National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-09-07
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
GENERAL, nPENING TODAY.

GENERAL OBENlNG IO-DA1s
Vacation is over. Thrown aside are the reerea-
lions Of the summer recess. To-day begins anew
the routine Of school life. With the early morn
troops of little ones are gathering to discuss the
various phases of their duties for the ensuing
year; some in pride Of hOnors won in the past,
some ambitious for merits to be gained in the f-
ture and all cheerful at the prospect OF reunion
with schoolmates. 1t can be scarcely realized
how much this opening day really means for
these embryo men and women. 1t is more than
the mere education OF the individual. The COM
mon schools Of America hold within their walls
the destiny of the republic in the intelects Of her
children, and no higher education is needed for
them than that embraced in the textbooks Of the
public schools Of the District. The result Of the
teachings may be read in the career Of the great
men Of the day. How many owe the foundation
of all their usefulness and popularity to the little
germ planted at the desks Of the public schools,
and upon the happy faces OF the little ones gath
cred to-day within the walls Of the school-hou
is written the history Of future triumphs when
these young students shall take their places in
the great world. As the struggle Of the child is
to the struggle Of the man, so the victory of
youth over the problems of the textbooks typify
the greater victories Of manhood and Womanhood
During the summer vacation the school houses
have been put in complete order for the reception
Of the pupils, and notwithstanding the fact that
the children are compelled TO remain in the
sehOOl-room q certain number of hours during the
day, the recreation hour is much enjoyed. owing
to the ample play grounds surrounding the differ
ent schools. The hour set apart as recess is
much enjoyed, and in no country are the school
houses better provided with the accommodations
for enjoying the hour.
Friday the teachers met Superintendent Wilson,
who gave each his or her instructions, and to-day
will be ready to take hold as though there had
been no vacation. In the list Of teachers, two
hundred and eighty, the changes have been about
one in fifty. The schools are under four organiza-
tons, but unlike last year, are under one school
board instead Of four.
During the past year the average attendance
in the entire schools 1900 daily, 900 the
whole number in attendance. 1t is thought that
owing to the large number Of applicants for ad-
mission a large number will be declared and can
not be accommodated, and in consequence of this
fact the old pupils are expected to be in their
seats by 10 o'clock to-day. New scholars will
make application the trustee Of the district in
which the applicant resides, VIM will provide
LIN " her with ticket Of admission.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WASHINGTON, D. c., sept..5, 1874.
the Editor Of the National Republican:
SIR: Your editorial this morning regarding
public school pupils abOunds in such good cOm-
mon sense that l, as a parent and once u teacher.
feel impelled TO express this my hearty indOrse.
rent OF your views, and cummenj them TO teach
CTS as we'll as parents. With the hope that you
will occasionally enlighten the people Of this
District in the same strain, and taking the past
as a criterion, l thiuk you will, am, very re-
81 tctlully, JAY H. ARNoLP,
1908 street northwest.