The Washington times., 1923-04-01
SCHOOL BOARD
FIRST HEADED
BY JEFFERSON
Third President of U. S.
Elected Unanimously to
Lead Trustees of District
UNIVERSITY WAS PLANNED
Principals Were Paid $500
Annually and Were Forced
TO Rent CIassrooms Home

thomas Jefferson, third Presi-
dent of the United States, was
elected first president of the board
of trustees of the Washington
public school system 118 years
ago it was revealed in old records
found at Franklin School yester-
day.
ELECTED UNANIMOUSLY.
Meeting in the Supreme Court
room in the Capitol in the year 1905,
Jefferson was unanimously elected to
head the system. At that time he
agreed to discharge his duties un-
less "others of paramount obliga-
ton" took up too much Of his time.
The policy adopted by the pioneers
an public instruction in the District
was unusually broad and liberal.
Provisions in act were made TOR
s'three great OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
for teaching the rudiments OF knowl-
edge necessary to the common pur-
poses of life; college in which the
higher branches may be taught, and
q university in which the highest and
most splendid attainmehts may be
acquired"
ONCE HAD ACADEMY"
It was planned at that time to
make the lower schools dependent
upon the District, because the bene-
fits of them being in large measure
local. The university, 1t was nopeo'
along with the college, would gain
its principal support from public
men throughout the Union.
Vavsoxyfdo6 that fha academy
should consist of as many schools as
circumstances may require; to be
limited, "at present" to two, one Of
which shall be situated within half
q mile Of the Presidents House,
and the other within half a mile OF
the Capitol, ''it being understood by
the board that these positions are
temporary, and subsequently subject
ut any future time to alteration"
SOME STUDENTS PAID.
Provisions were made for the
teaching of poor children" In these
schools, the subjects of reading, writ
ing, grammar land such branches OF
mathematics as may qualify them
for the professions they intend to fol.
low" The nay Students were.
given, In addition to these subjects,
lessons IN Latin and geography.
In 1905, in the District, school
lasted for eight hours in winter and
six hours in summer, and sessions
were held every day but Sunday. It
was further provided that the sum-
mer vacation should start not prior
TO August 1 and should terminate
not later than September 10.
PASTOR MADE PRINCIPAL.
The first schools opened In the
District were known as the Eastern
School, sometimes known as the
Eastern Free School, and the West
ern School. The first principal
elected Of the Eastern School was
the Rev. William Bentley; while the
first head OF the Western School was
Richard White
A fact worthy Of consideration has
been noted in an early report Of the
school system. That is that the
teachers were to receive a salary
of $500 per annum" and out Of this
sum was to be paid rent for the
school house, for the fuel consumed,
for all other expenses incidental to a
school, and for such assistant teach
ers as may be necessary" Upon
notification of these conditions, Bent
ley promptly declined the appoint
ment.
AN IMPORTANT PERIOD.
1t has been stated that the period
from 1865 to 1885, during which time
Shepherd headed the District gov.
eminent, was the most important in
the history of the Washington school
system. In that period the first nor
NAL school was established; the Cen
trail High School came into being; a
superintendent of schools was ap.
pointed; a graded system introduced;
the popular mind was awakened 70
the Importance Of school improve
ments: and lastly, the popular mind
was rid of the notion that a pub
lie" school meant ''pauper" school.
Since that time the growth of the
schools has been steady. From the
two buildings first established, the
system has grown to one of $50
structures. with more needed. From
the handful Of students then cared
Tor there Is now an enrolment of
$4,000 children.
ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.
Franklin School building, save for
two or three class rooms, is today
given over entirely to administration
" Lie cAAoAAS VI TIC 6JSIcIu. LII the
hands Of the following persons now
rests the running Of the system:
DIR. r. w. Ballou, superintendent.
Miss M. A. Carroll, Miss Hazel Davis
Miss Aida Hartranft.
S. e. Kramer, assistant superin-
fendent; Miss Eleanor Zuberano, Miss
]. p. Thorne.
H. o. Hine, secretary, Board of
Education; Miss Elise Zuberano, Miss
Marie Ebel, Miss Isabel Alfred, Mrs.
Wisener, Miss Eleanc~e Warren.
Louis Monroe. William Cawthorne,
messenger.
A. T. Stuart. director interme-
date instruction; Miss Margaret Jes.
ter.
J. A. Chamberlain. director of
manual training; Mrs. r. B. Bald.
win.
W. B. Patterson, supervisor Of
special schools and activities; Miss
Frances Scott.
r. o. Wilmarth, chief accountant.
Miss Louisa Carmody, Miss Dorothy
AIbaugh. Miss Emma Martin, Miss
Margaret Elkins. Mrs G. L. Oster.
man. Miss c. A. Laughlin, NJ. OBJ.
Jacobs and B. ". Payne.
Harry English and Miss s. e
Simons, board Of examiners; Miss
Pauline Monday.
Miss Cecil Norton, general secre
tary. Community Centers; Mrs. E