National Republican., 1878-09-07
orr PUBLIc SCHOOLS.
Annual Report Of the Trustees-A Reorsani-
yation' Suggested.


The report Of the Board of Trustees Of the
Public Schools OF the District of Columbia for
the year ending June 30, 1873, has just been
issued. II contains much information well
compiled, and is document which will be read
with profit by all interested in education. as
Il contains some very valuable suggestions,
the result Of actual experience iu conducting
tho crowded schools Of q large city. During
the year 1871, ,S56oi were di.burscd on account
Of the schools. The whole number Of pupils
enrolled was 22,Si2, the average number OF
pupils enrolled 1899. The cost per pupil
based on the average enrolment was Sls.l6.
The report dwells upon the deficiency Of school
rooms owned by the District aud the unhealthy
and unsuitable condition Of many ofthe rented
rooms, Speaking of the graded system of
schools, II says;
Tho practical working Of the system thus organ.
iZcd has given gercal satlsh, tion. especially In
llwer gra!e -sNy ir IN the first TO THE sixth in
elusive, hut II Is q rigid system. single teacher
charged with the government and instruction Of
sixty pupils finds IT physically, Impossible TO give
the number Of cla,scs. All Eu'ti move on together
A. bcst they can, the slow rrtar,liEg the swim and
the swlft worrying the slow The dun pupil must
bright pupil aid the boy poorly fitted for the
studies Of the grade must keep M with the boy
To continue in School beyond The seventh or eighth
year Of the c0ure Of study must take the same
c2ur'e as the boy who is preparing for the high
not Of teaching and call for remedy some change
ought 10 be made. and Il i believed, can he male.
which, while retaining the valuable feature lclas.
'iicniionl of the graded .ys:em. shall admit of
elective 81 Iiies. individual instruction when ne.
ccN AIRY, q ID Giyi,iJa Of labor among teachers.
Considerable space is devoted to school archi-
lecture, and especially such notifications as
would he necessary to carry out the suggested
change 10 the method of dividing the schools
The modification in brief. Is to have large
room In the centre for the general exercises
| Of the schools and for a study room. with four
recitation rooms Tor teaching and hearing
lessons The remarks upon school architec.
| ture are exhaustive, covering ventilation,
! beating apparatus. and all the CppurtcnlnacS
| considered necessary TO q modern school house
After a discussion Of the Disadvantages of the
! presCnt system of organization, the following
| plan Of organization Is submitted for ClIsil-
| Grafton:
! l. The Hr,t ,,v grales hall ba and conllnue as
I al present UrgAnIZCl amt constituted
II. The seventh uul ghiu grH lrs. white schools
/ sh0l be- ruu,"dutri into live grammar schD0s -
I & O. grs' rf study. three yv1rs
| III. lnr .,IonUi GuI eighth grNicS, cpl0rtl
. s-h .t.t. .''.I iS .n,l", ! mo Li,' .haHf
/ -rh"'l, s'ra ~ suitable rlpm, can %. built ur
rruyidi t1u~c rf ,lUrl, three yeas.
. N. lLc n'ir.hgc,i grammar sch st. riit4 N'~t
.iN d.yi,..u. 'hn'l I've c,u.oIDIai : lE;J uur high
| 'CG.L 'wu.se "i study. llur' !'g'..
! Y. IL, h.gh .rh fnl # the seventh li' I.iou
! hall 10" aud COu'iuuc a. at p:c,vnt rpisi.ulcl
| t,,gT'y5, Of ',,"'E, Tiny" AZ.
! VI The Washington 9. uI7l 'rhppl hail be EIli
. ullluur D.. At i..,>efi constituted.
! VII. Tie NIg r"mnl school shall he brought
II 'ir';,@''' .'.sna. ia, I" 'tlr". ~ '."lioH j.
! H." county, lhu tho Washington n,riwal .rllool
/ now hu.it. the " hitr .Uhv'Is.