Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-04-14

aides. having completed the course of
studies prescribed. graduated from this in sti-
tuition, all OF whom have already been placed
In charge of schools.
SUPPLEMENTARY Report.
The report OF the superintendent. Mr.. ].
q. Wilson, states tha.: "Notwithstandint
the most serious financial embarrassment
during the past year, the efficiency of the
schools has been increased, and their
sphere of usefulness has been enlarged"
He gives a summary OF the statistics for
the year, showing total white population
1870. c3,I3l; present estimate, $500: school
population, 1870, IL .403; number enrolled i'm
public schools, 9,si5; estimated i'm private
and parochial schools, 5,706; number of
school days, POS; number of DAYS schools
We're taught, 1,ss0. Total value OF grounds
buildings, &c., s660,S5I. Total taxable
puTpOses.33 mills per dollar. Receipts from
taxation, Sl50I5i.5i; other sources, AL. 5b2 ca:
total, s23l ,9si.1l. Expenditures, s255,+ ~ "a.
NEED OF MORE SCHooL-uoUsFS.
After referring 10 the number of rented
rooms in each district, he says:-"The pitt
full details are not related for any intrinsic
interest which they possess. but II would
seem that their recital year after year ought
To stimulate the authorities To provide bet
Ter and more permanent accommodations
Tor the schools. Al this time We
need three large buildings for grammar
schools. aud half dozen smaller buildings.
containing six or eight school rooms each
for the lower grades. These buildings should
be constructed in plain style. but they should
be substantial, and should have the best ar
rangements for lighting. ventIlating. and
heating. A building for high school il also
needed, but the demand for the other build
ings is more urgent al present, and the schools
OF lower grades should be cared for first
REFERRING To HALF DAY SCHOOLS
made necessary ny the overcoming Of
schools he says: 'SiN Of these halliday
schools were organized during the year. and
the work done by them was very satisfactory.
Al The end OF the year the pupils had finished
the work assigned To their grade and. so far
Il ltirAnP.,f "A -
those who were detained in school during
the entire school day. The experience of the
year iustifieS the following conclusions:
The time spent i'm school each day by CHI ldren
during their first years attendance need not
exceed three. or al the most. four hours. for.
with proper instruction, they will accom-
piish as much as if confined i'm school five or
six hours; in schools ri the lowest grade. il
more than sixty children are TO De placed i'm
charge OF one teacher, the halliday plan
should be adopted, a. 10 will tighten the
lators of The teacher and promote the pro-
gress Of the pupils. Eight-half day schools
are now in operation, and tine economy of
this arrangement should commend Ia the
board a careful considera ton of its merits
OTHER TOPICS
The normal school has been in operation
year. and its WORK has been well done.
Drawing now hollis leading place among
those branches of study which have All i'm
mediate bearing upon the various Industries,
and with the advance of civilization, as skill
takes the place of rude force, its practical
worth will Increase. IL drawing is COM
menced under a proper system of instruction
in the primary schools, il can be carried on
without displacing any of the other studies
or adding 20 the burdens of the course.
lie refers 10 the instruction in music by
Director Daniel and Mrs King and Miss
Havenner, and recommends the adoption OF
the natural music course.
UNDER THE HEAD OF GOVERNMENT AID
lie says: 1.-The inadequacy OF the means pro-
vided for establishing and supporting the
public schools of the District OF Columbia
has been and now is the great obstacle stand
ing in the way of their progress. The rea-
sons for this financial short-cOmiDg were
fully stated in my last report, and they show
cOnclusively that the taxpayers of the Dis
trict, unaided, are not able TO organize and
maintain such system of public schools as
should he found at the capital. The United
States government, which has its permanent
seat here. should give the required aid" In
support of this view he submits statements
concerning the donations for educational
purposes made by the United States govern
ment outside of the District OF Columbia,
and presents some opinions, bearing upon
fully considered il.
He refers To the attempts to secure such,
and the recommendations made from time
To time and the report concludes as follows:
THE HONORABLE COMMISSIONERS.
who are now administering the government
of tie District of Columbia have throughout
manifested a sincere desire to promote the
best interests OF the schools. They have free
~ accorded 10 them all the privileges pro-
vided by law. and have given the full bene-
III of their somewhat indefinite perogativeS.
They have promptly paid the salaries OF
maintaining the schools. Their personal "a
well as official influence invariably has been
eXerted in their behalf These acknowledg.
ments are made with pleasure