Evening Star Newspaper, December 20, 1873, Page 7

OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Repert of Superintendent Wilson. ‘The third aneual report of Mr. J. Ormond Wilson, Superintendent of the Public Schools, is an interesting and important document. He Comme uces by presenting a SUMMARY OF STATISTICS for the school year ending August 31, 1873: White tion of the city, (United States census, 31; white school population, age 6 years inclusive, (United States census, 1870,) echoo! rooms rented, 37—total numper of schoul rooms, 123. Number of seats for pupils, 7,996; amour t paid for rent, 1872-73, 811,170; amour t of rent per room, 3318; value of sites, $142,777 ; value of school buildings 50; value of school furniture, #45,200—total , $659, ‘Total nam- total number of teacaers, 141; total number of pupils enrolied in all the |, 8,985, total number of pupiis in private Schools, (‘Keport of U. 8. Commissioner of Edu- cation, 1802,) 5414. Recetp(s—Valuation of taxable proper’y in the city, 1572, $72,900,000; tax (per cent.) for schools, 43. Amount received from school tax, amount received from United States £100.974,21; salaries of special $5,#00— total salaries of teachers, $106, lary of Superinten 2,0 salary of Treasurer, $800; salar etary, $20; other nses x pei otal incidental ex- *, 8131,~ anent imorovee ments, (sites, bailding-, and furniture, : am unt pald w the colored schools, otsl payments -during the year ‘ pil for tu! fon based upon piled, $15.10; cost per pu, il for t total cost Pp F pupil, £23 scuHOL ACCOMMODATIONS. r this head: “I dee report any progr buildings during the «sufticient reason for the rnd inthe unprecedented ex. y improvements inter direc- hat peri Bat few changes in ations tor the schoola have been und necessity Fatbe: than ch vice prompt- res for first school district a portion of the hall In the Franklin buriding has been partitioned | Or. = ‘Lhe light, ventila are good; and the education of the 70 pupils, who not otherwise could have been admitted to ecLool, isot greater consequence than the gen- eral uses for which the hall was intended. In the second school district, the four schools located in a frame building on 9th street, be- tween P and Q streets, have been removed to the second story of Grace M. E. Church, on the corner of 9th and S streets northwest. The rooms now occuvied are decidedly better than those abandone:|, although not qaite 0 conven- iently situated. The buildings on Jadiciary Square have been removed, to make way for the improvements of that public reservation, the four schowis located in them were forced to find aarters elsewhere. Two of them are now inthe Metzero:t building, on Pennsylvania avenue, between Sth and 10th streets northwest, and two are in the second story of a batiding on Penn- sylvania avenue, between 6th and 7th streets northwest. These schools should be allowed to remain in their present locations only until mo:e suitable rooms can be obtained. A room has. bern rented in the Congregational Charch, on the corner of 10th and G street northwest, for an additional school in this district. In the third school district the very incon- venient rooms in the second story of a dwelling- house on Maryland avenue ween Ist andid streets s uthwest, have beeh given up, and the school thatoceapied them has been removed to the busement of New Jerasalem Charch, on North C.pitol street. between B and O streets, ‘The la't r place tsa mach better location for the school; and the room, having been retitted recently, is now well adapted to the purpos>. ‘The old Frick batlding on the corner of Sth and B street: northeast has been abandened, and that have heretofore occupied moved toa new frame building on A street, between 7th anf Sth streets north- east the reqnest of the trastees. the build- sted tor this purpose by Councilman m whom it is rented In the fourth school distri required. The rooms in the apart for pupi the now crowced with pupils, w is now occapted by an additional school. , and heating of this room n> changes were etterson building, west grade, are by anuther yaar one or two additional rooms will be needed. To meet this exigency a small primary school building sb provided in the location that 1 the younger pupils residing rertheastern part of this district. In the same ection he says: “ The effi- is now seriously impaire of school accommodations vald be devised at once to sup Three large bu m+ each, on: on Capito! Hill, one in the vicinity ef Jaieiary Square, 1 one in the western part of the city, and two Her buildings of rooms each, are all gres'ly needed to white children of the city who now seek an edu- cation in the public sehoois. “The demand for a building in the vicinity ply this great with ten or twe of Judiciary Square, for the girls of the second | school district, is by far the most pressing. I stated the claims of this district in my last re- port, and urged the necessity for immediate ac- tion on the part of the Legislative Assembly. ‘The Governor called attention to the sabject in his annual message; but I regret to state tha not the slightest effort was made by oar legista- tors to give the people of this central portion of our city asuttable school building. It will be Seen from the foregoing table tha: the second shool distriet, comprising the old third and fourth wards of the city, although far exceeding any other school district in population and in the amvuut of schooi taxes paid annually, has school property amounting to only $35,700. In this district six or elght hundred gicls, consti- tuting some of our best schools, receive their instruction in such tenements as the trustees are able to rent from time fo time in a densely pop- ulated pertion of the city. Tue neceasities and the claims of this section of the city should be recognized, and a good school balding should be erected here ‘hout farther delay. A table for 1 shows the whole