Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-08-12
OLE pI-HI SINE10I &

The twepty-second annual report Of the
Beard of Trustees of Public Schools of the
CITY of Washington, preferred to by Us on Sat-
JCoay,l gives much valuable information as To
the history and statistics of our Public School
n2stem but even the gratifying exhibit made
therein. does not tell the he whole story OF the
progress OF popular education In this city
Tnat was best shown at the examinations OF
the schools, at the close Of the scholastic
year. To one who RENE m bers only the examt.
atoms of ten. or even five years ago, and who
attended those in June OF this year, the i'm.
proyements in the methods of tesching, in tho
modes of enforcing discipline, In the books, the
Iolms, the furniture, and i'll many
otheE respects, would appear won
oeTtul Ten years since there were.
- be sure, some good schools, and some
competent teachers, but 1t was just as it hap.
peled. There was some attempt at uniformity
III the books used, but every teacher pursued
the plan that he or she thought best; there was
gocc order in some schools, and an entire
absence of discipline IN others; the schools
were not graded; The teachers were poorly
9ho; the rooms were. as general thing, alto.
Sener unfit for school purposes: and the tu,-
lore was rough and dilapidated. and q,
as best was calculated for the torture of
tIe children, rather than their comfort
the seats being without backs, and the
Desks all OF the same height, and
s lie for shor and tall, for boys and girls
Tue torment endured by the little ones sub
lac.ed to these procustean arrangements was
GaEElble. In tact. the public schools OF that
cay though better than none, were totally un-
worthy Of the Capitol OF great country. We
have now system which, If not the best that
can be devised is an eXcelIen, foundation tor
further progress; the teachers and books ara
cl-eiully selected; and the furniture is better
'acuiated 10 promote the comfort OF he chill
creL than the OLD benches and desks, which
wee evidently devised by some Herod. for tae
80 IRE OF the little ones That these Internal
Daohnes killed some outright is probable,
that they deformed and made invalids of
c Lers by giving them round shoulders and
weak chests is certain, and that they were ,
cause of severe phys cial suffering to all is no
hess true. The Introduction of vocal music,
100. is feature Of the schools which ia wsrthv
O. notice
IN stating what has been Accomplished ws
n5ay be pardoned tor adding word as TO what
remains TO be done. We should not stop until
we have the best system and the best school
houses IN the country, if not in the world In
SfAad or suspendiag our efforts we should re.
Got ole them. Much has been done. but mora
remains. The WaIIach school building is one
or tae finest structures of the kind in the CONN.,
~ conn ininR, as II does, arc htectural beauty
my and economy in its construction In q
IaEe degree But one such building should
"a content us. We have other credita BILE schoo,
ICONS, bur we are renting many apartments
v LIch are damp. dark, cherries, un ventilated
arc unwholesome All such places are The
hct beds of1yphoid and other m Malignant feyers,
The Trustees cannot remedy this evil but the
corporation can and should. We wan.
nCv Normal School, and will soon need a
Etgh School, without which our system is in
complete. There are other suggestions which
occur 10 us in this connection but we reserve
fotthsr comment for some future occasion