Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-20

these advanced pupils occupy in the grammar
pupils qualified TO pursue the studies of the
eighth grade.
A normal school for girls has already been
school for boys should be provided At once. At
first this school could be located in the unoccu-
pied portion of the hall of the Franklin build
pose. The expense would thus be limited to FUR FUR.
nishing the room and providing salary for the
teacher. This, it is true, would sbel but be-
20 until il 1s.ne ali the sd
ucation.
DRAWING.
Drawing has had q place on our regular list
of studies since 1858, and during this period the
pupils In our schools have been required to pur-
chase drawing cards or books, ct Q cost OF 81 500
s1 $1,000 per snnSn: The results OF these At
been satisfactory ut the close of the last school
year special committee OF the board, consist
Ing Of Trustees stuart DetIict, -, French ana NJ
the study, ascertain the causes of the compare
tive failure of past efforts, and to recommend
such measures a. would promise better success
importance Of this study Ii recognized now more
fully than ever before in all the principal cities
and large towns Of the country, and that its
practical value IN our own city Is greater than
In most others; for here the various government
departments and bureaus, rs well as city indus
tries, constantly demand the services Of very
large number Of persons trained and skilled in
this art. 1t 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 to lack Of ability
TO learn on the part of the pupils.
The first step to be taken was to secure the
services of person competent to instruct the
teachers, and such a one was readily found in
our own city-Mrs. Susan X. Fuller, a lady who
was educated in the New York school of Design
for Women, and has been favorably known In
this nifty during the past four years as
teacher of a private art school. Mrs Fuller was
appointed teacher of drawing in the yublic
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
qualify themselves to teach elementary draw
mol chooi, 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. class of advanced boys, who, during
the time they have received eleme ntary instruc
ton 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 teaching of vocal
music was made during the past year; the re-
spoDsibility and the work having been divided
equally between Professors Daniel and McFsr-
year, Prof. McF arland resigned his position as
teacher of music, and the board awaited itself
of the opportunity to revise and greatly i'm
Daniel was made the sole responsible head, and
two assistants, Mrs Annie Jane King and Miss
Harriet Elizabeth Havenner, were appointed
GERMAN LANGUAGE.
The report of the committee on German Ian
guage is found in the appendix, and from this
we learn that the attendance IN me classes IN
year. The whole number Of pupils in all the
classes for lsI1-'72 was iO2, and for 1si2-T3 was
253. The progress made was not satisfactory to
the committee, for which certain reasons have
been assigned. The study of the German Ian
guage in our schools was commenced under a
law which authorized but did not direct its in
unfortunately, / think, when we have had no
high school in which the study could be carried
on until pupils gained knowledge of the Ian
guage that would be of some practical use.
tue part of pupils from the first, and the trus-
tees, feeling that the demand for it did not jus
tify any interference with the programme of
regular studies. have not allowed the recitations
to occupy any part of the time fixed for the
regular sessions of the schools
II 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
il has formed part of the course has had much
to do with the extent and ccess of the study.
From an abstract of the United States census,
1870, prepared in tabular FORM il is found that
the Germans constituted the following part of
Cincinnati, 22.S6 per cent; of st. Louis, 1899
per cent; of Chicago, 749 per cent; while in
Washington we find only 3.7S per cent. of Ger
man population.
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 81 200 per annum to each special
teacher of the language, and this amount was
paid for their services, although the board
could employ them only 10 hours per week
each, while other teachers of equal merit were
x-;rSE tah % IA nj sAv M tim
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 salts
factory arrangement for a continuance of the
study. am not disposed to consider the action
of tie board as final disposition Of the sub.
mand for this study; and l am confident 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 annual oral examinations commenced
June 3, and ended June 20. In all, 1871 exam
nations were held between May q and june 20.
The labor andt,me required in this work were
a very 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
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 full
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, six years course in
the Columbian University, was awarded to
Master Edwin l.. Scott, whose percentage at
the examination was 81; and the King scholar
ship, four years course in Dickinson College,
was awarded to Master Walter NJ. Mcfarland,
whose percentage was Sl2 The average per-
centage attained by the four boys from the
school named was 1873; and the four boys from
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
sutute monthly written examinations in place
of the daily record of recitati0ns heretofore
kept.
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 SO cents
on each 500 OF valuation were S172, 800 IS; and
the amount received from United states fines
was only So2. %; making q total of $l13 ,053 03.
By an act OF Congress, approved June 25, 1864,
all moneys accruing from fines, penalties, and
forfeitures, for violations OF the laws Of the
United States within the District Of Columbia,
we're to be paid over for the support of the pub