namber of pupils enrolied; the average number enrolled; the average number in daily attendance in each oi the grades established by law; the number ot rej teachers, maie and female,employed, | ard the average number of pupils assigned to each teacher. Comparing this with the cor- Tespouding tab! n in the last report t following incre: In the whole num der of pupils enrol 1; in the average num: ber of pu; ils enrolled, 156; and in the averag da e and three- hondredth fe School popu- lation, or 8 & iis, were enrolled in the pab- Ne schools. The average namber of pupils arsigned to each teacher was 52, the same as for the previous year. ‘The increase in attendance thus far during the present year is without a paraliel. There 7, »tis enrolled in all the schools Sep- ou 7,915 September 30, 1873, an increase o 92 pupils. Additional «chool-rooms to accommodate there pupils could not be ob- tained, and the board did not have rands to jus- tify an increase of the numberof teachers. Onty one teacher was added to the corps, and the school-rooms were filled to their utmost capaci- ty, se that the average number of pupils for each teacher was nearly 6). In two instances half-day schools have been organized. These get ools belong to the lowest grade. One classcf Pupils hasa session in the forenoon from 9 10 12 v’elock, and Another in the afternoon from 1 to 3 o'clock, botR classcs ee by the S me teacher. Sufficient time has not yetelapsd to warrant the expression of an opinion upoi the merits of the half-time sci which we have been compelled to try; but the experiment isnot new. Dr. Edwin Chadwick, a distinguisl.- ed educat‘onist of London, has spoken and writ- ‘+n quite extensively upon the subject, and be- leves that the true solution of the problem of educating the poorer classes in large cities fan be succesefally solved in no other way. ‘The pian hes been tried with success in London and other European cities. These half-time Schools in the cases referred to were established specially for the benefit of the class of children whom poverty compelled to work at least one- half of each day in order to procure subsistence. ‘The system has had something of a trial in this country, bat with a different class of children ry very many of the school buildings did doubie auty mi | the past ir; and ntendent Pickard recent report mak. the follow: stateme! Ia the mvjority of ‘th it-day system has not at all inter- fered with the SS of pupils. This is spe- care of their children dar- are out of school.” CLASSIFICATION OF PUPILS. ‘The division of our elementary course of in- struction into eight distinet the work of cor leted. Fw ™ in one , has added @ 403. Number of school buildings owned, 14. | Namber of school rooms owned, 96; number of | where the ents find | last one additional school was organised, mak. ing « total of 134. Altbough the law for only cight teschers of the Swe, or termediate grade, it was necessary the number, a* 768 pupils were found for promotion ot admission to this iditional classes, three of them maki oo's, were therefore formed; and teachers | appoir ted to fill Cao in the secondary grades, | and receiving only the lower salaries allowed by | law to lower grades, were assi to these | sctools. If the trustees had the power to fix the salaries ef teachers, as they should have, this | unjust dixcramination in the salaries of equally meritorious teachers employed in the same grade, and performing precisely similar duties, would not be le. Of the 134 schools, 102 com- menced the year with only one class, or pupils | of a single grade, and 32 had two classes. TRACHEKS. During the the number of chan; soithe corpe of Ceachers was greater than usual, Thoxe may be classified as follows: Kesigned, nm tired. 4; total, 21. The commit- tee on tea cher+ held foar examinations, at which 121 tes for appointment or promotion presented themselves. Certificates were issued to those who successfully, as follows: Primary, 36; secondary, 18; intermediate, 5; grammar, 0; total, 69. Upon my recommenda- tion, the increase of salary authorized by law to it schools be paid to teachers of Primary who have furnished satlatactory proof of suc- ces+fal experience, was granted by the board to the following teachers; Mi-s Frances E. Julien Mise Maggie Walsh, Migs Martha E. Armistead Mise Ellen E. Haliday, Miss Laura M. Bland, and Miss Margaret E. A. Sheck. ‘The new course of study advanced the limit | in some of the studies and introduce? new ele ments, which imposed additional Inbor upon the teachers. fhe statement that they met all of its requirements in the most satisfac. tory manner is due tothem. The year’s work was the best that our schools have ever done | The general desire for professional improve ment was most commendable. During the year tive ses-ions of the Teachers’ Lostitute were held. ‘Two of these sessions were taken up with general instructions relating to the new course of study. The discussion of the following sub jects occupied the other sessions: —« Teaching Language,” by the Hon. B. G. Northrop; “Drawing,? by Miss Susan E. Fuller; and “Teaching Physics in Public Schools,” by Prof. ©. L. Hotze. “The teachers also attended a | se of six lectures on “Light,” given at Lin- | | Hall, by Prof. Jotun Tyndall, of London, | | the tickets for their use having been purchasud by the board. The usual normal class in pea- mansbip was attended by thirty-six teachers. Ima ediately following Miss Fuller's lecture fore the Teachers’ Institate, twenty-six tear ers formed themselves into a class in drawing | under her tuit'on, and they received a course of twenty lessons. A table exbibits some interesting facts con- corning the place of education ani length of service, reported by the teachers in September last. At the time the table was prepared there were 134 regular and 8 special teachers and 1 normal schoul teacher, making a totai of 143 | teachers. Of this number 7 were males, and 136 were females, 97 were educated in the pub- lic schools of Wa-hington, and only 7 were edu- cated in normal schools; i3 had not taught be- fore, and the average period of service for each teacher was 6.2 years. NORMAL SCHOOL. For several yeurs past the trustees of the pub- | lle schools have appreciated to some extent the value of a professional education for teachers. | | From time to time a number of graduates from | the normal and training schools of New Eng- | land have been appointed teachers in our | schools, aud they have given practical evidence | of the worth of such an education. Tne sub- | ject has frequently been discussed, and on more than one occasion the board has asked for av- thority to e-tablish a normal school as a part of our system. This request was granted by an | act of the Legislative A-sembly, approved June 25. 