Evening star., 1922-12-10
Fifty Years Ago
in The Star
1t Is a fact Of interest in connection
with the Eduoation week that has just
closed, and
Thomas Jefferson probably not
Public School Head. Ano~n


leans. that Thomas jefferson was at
one time president of the board Of
trustees of the Washington pubic
schools. This fact is disclosed iu y
news article in The star of Decemp,r
:. 1872. describing the dedication a,f
the then new jefferson School build
ing. at the corner of 9Th and d streets
southwest, which took place on that
day. In the course of his remarks
at the exercises Mr.. J. Ormond Will
son. superintendent of schools, said:
period OF sixty-seven years we find
that on Monday, August s. 1905. in a
room in the then National Capitol, a
little assembly composed OF Robert
Brent. Samuel II. Smith, William
Cranch. William Brent. George Blag-
den. John Dempsey and Nicholas King
met together to organize the first
Washington Board of Trustees of
Public Schools The book containing
the record of the proceedings of thrsf.
trustees and their SUCCESSORS down Il,
the year 1878 is now preserved in the
Library of Congress. and in the miIl-
utes of that first meeting are found
the following entries:
'''On proceeding to ballot for q
president of the board Thomas Jeffcr-
son was unanimously elected The
president being absent. Robert Bren.
was chosen chairman Of the meeting.
On motion of MIR. Smith. the chairman
was requested to acquaint the presi-
dent with his unanimous election. At
meeting held on Monday. September
?. 1905. the chairman lay before the
board a letter from Mr.. Jefferson
signifying his acceptance Of the Of
fee. On motion of Mr.. Smith. the
, presidents letter was ordered to he
entered in the minutes 1t is in the
following words:
Monticello. August II, 1906.
Sir: A considerable journey
southwardly from this has prevented
my sooner acknowledging letters from
yourself. from Mr.. Gardiner and Mr..
s. H. Smith. announcing that 1 had
been elected by the city council
trustee for the public schools to be
established at Washington. and by
the trustees to preside at their board
1 receive with due sensibility these
I proofs of confidence from the city
, council and the board of trustees, aso
ask the favor of you to tender them
. my just acknowledgements. Sincerely
/ believing that knowledge promotes
4
be disposed to contribute my en-
deavors toward its extension, and in
the instance under consideration will
willingly undertake the duties pro-
posed to me. SO far as others Of para
| mount obligation will permit my at
tention to them. I pray you to accept
my friendly salutations and assur-
ances of great respect and esteem.
(Signed) THOMAS JEFFERSON
".Mr. Jefferson was reelected an
nually and continued president Of the
board for three successive years, when
his term of Office as President Of IA.
United States expired and he returned
to Monticello.
1.-The public schools at that time
were sustained by funds derived IN
part from taxes and In part from sub
scriptions OF citizens. A list OF the
names of the subscribers. with the
amount given by each. varying from
| 50 to $500. was entered on the record
Of the board, and in that list We nnd
the following: Thomas Jefferson. Two
hundred dollars"