The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-08-16

SCIENTIFIC Hon AND NORMAL scuoob.- a
he bill to ,esssbaish A. Scientific High ssd s
formal School,. which WIS reported last
fonday night by Mr.. Clarke, 10 the Board
Aldermen, from the Committee on Schools, !
n al com. Up fSr consldera'ion tonight as
The report submittod By tho committee Z
'st Monday night Ia long, but 10 view Of Its
Importance, We produce Il this morning In
% tie BOARD Of Aldermen, "r
GENTLEMEN: The Committee on Public
chools, to whom was referred the bill en-
tiled can act TO establish Scientific High I
md Normal School, respectfully submit tho
II y upward Of sxy- -four. years since the
irst public school was organized In this city;
rom that time their growth and expansion
has been steady and gradual, until now they
number one hundred and sixteen, (not In
Guiding nNy-two schools undet the control
Of the board Of trustees of,cdlSrsd sehools;) |
often, as we are aware, they have contcuded |
against great financial difficulties, owing In
a large degree 10 the peculiar political po- |
sition Of this District; but have now, how.
ever, overcome nearly all the obstacles to |
their success, and compare favorably with |
the best Of public schools.
If, In the year 1904, when the City Coun- |
ella passed their first legislative enactment
on this subject, they advanced In the pre-
amble the controlling idea Of free schools,
and Swallowed forth the acknowledged truth
that education Is Of the highest importance,
and that II was then "the duty Of all COM
munitles 10 place within the reach OF the
poor, ns well as tho rich, the iucstimable
blessings Of knowledge, aud with the neces-
city Of establishing at tho seat Of the general
government proper seminarles OF learning"
how much more does 1t become our duty to
establish proper seminaries Of learning, aud
| place within the reach OF every child as
high educational privileges as are enjoyed In
other cities more than this is not required,
| less will have q tendency to place our
schools In an inferior position among the
public Institutions Of learning In our country.
To effect the desired object, the instruction
and elevation Of the masses Of the people,
and for the welfare OF society, the response
bility rests upon us 10 sustain and continue
the work commenced In the early history OF
this city by adopting any Improvements that
| will be beneficial to our school system.
The benefit the public schools win de-
rive from an institution OF the kind contem.
plated In the bill under consideration cannot
be overrated.
High and training schools are the main
spring Of the whole system Of popular edu-
cation; In them students may become skilled
In the art Of teaching, or properly prepare
themselves for q more extended degree OF
usefulness in whatever profession they may
adopt.
The other schools will be benefited by
stimulating the higher pupils to greater ap-
plication that they may be prepared for ad-
mission; SO that by this means scholars In
the grammar schools will be pr, NOTED,
making vacancies for those 10 the next lower
grade, and so on to the primary; thus keep
Ing up a proper ambition for promotion
throughout all the schools.
II 10 designed that the children Of all
classes shall have an equal advantage In the
strife for position In society to give them an
equal opportunity to secure the required
qualifications for the great work Of educa-
tion, and provide competent instructors to
lay the early foundation In the minds Of the
youth OF our country, upon which they may
build a superstructure Of Intellectual culture
aud refinement that will continue to impress
educators In other lands with the superiority
OF the American system Of free schools.
: II may be observed, too, In this connec
ton, that high aud normal schools, or, a,
they are denominated, "people's colleges, ;
/, which have for their objects the prepa RAJ ior
4 Of pupils for teachers profession, and fo
more extended, thorough, and accurat,
c scholarship, occupy an important position /,
o our educational system; their influence 4
!. beneficial to all the schools, Of every grade
and even among those pupils that never par
n take directly Of Its advantages.
Q They are intended to open the way 70
=. those Of poorest parcntagc, alike with others
I for the improvement OF the mcntalites Go,
: has given them, that whether on the farm
! In the Workshop, store, or counting house
q or rs teachers, agriculturists, mechanics
merchants, navigators, or OF whatever trad
y or profession, they may inteiligently use tn
n means adapted to ensure success.
d Schools OF this character, free to ever
n studious youth, abolish all invidous dstine
a tions from lack Of fortune, among the chi
!, dren OF community, which at preseu
lie While through the voluntary efforts of III
E. trustees Of public schools and other friend
D. OF education, together with the faithfulnes
)f and ability Of teachers, the standard of on
: schools properly holds conspicuous plac
&c among the public institutions Of learning 1
v our land yet they lack the cap-stoae In Ii
10 citadel OF educational progress, by hayin
I'd no DEFINITE plan In operation, to supply III
q schools with competent Instructors wltbor
I, sending abroad for them, or exiting ii
ir children OF Washington from parental owe
pr sight to other places, for the development ,
their mental powers to lmpart instruction
es or to institutions where the tuition fee Is
y barrier In the way OF many that by oppoI
tunity and application would make excellen
teachers.
a Hence, II Is incumbent upon us, who hay
: the power, to make provision for the advance
a ment Of our public schools, to sec that IN
: youth Of this capital city have privileges Il
= mental culture Of as, high order as thns. :.
g other cities, so thatthe- trustees need N,
10 SEND asr0ad for teachers, while the chiIdre
r OF Washington, from want of proper oppo
20 tunities Tor intellectual improvement, al
N either Idle or are Obliged 10 accept mo,
a mental and less profitable employment.
The admonitlon OF the greatest men In Il
10 past and present age has been, and still /
educate the people. Thus, we see one ph
fe lanthropic man, In carrying out this prime
g pie, generously giving for the education ,
&c the children Of his fellow-countrymen mi
&c lions Of dollars; shall We, then, hesitate i
as this noble cause to apply SO small sum a
h school systeml
It cannot be said that the people will COT
e plain OF this small outlay, inasmuch as II
Q, well known that the great interest man
ID Tested by them In the healthful progress q
a our public schools, intuitlvely leads them /
q cheerfully meet my expenditure ncreasin
e the facilities for their advancement, thu
l. obllgating us as Legislators not to ncglec
g any means anticipating their expectations /
&c this regard, and advance the cause of educa
'e uon TO greater degree Of perfection.
N true u Is our public schools have fror
r, their lnclpiency been progressive, and nav
rs accomplished all that could have been 3,
y pected OF them for the good of the peopl,
ID and, from time TO time, with added adyar
70 tages, have been adapted TO the CONSTANT
Ii Increasing requirements of the public system
10 yet 1t must be conceded that, in order to kee
l. pace with those Of other cities, we must col
tinue TO adopt any improvement, and 10 MIA,
within the reach OF the children correspon,
I Ing facilities for prosecuting the higher \