1873, which wil be found in’ fuli in the ap yendix; and the trustees were fully authorized to e-tablich @ normal schoo! for the purpase of specially preparing for their work young ladies educated in our own schools, and desiring to become teachers in the same. The duty of or- ganizing this school was intrusted to a special cowmittee of the board, consisting of Trustees Harris, Kandolph, Freuch, Champlin and the superintendent; and on the ist of September last the school was opened, with twenty pupils, in charge of Miss Lucilla E. Smith, a graduate of the state norma! school at Farmington, M>., nd a teacher of several years’ successtul expe- nee in our own city and elsewhere. The ners in public schoc | city now consitute nivety-five per cent of the | entire corps; and the demand for for mul young |i seventen years of age, ar ufficient to mitted an: year; and it is expressly pro zit the graduates of this school preference in all cases when appointments of teachers for the public schools are to be made.” ‘The average number of new teachers required | annually daring the past three vear has been | from fifteen te twenty, and if the normal school | 19 liberally supported, and conducted with | efficiency, it will, without donbt, supply a suf- ficient number of well-qualified teachers to meet the future demands of our schools. ADMINISTRATION OF THE SYSTEM. From the year 1545, down to 1569, the entire | mai ment and supervision of the public | schools were confided to # board of twelve trus- tees, who received no compensation for their | services. At the last named date, the office of | Superintendent was created, and it was made | the duty of this officer to exercise a yeneru! su- pervision over all the schools,and to see that the rules and regulations of the board were car- ried out. In 1571, shortly after the new District | government went into operation, the numberof | trustees was increased to twenty. But what- ever number ot members may hereafter consti- tute the board, we have now reached a point in the progress of our system when certain duties that have hitherto peen performed by the trus- tees should be transferred to officers appointed for their special fitness tor the work, and paid for their services. With $,000 pupils on our rolls, it should not be expected that trustees, Poahicg : the public gratuitously, will give the time daily required to attend to the many de- tails of school business, such as admitting and transferring pupils, attending to cases of dis- cipline referred by teachers, furnishing in de- tall the necessary supplies, examining or super- intending the examination of schools; in short, to the constant daily supervision required by 134 different schools or classes scattered over a wide extent of territory. Many of these duties in other cities are performed a principal teach- ers, and it is no longer possible to have them attended to here, as the best interests of the | schools require, unless a similar plan is adopted. | This work demands not only a large amount of | Ume, but also professional skill and experience. | The Superintendent says: ‘(As the first step | towards oreneng 4 this serious defect in our present system, J think that an assistant should be given to the principal of the mate grammar | school, in each of the four school districts, and that the principals should be required to teach | not more than two or three hours each day, and to devote the remaining time of the school ses- | sions to the performance of the duties mentioned | above. An act of the city councils, approved | Januar 1870, authorized the appointment of the assistants; but the salary fixed—ss00 per | annum—will not pay for the services of teachers competent te fill the positions. In fact, the sal- aries of the principals as well as the assistants —— to be iners 5 he cost of the supplies, such as books, pens, ink, stationery, and house-furnishing articles, for the schools, now amounts to several thou- sand dollars each these articles should all be receiv me central office, and | thence be distributed to the schools. They are usually furnished by contract, and in the wa; | suggested they can be inspected properly, and | such (an account of the articles received and distributed can be kept as will tend to secure due economy tn their use. I think, also, that an arrangement might be made advantageously by which a mechanic of some versatility of skiil could be regularly employed by the board to at- tend to all repairs and improvements required for the school-rooms and build of the city. The calls for services of the kind alluded to are quite constant throughout the year, and they would be attended to with greater promptness and less expense by one man employed specially | for the purpese. The items found ina table next given relate to supervision and government of the schools. The whole number ot cases of tardiness was 5,113, making twenty-two bundredths of one [and cent. Th’s is 1,764 cases less than the num- r for last year. Each month had an average of 3,455 pupils present every