestic
science.
Grant leavc without pay to end Of school year to
Miss s. A. RaineJ. teacher Of Latin in Central
High School.
Place names of the following the list Of sub
stit1,te teachers in the night schools: Miss Louise
C. Hart, Miss NJ. p. Bradshaw. Ms. g. ". Cor
don. Miss T. A. Clazk, Miss F. E Throc4morton.
H. W. White Miss l.. A. Ross. Mis- NJ. s. Ma-
lone Miss Aida Smith. r. z. Medford. r. q.
Clanin Miss X. Z. Rawlings, Miss L. E Banenger.
Miss 8. A. Moore. Miss A. l.. Pendletno, Miss
Ethel Hehebow1, Mis- N. v. Grifiths and r. r.
Kerkam.