Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-04

III.
THE INDUSTRIAL HOME SCHOOL. OF THE DISTRICT
OF C0LUMBIA-THE WORK 1T HAS DONE AND
THE STRUGGLE SUCCESSFULLY MADE-sOLyING
THE PROBLEM OF INDUSTRIAL TRAIEING-WHAT
Is NEEDED, WHAT PRoPOsBD-sHALL 1T BE
MADE TO SUPPLEMENT THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS?
We have number OF charitable institutions
In the District where destitute and neglected
children may find home, but they are nearly
all under UNCONVENTIONAL control confined to
boys or girls as the case may be, and their in
mates have no connection whatever with the
public school system or is their management in
any manner controlled by the district authorl-
ties, saving in the case of the
INDUSTRIAL HOME SCHOOL OF THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA.
This institution, according to Its last report
to the Commissioners of the District, has been
struggling for some fourteen years to do In
very imperfect manner for the District, what
within the space four years by the wise and
bOuntiful provisions OF Its legislators has been
so successfully accomplished for the state OF
Michigan.
The Industrial Home School is providing
home, clothing. educating and training to indus
try homeless. dependent and neglected children
of both sexes, endeavors to MI serious void
which would otherwise exist in this locality
among the inStrumentalitieS OF social science
and In the words Of the far seeing commissioner
OF education aims TO supply an important link
In the chain OF preventives between the COM
pulsary education act as II relates TO common
schools and the reform school for juvenile de-
lfDquents.' -
encountered In its prolonged and 1t would now
appear successful struggle for existence and re-
cognition seems needless, further than to say that
the "Home" has unremittingly given shelter to
as many 'swardS' as it possibly could, but, that
for the want OF funds, and consequent proper
facilities. the educational, and more especially
the Industrial feature, at times suffered serious
drawbacks, until some prominent members OF
Congress, recognizing the valuable service the
institution was aiming to perform, enlisted the
Interest of that body to the extent of its do
mating to the school by act OF June, 1871, an
old steam engine and sundry machinery. This
gift proved invaluable In promoting the end In
view, 1t having ever since been utilized in the
workshop Of the institution on Congress street,
Georgetown, where, when not occupied with
studies at school, some ten or more boys, under
master workman, are taught the use OF tools,
and In the course OF time me have given evidence
Thousand articles of carpenters - cabinet
makers and lathe work.
During the official term of Governor Dennison
IS Commissioner OF the District, that enlight-
ened statesman took lively interest in pro-
noting the ends of the institution, and was
largely instrumental In having the District au-
thor1tleS assent to the transfer of the children
to the present most eligibly located premises,
the property OF the District, on the heights OF
Georget ?wn, formerly used as an asylum for
adult puupers. And within the past year the
efficient board Of trustees OF the public schools,
after giving the subject most thoughtful con-
Stderation, has established public school on
for, ana so successfully carried out in Michigan,
promises now to eliminate, as at Coldwater Ia
most important adjunct to the public school.
system OF the District of Columbia Important
from the stand point of social science, because
Ii rescues from dangerous association innocent,
helpless and neglected children, and from an
educational point of view, still more important
because it not only affords these children the
advantages OF instruction under the public
school system, but goes further and trains them
10 vocations wherewith they can earn an hon
al ly m
solve the question, so far as theJ are concerned,
OF Industrial training in the public schools
How easily this is accomplished where the
facilities OF alternating between studies and
training at manual labor are at hand need not
be enlarged upon. Pestalozzi, Felenberg, WI
chern, and more especially Wehrli, demon
strated the practicabiltty OF this mode of COM
bntng mental, moral and manual training OF
youth more than half century ago.
PRESENT CONDITION OF THE SCHOOL
A recent visit to the Industrial Home School
OF the District of Columbia, whereof at present
Charles NJ. Matthews, esq.,, untiring in educa-
tional matters, is president; W. W. Curtis, esq.,,
vice president; Huldah w. Blackford, secretary
and NJ. V. Buckley, ESQ.,, treasurer, elected the
following: Prof. L. Barnes the efficient super
1ntendent, and his wife, the beloved matron, as
foster mother, are in charge OF the children,
whereof fifteen are girls and thirty-SeVen boys
ranging from six TO sixteen years Of age. They
look healthy AID happy, like cheerful brothers
and sisters, under kind and devoted yet firm
parents. The bright countenances, orderly de
pertinent, and perfect freedom apparent, tndi-
cate excellent discipline, kind treatment, ard
a refining influence TO prevail in the establish
ment. The older girls assist their younger com
pantonS and out OF school hours attend TO house
hold duties. sewing and mending classes OF
boys and girls take turns in the sewing room.
Some OF the boys assist about the house AMI
garden, whilst others, when not at SCHOOL, WORK
In the shop on Congress street. but its distance
from the Home has proved a serious detu
ment to properly alternating industrial an
mental training. The managers are, however
with the approval OF the District authorities
and school trustees. now erecting on the prem
1eS suitable workshop, laundry and school,
room, SO that, more particularly during the
winter children attending the school, whether
inmates OF the institution or residing in the
neighborhOod, and old enough to do so, may
Systematically alternate between their respec-
tive branches of manual labor and intellectual
STUDIES.
For the present wants of the institution the
LADY L4 charge Of the sewing room capably
fitiHthe position OF instructor In tailoring. cut
tinGRnd edressmaking. An intelligent master
engaged As soon as the proper person can be
POUNDS dnl time no doubt a good cook, to give
Instruction To small classes In the art OF plain
cu0k1pss wtAcbe found advantageous In promot-
iugIa knowledge ofhouShold economy and train
ing sezae Of the Inmates regularly to household
service, Il The ample area OF the premises a lSo
SuGse6tdtae Q thorough gardener aud horticul-
tuffsty a5farIaef and experienced dalryman
Sl0lEdbe added al tbs earliest practicable mo-
meHo, As Ii wonld do much toward encouraging
ioyefof'1he Gu1tya iDan flowers, fruit and
vegetables keepinglaf Dees:shslng OF chickens
ana CaeaAlting 81 f6Hd heSS. el6' AGRICULTURAL pur-
slrtSyD cenacSa Alike inpfDtaoting the moral
aDdGphyStuu DOUfiU0n M tie ajoriJy OF the
innaabes OF suetpan thsul atimnp A6bresent the
mhiheifortS Of the super fGfnIleht nj this direc-
ten successfully dVecaRftf b the sin Pie end OF
RAISING sunaent pro lioe' FOL, ntsnunefolts fam
lily, and the question or7systemaetej Instruction
e Seen tessss Ell II as re
OF on eeso ssls e can u s sass ssa a. s
poftafafy lrerl deaA obAfeIif I; and tie bafhfdp