session, and 724 pupis were not Bea absent during the entire year. The number suspended was 525, which is | 2:6 eee than the number for the previous year; | and the number diemissed was 173, which is 12d | than num a. year. ‘The number of cases of corporal punishin was 429, which is 62 more than the i 2 < S i g H Bs Hf it Ee i SoS to pursue the studies of the pied portion of the ing, which would be v: the pui pose. The expense would thus be limited to far- nishing the room and providing a salary for the teacher. This, it is true, would ybe) but a be- ginning; but the werk once pegua, will — po ace ay demands ot eat DRAWING. Drawing bas bad a place on our of studies since 1868, and pupils ip our schools have been chase drat cards | myn ty. in most others; for here the various government de its and bureaus, as well as city indus- tries, constantly demand the services of a very large number of persons trained and skilled in this art. It was evident, too, that the want of success heretofore must be attributed to the failure to furnish teachers qualified to instruct in this branch, rather than toa lack of ability to learn on the part of the pupils. ‘The first step tobe taken was to secure the services of s person competent to instract the teachers, and such aone was readily found in our own city—Mrs. Susan E. Faller, a lady who was educated in the New Yor hool of Design for Women, and has been favorably kaown In this community during the past four years as teacher of « private art school. Mrs. Faller w: ppointed teacher of drawing in the yub schools, and upon her suggestion a scheme for the study during the current year was adopted. The following are the prominent points in the plan: First. All the regular teachers are to ‘aallfy themselves to teach elementary draw- ing. Second. All the young ladies in the nor- mo! school, from which we hope that most of our teachers to be appointed in future will be taken, are to receive a thorough course of in- struction from the special teacher of drawing. ‘Third. A class of ced bo; the time bogs d have received elementary instrac- tion from their regular teachers, have given evidence of marked ability to pursue the art with success, are to receive an advanced course of one or two years’ instruction from the special teacher of drawing. VOCAL MUSIC. ‘No material change in the teach! music was made during the past the re- sponsibility and the work havin, divided equally between Professors Daniel and McFar- land. At the commencement of the present year, Prof, McFarland ee his position as teacher of music, and the board availed itself of the opportunity to revise and greatly im- bc ‘this de: ment of instruction. Prof. Yaniel was made the sole responsible head, and two assistants, Mrs. Annie Jane King and Miss Harriet Elizabeth Hayenner, were appointed to aid him in teaching. GERMAN LANGUAGE. The report of the committee on German lan- guage is found in the appendix, and from this we learn that the attendance in the classes in this study was less than that for the preceding year. The whole number of pupils in all the Classes for 1871-'72 was 402, and for 1872-75 was 253. ‘The progress made was not satisfactory to the committee, for which certain reasons have been assigned. The study of the German lan- guage in our schools was commenced under a jaw which authorized bat did not direct its in- troduction. The experiment has been tried, unfortunately, I think, when we have had no high school in which the study conld be carried on until pupils gained a knowledge of the lan- nage that would be of some practical use. he pursuit of the study has been voluntary on the part of pupils from the first, and the tr tees, feeling that the demand for it did not jus- tify any interference with the programm? of regular studies, have not allowed the recitations to occupy any part of the time fixed for the regular sessions of the schools. . If we look into the history of the study of the German language in the public schools of this country, we shall find that the percentage of German population in the various cities where it has formed part of the course has had much to do with the extent and success of the stad; From an abstract of the United States census, 1870, prepared in tabular form, it is found that the Germans constituted the following part of the entire popniation of the cities named: « Cincinnati, of St. Louis, 184 per cent.; per cent.; while in Washington we fin per cent. of Ger- man popniation. Another reason for the dissatisfaction with the teaching of the German language, is to be found in the fact that the law authorized the payment of $1,200 per annum to each special teacher of the langnage, and this amount was paid for their services, althongh the board could employ them only 10 hours per week each, while other teachers of equal merit were receiving a much less rate of compensation. For these reasons the members of the board have thus far during this year refused to ap- point special teachers of the German language, and have been unable to agree upon any satis- factory arrangement for a continuance of the study. I am not disposed to consider the action of the board as a final disposition of the sub. ject, for there is in our schools a certain de- mand for this study; and I am contident that some practicable plan will yet be found for placing the German language in its proper po- sition among the studies for our public schools. EXAMINATIONS AND PRIZES The snnual oral examinations commenced June 3,and ended June 20. In all, 191 exam- inations were held between May 2 and June 20. ‘The labor andt:me required in this work were avery heavy tax upon the trustees; and, in order to afford some relief at the end of the pres- ent year the superintendent makes the sensible suggestion that the four male grammar schools be finally examined and closed on the last of May, and that the principals of these schools be employed