Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-06-26

men;. But i am In favor Of progress; aud Of
reac hing as near % PERFECTION As possible; and
prove youreeIve., for me .sse Of improving
our ublic schools, and 20 devote yourselves TO
the legitimate work Of The school room; and
when md that You are successful In per
forming your professional work, you need not
fear hat shall be in favor Of change. But II
some Of you should not succeed at first in COM
ing up 70 my ideas Of perfection, or even 70
advise with you. and help you to improve and
perfect yourselves as much as possible.
Here allow me to say that have had an ac-
quaIntaL ee with large number OF teachers in
many OF our most favored cities, and am
happy to say that 1 believe the majority Of our
teachers in this city will compare favoraely
with those OF any city; and i believe that in
mCny respects our public schools have been
taught with more efficiency and SUI cess than
those of almost any other city. We have de-
fec's, which arise in part from the shortness
ton, and from our peculiar circumstances. But
our motto is and should be .'Ercelsior'' As we
have for the last twenty years been taking new
steps forward every year, 60 LET US now look
fer stIil greater progress.
One of the Steps Of progress, which nope
may be taken this year, and which l canno.
fail TO urge upon the ate alton Of onr nonored
Mayor and odt city fathers, is that of estao-
hshing, at the earliest possible period. a High
ana Normal School. We have, Al the present
time, a sufficient number OF young ladies and
young men WHO mus or ought To leave our
grammar schools; aud who have lett them
within year or Two past, 10 start such High
School at once. Very many OF these young
people. VINO nave made up their mi nds 10 pur-
sue higher course OF study, are oolig d 70 go
on, OF own and spend their scanty me
among strangers IN order 20 flt themselves FOR
81 ch places As Will make them more useful
citizeis among us. Then again. n large nun
Der are OBJ ced 10 break away from the delight
ful pursuit. of knowledge, a I'd plunge into tue
business OF life, unpreparsd or half fitted FOR
their rtsponsIbiltti's
think il Is au .stab shed fact, that the ag-
grrZa'e of wealth and physical prosperity OF
any city or community Is IN proportion 10 the
aggr gaze OF suowledce among the masses of
the people. Wealth increases as educatIo and
refinement increase; and it cannot b. success
fuliy GeniG q that the moral growth of a people
an0 the Aggregate OF real happiness are IN
creased in proportion to the Improvement OF
the huw,I mind end the increase Of knowI-
edge. As this growth becomes 4 part OF the
wealth and power of the people, 1t is the duty
of the people TO provide the schools which can
1uIn'sh this higher education. At present our
grammar schools. while they are doing a q Oble
and necessary work. are dong very little more
than 70 prepare the minds of our youth for the
successful pursuit OF knowledge They, on
leaving school. like half-trained apprentices At
a trade, are Obliged TO struggle along and COM
bat with difficulties for many years: when q
few years under a master workman would
have eDabled them to gain more knowl; dge
and power, with far greater pleasure to them
selves. But this is not the place, perhaps, to
sary, so far as our dstinguis he'd Mayor and
the most OF our city legislators are concerned
At any rate, we hope that they are prepared to
move forward in this work.
Some persons may object 10 this movement
Low because they think we are not provid
either with uitable buildings, or with teachers
this work usually consists In providing suit.
able buildings for High and Normal School,
i may be- pardoned for suggesting that the
noble structure, the Franklin Building, now
cor m afo I'm mi in rrab
accommodations as are needed without any
increased expense. The elaborateness and
expense OF this building are so great that the
city Will not be likely, a. pre- ent, to attempt
another such fer a Grammar School building:
and besides there would be Just cause OF com.
plant, II tins were 10 be the Grammar
School building of the lst District. while a
cheaper and Of course le7s pretentious building
We're TO be- built In the Second and Fourth Dis
trlcts, where they are now needed.
While the Franklin Building may not have
the most central location, il has all the neces-
sary show and commodiousness required for
the peoples city college. This builuIng should
be the place for the high and normal school,
and for furnishing accommodations for a full
series OF perfectly graded schools, from the
lowest TO the highest, and where there should
he a model school OF every grade. While the
high and normal school might be readily or
ganiZed, for temporary purposes the present
grammar schools Of the First District might be
accommodated in the building, and the whole
series Of schools perfectly graded. At once
principal additional expense would consist in
the salary OF principal for the high and nor
NAL school. and this salary should be sufficient
TO command the best taleat and experience
which our country affords. This is one of the
steps Of progress which ought 10 be taken a.
once.
1 may be pardoned also for saying that if
we would secure and retain men of proper
qualifications, 10 take charge OF a we'll graded
gram mar school in each OF the four districts.
the salaries OF the principals ought TO b. in.
cd "a of no n ha~
our schools are on the whole better than those
ofany other city in our country.
There are manv other topics of interest both
10 teachers and TO our fellow-cItiZans upon
which could speak and which should be DIS
cussed. and upon which i hope 10 have the
privilege OF saying something in my reports, or
IN lectures before our permanent Teac hers
Institute, where l hope TO often meet the
teachers and friends OF the schools during the
year.
The details OF my next years work, d. no.
propose now TO give. though l expect to have
them matured before the beginning of the
next school year.
l may say here, in a general way, that ex-
pect 10 give my time, my thoughts and nv eft.
forts TO the special interests Of education. 1
have never had any love for political life, and
what little experience l have had in that direc-
ton. 1 have never sought, and would have
gladly avoided, as now gladly divorce my
self from il.
lshall ever cherish the views i have adopted
as TO my duties as citizen and q rrofessed
duties as Superintendent of Public Schools, !
intend, In the first place, 10 know no party, for
the schools are for the children OF one party, "a
well Of another In the second place, do not
intend 10 know any sect or den omination, for |
believe the public schools should be so con =
Quoted as net to interfere with the religious be.
lief or practice of any believer OF Divine reye-
latIon. Church polity and church doctrine be-
long 10 churches and not 10 public schools. In
relation ito party pohtcs, and religious Sec
taTianism, / shall consider IL my duty 10 dis
courage them and disapproye them in the ad.
ministrauon Of every school.
Again: i do not intend to have any pet Oh 3
trIcts nor any ct schools, nor any pet teachers.
nor any pet scholars. l expect TO give my en-
ergies to all, ana my special efforts to th ose
who need the mos: help. / do not expect to
visit that school oftenest which has the best
teacher and the best behaved scholars: and
further, do not expect TO have any pet studies
but shall seek TO secure, as nearly as posi-.
BILE, equal development in all the studies re.
CURED in the schools. i shall expect 70 call
the teachers together from time to time for such
lectures and drills as may seem Necessary: and
perhaps i need not say that l shall expec
every teacher 10 take an active part, and hold
himself or herself ready 10 try TO do VIII iteyei
may be required; and in return You may De as.
sured That shall always be ready TO render
you any assistance in my power
In conclusion, Will say that every sign o.
our times indicates a glorious future Tor the
cause OF public education in this city. Oul
city government is awake to it; our citizs MS ar
"a IN Il M