Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-01-01
Our Public 8ch0Ola

Our Public Schools.
ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE BOARD OF rRus-
TEES AND NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. GRATIFYING
We have received a oorv os m. txa..r.r,,,
annual report of the board OF trustees OF public
schools; also, the second annual report of Super
intendent j. Ormond Wilson.
graduate the board and tsst c tbe
result of the past years labor shows unmstaka-
BILE signs of improvement in our common school
all classes to avail themselves of the adj antagss
afforded by it. The trustees say that the exami-
nations for the year just closed we're eminentIy
satisfactory. There has been
A STEADY INCREASE
OF the number of pupils enrolled. The per cent.
OF the entire population enrolled was, in 1870
di:o1i in ISL, III; In isa2, SIS The per cent.
1871 as against47 90 in 1871. The average num-
Der Of pupils enrolled was SIS in 1870, 662s in
ts -. ana 9,.st ; IN ls: Inc number or regular
1872. The amount paid for teachers salaries
was elo2 Al 90, which was over Sd 900 above the
amount paid in 1871. The amount of
EXPENDITUkKs FOR THE SCHOOLS
has steadily increased since 1850. The following
statement shows in round numbers the sum ex-
pended de each year: Year ending June 80 1880,
1861 SO COO; do. 1864; sos 600; do 1856 $50 Zoo:
do. 1856, $4,000; do. 1867, si2l.OO0; do. 1895,
ISL, $4,000; do. 1872, si26.OOo. This seems a
great increase, but the school advantages in
creased in q still greater ratio.
CONGRESSIONAL AID FOR THE DISTRICT
SCHOOLS
is urged for several strong reasons, one of which
is that nearly ali the clerks and other EN- ploves
OF the government. who are temporarily located
in Washington, who are not property holders
and whose residence among US depends entirely
upon the tenure of their offices, send their chill
dren to our public schools. Congress, they cay,
has been generous in donations of land for edtl-
catioBa1 purposes to all sections of the United
States save the District of Columbia, and we
cannot believe that our claims will be much
longer ignored. Tie case was fOrcibly pre-
sented to the House OF Representatives bv Hon.
n. p. Chipman who, in a speech, referred to
the exceptional manner in which our people
had been treated. Many OF the representatives
OF foreign countries seek the United States for
the most perfect system Of education. Distin-
guished scholars of our own and other lands
have examined Our system and our buildings
with satisfaction. Notably among these NAV be
mentioned Prof. John Tyndall, of the ROYAL In
stitution OF London, and l.. van Woudrichem
van Nliet, distinguished ava scholar, mem
Der of the Historical Institute Of France and
Madrid
A NORMAL AND HIGH SCHOOL RECOMMENDED.
A new, and as We believe, an improv ed course
OF study has been adopted by the board, and IL
now In successful operation. But our system
can never be what it should be until we shall
have competent trained teachers in every school
room. Snch teachers are essential to complete
mess and efficiency, and to secure them a nor
NAL school should be established at once and
literally sustained. The committee recommend
that this subject be referred specially to the
committee oil legislation, and that it be brought
as early as possible to the attention of the Ee-
gislature. A.law should also be enacted estab-
fishing high school. The evils of hardness
and irregularity of attendance are referred to,
and the trustees again insist that there should
be law to compel attendance and punish tru-
ancy. In closing, the trustees recommend an
increase OF the salaries OF teachers.
Report Of Superintendent vii son.
The report Of Superintendent Wilson is quite
long. 1t begging by giving a mass Of valuable
statistics relative to schools, from which we
select the following: White population OF the
city, 1870, 1871; school population, (6 to Il
years OF age. inclrsiye,) II ,403; total number OF
school rooms, $50; number OF seats for pupils,
total number Ofteachers,, 1888; number OF pupils
enrolled in grammar schools, 537; in intermedi-
ate schools, 1,J27 in secondary schools 2,2l9; in
primary schools, 4,4Sl; whole number of boys
enrolled in all the grades, 1859; OF girls 4j5;
total, S,76i; total number OF pupils in private |
schools, United States census, 1870, j,0i; yalua-
ton OF taxable property in the city, 1911,
So, 100000; tax (per cent? for schools, O0j;
amount received from school tax, 1917 COZ &C:
amount received from from United States fines,
81 500 81; total amount received, S3lS 70l.9S; |
total payments during the year, S425 .439S; cost
per pupil Tor tuition, based Ipon the average |
number enrolled, sl5 y; cost per pupil for incl
dental expenses, s9.4i: total cost per pupil, |
NECESSITY OF UNIFYINe THE PRESENT sYs-
TENS.
MIR. Wilson aludes to the fact that tie public |
schools arc under the charge of four boards OF !
trustees. This organization he says has answered |
It's purpose in the past, but now needs material |
modification He therefore recommends the |
making OF the public school system of the Dis |
trict and on this point says: alt is very desir
able therefore that tire next Legislative Assem-
bly, should pass a general school law adapted to |
our present and prospective wants and that a |
board Of education for the District OF Columbia |
should be created, ha wing full corporate 30 ers
authority to determine within specified limits.
! he amount OF school tax to be levied to pur- |
chase sites and erectschoOl buildings, to fix the
salaries und decide upon the qualifications and /
new schools, and to appoint officers of the |
board. The several boards OF trustees now |
existing should be continued, for a time at |
IL asst, with powers so modified As to subordinate /
them to the beard of education OF the District |
of Columbia. In this way an organization fitted |
to achieve the greatest good can be'secured |
in the present systems"
The superintendent notes with pleasure
THE PROGRESS MADE SINCE 1864
in school buildings, and SAYS "there vet remain.
much to be done, to ae conplish which the |
earnest and united efforts OF the members OF |
the board and the friends of the public schools
large enough to accommodate six hundred pu-
pills, are needed at us time: one in the Sd
school district, to be locsted on Capitol hill.
midway between the Waliach ana the Seaton;
one in the I'd school district for the girls schools
If the higher grades. and one in the lst school
district, to be located midway between the
Franklin and the western BOUNDARY or the oity.
First in order the I'd school district should be
provided for. In the other sehoc.. aistric., "'"~
or TOUR buildings, with six school rooms in each.
also much reeded for the lower grades, and no
steps have yet been taken towards providing a
= S.ic high school. To accOmp lish this, at least
half million Of dollars will be required The
new school buildings erected within few years
have n: s length made better grading practicable
The superintendent earnestly ree6mnen
A TRAINING SCHOOL FOR TRACHsRs,
and advances strong arguments to prove the ne
cessity Of such An institution. He says that
within the last two years the teachers In general
have improved greatly in the neatness and ac-
curacy with which their school records are kept,
in the promptness with which their reports, |
special, monthly, and annual, are made, and in |
the style of transacting their official business
with parents and trustees. For this, as we'll as |
for the faithful discharge OF duty To their |
pupils, they are entitled to commentator. |
After referring to the reform school and its |
infuepce upon incOrrigible pupils, the supern-
tendent says:
THE LACK OF SCHOOL FUNDS
has thus far made futile all discussion OF the
prOpriety OF extending the system Of public
instruction. Under existing circumstances we
can teach the elementary branches, and but
little beside, ii the work is well done. Mr. Will
s0n nf NV