to assist in conducting the other examinations. The report of the committee on examinations and prizes, found in the appendix, gives a fall account of the examinations for the award of the special prizes offered by the board. The two prizes which stand highest on the list, the College scholarships, were both carried off by the male grammar school of the third district. The Kendall scholarship, a six years’ course in the Columbian University, was awarded to Master Edwin L. Scott, whose percentage at the examination was Si; and the King scholar- ship, a four years’ course in Dickinson College, was awarded to Master Walter M. McFarland, whose percentage was 81.2 The average per- pecan go attained by the foar boys from the schoo! named was 72.9; and the four boys trom the male grammar school of the second district received precisely the same mark,in this re- spect being equal. At the request of the teachers of the gram- mar schools, the board has given permission, in these schools, during the present year, to sub- stitute monthly written examinations in place of the daily record of recitations heretofore kept. PY RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES. From table 20, accompanying this report, it will be seen that during the past fiscal year the entire receipts from the school tax of 33 cents on each $100 of valuation were $172,990.35; and the amount received from United ites fines was only $102.28; making @ total of $173,053 03. be | an act of Congress, approved June 25, 1364 all moneys accruing from fines, penalties, and forfeitures, for violations of the laws of the United States within the District of Colambia, were to be paid over for the sup of the pub- lic schools; but in the act estabilishi lice court the greater of this revenue was appro) ited to pay the expenses of the court, 80 it the amount now received from this source is hardly worth mentioning. The total Coe Sorgen on account of the public schools during the year amounted to 837.76. The payments were therefore $86,784.73 in excess of the receipts; and of the amount paid out $09,472.50 was expended for permanent improve- ments. The payments during the year,as stated above, included debts remaining unpaid from the previous year, and did not include all the current expenses. From table 15 we find that the total ordinary expenses of the white schools for the year were $160,568.29. The colored schools were entitied of vocal 0, only Fro table 1b we also learn that the cost of 2 9! educatin; of the ay en- each rolled tu ‘fs tty, was HI a {3 #8 who, during | ing the po- | | | | P rigid economy, snd governed themscives ac- PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT Or COLUM- Ria. The four independent or lic in the District of Columbia are sti!l con- tinued. The white schools of Washi are managed by « board of twenty tr: , the Governor of the District being ex officio presi- dent of the same; the white schools of George- town, by a board of five trustees; the colored sebools of Washington the constituting the four boards, a nine in all, and the superintendents, secretaries and treasurers. The following is a summary of the general etatistics of all the public schools in the District ot Columbia: ‘ Entire ean. 8. yer inkon Wash- ington, 109,199; gotown, unty, lation, ears, inclusive, pop nee years, Inclusiv (U. 8. census, 1870,) Washington, 25,935; town, 2,883; signs aang see Whole number of pupils e1 led in the pub- lic schools, 1572-'T3, Washington, 13,769; George- town, 1,184; County, 1,817—fotal, a Average number of pupils in private schools, awd of U. 8. Commissioner of Education, S72,) 6,759. Whole number of seats provided for pupils in the public schools, 1872-'73, Washington, 11,910; Georgetown, 1,173; County, 1,412—total, 14 49% Whole number of teachers in ive public sebools, 1572-'73, Washington, 220; Georgetown, 20; County, 31—total, 271. Valuation of taxable property, 1872-"73, $72,900,000; Georgetown, $6,300,000; total, 887,300,000. cent ,) 1872-73, Washington, County, .< hool tax,’ &-. County, $26,485.91—total, $220,514.1 Total payments for public school purposes, 187 ‘Washington, $259.4)7.78; Georgeto#n, 3 Count y j$24,670 23—total, $29 231.42. Value of public school property. 18 ington, $9 teorgetown, $41,523; $24,000—total, $1,105,407. The foregoing statements show progress dur- ing the past year in the following resnecta: In- crease in the value of school property, ; in the number of seats provided for pupils, 459; in the number of teachers employed, 8; in the whole number of pupils enrolled, 1,215. The experience of another year has strength- ened the opinion expressed {n my last report, that a Board of Education for the District of Columbia should be created; that it should have corporate powers; the custody of all the school property and funds, and authority to ap- point its own officers, to determine within pre- scribed limits the rate of schoo! tax to be levied, to purchase sites and erect schoel buildings, to establish new schools, to fix the salaries and de- cide upon the number and qualifications of teachers to be employed; and thus it should bave general jurisdiction over all the public schools of the District. Seven members would be a sufficient number to constitute this board, and they should be so selected as to fairly bey & resent the interests ef all the public schools in the District. To this board should be trans- ferred the powers relating to schools that ai now vested in the logisiative department of the District government, and such powers now ex. ercised by the trustees as may be necessary to secure uniform and efficient administration of the several systems; but it would not be advis- able. for atime at least, to have it entirely su- persede the present organizations. When the District governed by three cor- porations, the legislative body of each held weekly meetings; and the trustees of the schools, at any time, could make known their wants to these bodies. Now the Legislative Assembly of the District holds but one short continuous ses- tion each year; and experience has taught us that it is impossible to get for the schools that consideration which their importance demands. During the intervals between these sessions, contingertcies may arise that will require action for which there is no authority of law. In fact, the trustees have already been greatly embar- rassed by the state of things, and in a few in- stances important interests of the schools have required them to assume the responsibility of acting without any legal warrant. The powers of the several existing boards might be some- what enlarged, so as to remedy some of the evils alinded to; but such @ measure would tend to- ward a wider separation rather than a closer union of the systems; and their complete unity is che end toward which our efforts should be directed. RECOMMENDATIONS. J have to submit for your special consideration the following recommendations, which require additional legislation First. That provision be made, at the earliest practicable moment, for the purchase of a site, nd the erection of a suitable school building, in the second school district, to accommodate the six or eight hundred girls who are now oc- enpying rented rooms. Secoud. That a boys’ high school be estab- lished, and a principal teacher be employed at a salary of $2,500 per annum. Third. That a special teacher of drawing be appointed, at a salary not exceeding $1,200 per annum. Fourth. That authority be obtained to estab- lish sixteen additional intermediate schools. Fitth. That the salary of each principal of a male grammar school fixed at $1,800, with an anoual increase of $100, until it reaches a maximum of $2,000; and the salary of each as- nt in said schoo! be fixed at $i,2 ith an annual increase of $100, until it reaches a max- imanm of $1 4%. Sixth. That the “Fund to endow the Public Schools,” now amounting to about $50,090, be used to purchase a site and commence the erec- tior building fer a high school. Seventh. That a vigorous effort be made to induce Congress, during its present session, to give some aid, either by a donation of public lands or money, to the public schools of the Dis- trict of Columbia. CONCLUSION. The year that has passed since the date of my last annual report has not filled the full meas ure of our expectations. Nevertheless it has made its marks of progress in the history of the schools. More than a thousand pupils have been added to the whole number en- rolled, @ new and better course of study has bad @ successful trial, the grading of the schools has been improved as far as their crowded condition would permit, the methods of teaching drawing and vocal nrusic have been revired and improved, so that these stadies will receive due attention in future; a normal school jfor the professional education of teach- ers for our own schools has been establiched, and the advance made by the public schools of Washington has been recognized at the Vienna iversal Exposition by the award of a ‘Medi tor Progress.” The want of suflicient means must be our apology for not accomplishing more. This state- ment does notimply neglect of duty on the part of the tax-payers, or of the government of the District. The tax on each $100 of valuation, during the past year for the support of schools in the cities named, was as followe: Bos- ton, 18.3 cents; Chicago, 20.4 cents; Baltimore, &% cents, In Washington, during the first two years of the present government, commencing july 1, 1871, and ending June 30, 1873, the schoo! tax on each $100 of valuation averaged 46.5 cents perannum. During the period named the District government hag expended for the pubs lic schools of the city all the revenue derived from this tax, and ® sum over and above this amounting to $193,826.73. Since 1863 the city of Washington has built up an excelient 5} am of public schools for colored children, and there are at this time over 4,000 pupils on their rolls. Besides paying the current expenses of these schools, {t has provided for their permanent use sites and school buildin, ited at $250,000. During the same RS peo —— property for the beh Tmanent use of its public —_ Surely this is a fair record for the last ec; compi other hand, our school population has been greatly increased from two sources, the sudden and large influx of colored people during and in consequence of the war, and the very large number of persons drawn hither by the United States government, whose residence here is not al pee of @ permanent character. With the vi —— the anomalous condition of our city, the superintendent has compiled from the last United States census a table giving a classified statement of the population and - pation of the twenty cities. In the list of cities prescribed in this table, ranked rashi to their population, W: pe ton stands the twelfth. Ainost one-third, 32.46 cent., of is colored; a muc! Renae mess : find the list. Industries ;” and tran oe rene ae city. This cannot be in due proportion, Hf a i 5 5 and other expenses of living, ard that in this way they are indirectly tax Payers. I think, however, that what the city bow requires is a larger direct case of a wealthy citizen of Ne Chi , extensi: or , and bi The public sebools of the city in which thee: ployer is a private citizen have a decided vantage over ours, for there the em; y Lap pl ene or valued at, perhaps, ten or twen! ious or gouare which is apptien ieee port of for the children of those by whose labors he has been enabled to accumulate his wealth. Here the employer, the gorern- ment of the United States, numbers his em- Es Dy many thousands, but pays ne taxes ‘the support of schools. Upon the close of the late warthe government aided extensively in tnitiating the elementary education of the colored i a tes and cities. where they were not ous as they were in this city; but, so far as lam aware, not a dollar was ever expended here for % ions of public lands to aid in establishing and sustain. ing common schools in all the territories as they became states. The District of Columb permanent seat of the government, ov Congreas may exercise exclusive legis all cases whatsoever, bas had no share in the distribution of chese educational benefactions I tee! confident, however, that Congress will yet do justice to the pnblic schools of this Dis 1 give them the aid to which they are Tue Deata or Prov. AGASSi7—Post Mortem Ezamination.—Prot. Agassiz’s short illness was, from a medical point of view, involved in much obscurity. Dr. Brown-Sequard, who has made diseases of the nerves and brains a specialty, and who observed every phase of Agassiz’s case from the beginning, declared himself con- siderably puzzied. Dr. Wyman, one of the most skiliftl physicians in the country, was also untiring in his presence and observation, and agree with Dr. Brown-Sequard as to the great difiiculty and obscurity of the case. Under these circumstances Prof. Agassiz’s friends readil consented to ® post mortem examination, ai took measures to make it as thorough as possible. Seven of the most eminent physicians of Cam- bridge and Boston were summoned to the au- topsy, namely: Dr. John Jackson, Dr. Calvin Ellis, Dr. K. H. Fitz, Dr. James Putnam, Dr. Jeffries Wyman of Harvard —— Dr. Mor- rill Wyman, who attended Agassiz in hisiilness, and Dr. Weber. Dr. Brown-Sequard was un- fortunately obliged to leave tor New York. The examination was held Tuesday, and lasted upwards of four hours. Careful examination was made of the base of the brain, and the physicians, though yet unprepared to give a deiinite opinion, seem inclined to regard this as the principal seat of the disease. After con- cluding their examination Tuesday, the several physicians divided their labors and made ar- rangements to continue their investigation separately or conjotntly as the case may require. Sinccrar Case or Porsontnc—A few days ago, while the wife of Mr. ©. Hanson Love was provi 9 with green “zephyr,” or worsted, she pricked one of her fingers with a needle. She paid no attention to it, considering it a trivial affair. The finger and hand became painful, ‘nflamed, and very much swollen, and a line of vivid red’ was discovered extending up the arm to the shoulder. A physician was called in, and the proper remedies applied, and Mrs. Love is now recovering. The doctor states that poison was received in the finger from the matter used in dying the worsted. Many fabrics now worn contain rank poison in the coloring matter, and should either be discarded entirely, or handed with the greatest care.— Pitisburg Commercial. 4 ‘RER DIVORCE CASE this is, in Fairfield, Conn. The parties had been married 20 years when the old lady discovered that she and her husband were “incompatible,” and so she com- menced proceedings fora liyorce. Then it was that her distracted and deeperate husband gave £3 dollars not to go on with the action. What cid the cruel woman do but use this very money to go on with the action still more vigorous! so that she obtained a decree? Then, wi feminine inconsistency, sha went back to live with the ex-husband, though in doabt whether it was right todo so. If she has any money left, her lawyer can soon satisfy or dissatisfy her mind upon that delicate point? ATTEMPT TO ASSARSINATE A REPORTER.— Col. Wm. ‘Tyrell, of Covington, the Newport reporter of the Cincinnati Commercial, has been assaulted by a young man named Francis, and cut with @ bowle knife, laying his abdomen open. The attack was sudden amd without warning. Young Franeis is ason of Esquire A. J *, of Covington, whom Col. Tyrell had n charging in the Commercial with failing to turn over to the treasury certain moneys re- quired by law. ‘Tyrell’s woundsare pronounced cecidedly dangerous, though his recovery is possible. .-The Alabama senate has unseated Hatch, senator for Hale county, elected last spring to fille hip ge It seems that Hatch was post- yoaster at the county seat of Hale county. Moneys were missed from the mails, and Hatch made affidavit accusing Sanbo his clerk. After Sanborn had been in jail several months, investigation pressed Hatch so close that he wrote a confession of his own guilt, which was ublished, and agreed with special Agent etherbridge to pay up. A WHore Famity Mvrperzp.—A family named Moore, consisting of a husband, wife and child, passed through Little ‘Rock, Ark., on Thursday last, en route for Texas. When about seven miles out from that place coming to a stream which was swollen, the: were advised to deviate from the main road a: make a crossing at a point some distance ahead, which is an unfrequented place. They reached the point indicated, where the entire family was murdered and their bodies thrown into the stream. Tae Cutcaco Deratcation.—The amount of D. A. Gage’s deficit as Treasurer of the city ot Chicago is $357,763. The bond of the ex- treasurer is for €1,000,000, and signed by seven or eight, reported wealthy citizens. Gage has personal property, all of which he promises to tur detalcation. A BEAVER couNTY, threatens to bring suit against a ung farmer who persists in sitting up with his daughter | Sunday nights till 4o’clock in the mornin. The stern parent claims, firstiy, that the following day being wash-day, his ga! ain’t of no account; secondly, that if they could only use two chairs the one they do use wouldn't cost so much for repairs, A WELL-DRESSED MAW was found insensible | recently through drink, in Mercer street, New York, and gent to Bellevue hospital, on finding at the poliee station, that he could not be re- vived. Letters in his pocket were addressed to C. Stewart Patterson, Tecumseh, roved to be his name. He died yesterday. His father estimated his property at €60,000. A MARRIED wom. whose will has been proved in England gave all her estate to Mr. van Haurigh, her husband; directed her clothes to be sold to pay her funeral expenses, and add- ed: “It poe ey earnest bye that end — marry ere long a nice, pretty housewite, ‘and, above all, to of good temper. Prxcociovs.—A Miss Annie Shea, of 16, has sued one John Murphy for breach of promise. Dami are laid at $10,000, and Murphy is 000 bail. juaintance has ex- thought, concluded to s7-Paris cannibals eat abont 500 jackasses per annum. of the green | over to the city, thought to exceed $500,000 | invatue. ‘The city will not probably lose by the | Pennsylvania, man | BALTIMORE & POTOMAC RaTLBOaD. Derosconnsn 6rx anv B Sraeen BW. After December 7th , 1873, tra!®s will ran as follows: | TRAINS ARRIVE a? ASHING TON. called oe e Qnd residences to al! points M. and West. Through tickets to Oincianat!, Colum- bus, Indianapolis, Louisvilie, 8. Louis, New Or. leaps, Ohicago, Gwaba, San Franciscc, ad all polnts north, northwest. weet, and southwee Es youna: DUBABRY, General Sap" Gen’ Past’> Agent. ne eo ALEXANDRIA & WASHINGTON KR AND ALEXANDEIA & FREDERICKSBURG BR. Corwen oy B and SIXTH STREE Local trains leave for Alew 7, 8, 9° 10, a.m. 3,4,°3. 6, 7.9 m; 9 a.’m.'and 7 p. in. daily, ail other trains dally except Sunday. coal Traing from Alexandria arrive as foMows:— $33, it-3a8 1 33,7733 p.m’ Ths from Alexaniria daily trains daily exoept Sunday. Trains marked thus conacct with trains on Washington and Obio WK. oop Suedar, GREAT SOUTHERN EXPRESS, via Richmond, leayre Washington 11:33 p.m. daily except Sand soU RECORD tickets to all points Bouth wad oath for | | | | je at Offices corner 13th strert and Pennaylva- | nus and corner 6:b street and Pennsylvania | avenne, wi can loave orders for bag. Free, tj be checked At all’ hotels” and residences rough to destination. E. 8S. YOUNG, Gen’l Passenger Agent. jy2i-tf [873pexxssiVaxia RKovTeEL873 THR NORTHWEST, H, AND SOUTHWEST. ‘rains leave as follows: Washington... 4:48 Baltimore. m. 9:38 ‘ THE GREAT DOUBLE TRACK ROUTE, with elegant Scenery, Palace State-room Day'and Night Care, with monders improvements. aire ) hundred miles eared te Western and Central ork The 11:35 @, m. daily, except Sanday, northwest; 3:60 p.m. except Sunday incinuati aud west, ané 9:31 pm. daily, west rcogh frat WaT SO" BOR ALO HIVAG® and ST. LOUIS without o! , Tickets by this route can be procared at offices j corner of 13th street aud Penusylva: euus, and corner of 6th street and Pennsylvanisevenue, under | co oe. where reiist ‘aformation will be fe ge og tecure 0 for , oe EE eG General Passenger Aj “ malré-ly | : Baltimore. Ma. ALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD. x thi c On and after SUNDAY, November 2, 1873, t leave WASHINGTON CITY as follows, see ‘imore and W Itimore and Cin, Exp., via Metropolitan daily Boston, Baltimore and Way Points. Balto. Fast Exp., without sto Baltimore and Way Pointe_...... New York and Philadel obia Ex: Baltimore Express, without stops. Baltimore and Way’ Points. Baltimere and Way Points XPT OR.. Railroad, Sue wuvess ni pr’ PULLMAN PARLOR CABS for Baltimore, at and A. M., and 3:30 and 9:49 P.M. SUNPAY TRAINS. ‘imore and Way Pointe—, Ata aM end i on 4 :30 PM on TRAINS LEAY! A} nO = LerTEO | Green saeresns,., AIN LINE. WN NCHESTER VIA METHOPOLIT, BRANCH. = ott’ A. dail VALLEY OF VIRGINIA VIA ar at “ me ERSPOLEEAR beat ving at noe sihouburg at 4 Pi. and ‘early the same |. .FOR ELLICOTT’S MILLS. At6:45 A.M, aud 3:30 and 3:45 P,M., excopt Sunday. ITTSBU! ia METROPOLITAN rou" RNELUSTILG ROUTE. mesg AND 60! aci'ge Lurough etehoet chan SoU OLLMAN PAL Throuen'to Ci Threngh to Ci Pittsburgh at 7:3 At 6:45 A. M. and day atiP. Mw Boc! tickets ‘West can be had at the Washington Station Ticket Office at al! hours of the da , at the Company's Office, 455 Pennsyive- at og Avenve | there arrange 5 called for’ and checked St their residence, taken car, rh Lis 'SHABP, Master of Transportation, ‘COLE, General Ticket Agent. - 8. KOONTZ, Gen'l ‘ast PEs YLVANIA AIR LINE TO Nee ma. ILADTEW YORK, 4ND ALL IN TRE b POINTS IN TRE NEW ENGLAND THROUGH BETWEEN WASHINGTON | LM. nov3 GEO ow ITHOUT CHANGE OF CARs, u it Itne is yuipment on this line ts new and of the mo PULLMAN PARLOR CARS ON DAY TRAIN PULLMAN PALACE SLEBPING CAKS |“ MAN PATE TRAINS, & CARS ON | On ber 13. { THREE TRAINS DAILY (EXCEEY SUNDAY) | il be yun over Pennsylvania, Air Line, leaving | Sud arriving at the depot of the Baltimore a railroad, northeast corner of 6th and B ‘as follows : | ABE LT leave Washington 8:03 a, m. daily, Leave Baitiniore at 9:15 a, m. daily, except Sun- “eave Weat Philadelphia at 12:52 p. m. daily, earare at How York st 4:25 p.m. daily, except MOND EXPRESS, leave Washington at Neovo Baltimore st 5°39 p.m daily, except Sun- “Zéave West Philadelphia at 6:05 p,m. dally, ox- °‘Krrive at Hew York at 10:10 p. m. daily, except DiGHT EXPRESS, leave Washington at 9:05 i CAPITAL AND SUBPLUS, 9956.514 96, INSURES AGAINST LOSS BY PIRE BUILDINGS, HOUSKHOLD FURNITURE, AND MEKCHANDISE GENERALLY. FF. B. — 4. $500,008. LOSSES PROMPTLY PAID. OMice, 6E5 18th street, opposite Treasury ment. Also. AGENT CONTINENTAL LIFE INSUB- | ANCE COMPANY. _oct9-2m BW. BATES, Agent. ] 28URE YOUR PRO EuTY POOP UNGM PSR AN aoa” ns Heatbge. ny SN ARIRESS Rx Sobel ce: Boom Be. I, over Bauk of W: arwer, Aaa Wi Soy = . pets eo Reward (owmaker, St@eorgacenso Goward, Seottary. ' THE TRADES. 1012 Penne - ‘ nowy Mes Wotemehe wa FoR Pupiio am ieee GF . TENTS FOR SALE OB RENT, furnished for Balis and Parties. 6. N, Manetectarer, FOR PRIVATE RESIDENOBS, HOTELS, PUBLIO BULLDINGS, MANUFACTURED BY M. G, COPELAND, LOUISIANA AVENUB, GABP MEETING TENTS and FLAGS tor sate or rent. er pLcmsine AED GAS-FITTING. betautial manner, leave their orders WM. ROTHWELL. TUBTOR, CARPENTER, BUILDER, ND STEAMER LINES. marked thus" do eeugers. Barus ov Passack.—Cabin, $80, 9100, and 18 23 ci aon EE to tickets on ‘currency | from Liverpool and of lowest