Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-06-12
QUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Interesting Facts From the Annual
RepOrte

pleted and published. The report Of the Super
intendent, Mr.. j. o. Wilson, (who has super
vision OF the white schools of Washington and
Geon etown and theschools OF the countylis CON-
glete. It shows that the white population in
washington and Georgetown, according TO the
census OF ISIS, was 81 c62 school population, ~
24l; enrolled In public schools. Ia e42: do private
ana otner schools (esttmatedl, 5,4Sl; receipts,
sS5s, CSS4 63,. SO from taXation:) eXpend-
lures. 1922, Si23s-Sl59 800. % for teaching and
supervision, and SOS. S52.12 paid colored schools.
CIher tables show rooms owned by the District
rs an increase during the year OF 1: rented 81.
an increase OF 81: increase In the number of
seats ,4o2; percentage OF attendance based on
enrolment td roa 9;3; largest number enrolled.
schools, 1l,12o. A table OF attendance and per-
, centage OF increase since 1870 shows annual IN
crease in the whole number enrolled. IS, In
average enrolled. IA, and in daily attendance
$50 A table of both places, ascer-
tanned by the teachers on Sept. seth last shows:
Number OF pupils born In the District. l0.ool;
3;4s4; In foreign countries. Isl. Every state in
the union is represented. At the date OF the re-
tort there were 240 schools. In 22S OF these all
the pupils In any one school are OF the same
grade, and In 1, they are OF two grades. In ~
schools the pupils are boys; In 80, girls and In
O., boys and girls together. Under the head of
text books the lists and prices for each grade
are given: showing total for books actually
required for pupil for eight years. Sl2.45: an
average OF $l.S5 per year. which, with the cost
c6ras copy pyero1 books drawing books and
The report OF the advanced grammar school TO.
hoys shows: Pupils from last year readmtted.
Il; admitted at the beginning OF the wear, 80;
acmltted subsequently, II; withdrawn. 22:
number at the close OF the year, IS. The report
OF the advanced grammar school for girls shows:
Puplls from last year readmitted. %; admitted
AT the beginning OF the year. 40; admitted sub
sequently, 6: withdrawn. 81 number at the
co5e OF the year. SO. In June last $50 pupils
were examined for admission to these schools
and l26 passed and were admitted The re-
port OF the Normal school shows that at
the examination for admission In June last, 81
raLai0ates were present, and OF these the ~
ranking highest were admitted to the school In
September; that OF the 81 entering in 1873. 10
are now teaching, making, with those entering
SINCE sr loO now teaching Under the head
| says: The number OF cases of cor
poral punishment was los. In 159 schools
there was no corporal punishment. The
sl2 % and for incidentals S542, making total
OF SlS.S7, an Increase over the former year of Is
cents Ina the cost per pupil. the cost for tuition
beiTg 16 cents per pupil more. and the cost for
1DcioentalS the same. The whole number of
pupils enrolled In the county schools during the
past year was 24S1, an increase of 121 over the
preceding year; the number of teachers en-
Pic, ed was ~, an tncreaes of 1, and the amount
| expended for these schools was S399ll.O9
decrease of Ss.S5S.s4; as compared with
the preceding year. The whole numbsr
OF pupils enrolled was divided as follows:
| Mhi,e pupils, l6.os5; colored pupils, 90i5;
| In the number of white pupils was 1.029,
AID in the number OF cOlored pupils was 259
| The per centage of the entire school population
enrolled was: White. 500: colored 73.l; average,
6i.S. If we add to the %, 100 pupils enrolled In
| private schools, we have total or 80, $40.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS
Under this head the report Says:-'Nothing
Whatever was done during the past year TO bet
ter tie deplorable state OF things fully set forth
| In previous reports. The District Is now rent
Ing 100 school-rooms, more than one-third Of all
fr,rv
fitting up, from $35 600 TO $40, OO0 AS has been
stated again and again, many of these rooms
lack the light, air, and convenient arrangement
essential to preservation of health and SatiSfac-
tory work. Yet about one-third of the whole
Lumber of pupils In the schools, 900 children.
must attend In these rooms or not attend at all.
TWO twelve-room buildings have been CON-
menced since the close of last year, which COM
pleted will accommodate about 1920 pupils-a
number less than the annual increase in attend
ance during the past few years. IL is stated
that these buildings will not be finished and
ready for occupation at the opening OF the
schools In September next" The report sug-
eests, under the head of 'school furniture
that thorough examination be made before
further purchases are made, and that the best
be procured.
'CRAM-
Under this head the report says "This has
been OF late the indispensable term I'm all edu-
cational discussions. No debate, newspaper or
magazine article, book, or report On the subject
OF this word. The essence OF all the evils and
shortcomings OF education are supposed TO
be embodied in it The vehement and
relief to irate critics and inspired reformers.
The popular opinion seems TO be that the chief
element in reform is destl uction-a reduction In
the numbtr OF subjects to be taught and studies
TO be pursued. 1t, however, soon becomes a
difficult task to decide which OF the subjects
that have found place In most courses of study
snail be dropped. AT one time vocal music Is
Of natural science; at another, techn1-
cal grammar, and then again 1t is draw
Ing that should be discarded.
little more than thrusting in by force The
remedy for this Is not to be found In reducing
the Lumber OF studies or throwing all text
books aside, but In better teaching: and this
must come mainly through more and better
normal training. 1t is, at the same time. es-
sentlal that too many pupils Shall not be as
signed to teacher IL We would be rid OF all
examining. In our schools we require each
teacher to take charge of sixty pupIlS-a num-
Der much too large. Reduce the number TO
fifty aid the teacher will then have chance
to do good work"
ON TIE COURSE OF STUDY,
the report states that few changes have been
made, and notes them, and after making sug-
gest1ons as to penmansh1p continues: Lam
guage lessons and compositions are to receive
more attention, and better methods are TO be
employed in their treatment The auxiliary
esting thoughts and topics which pupils like to
reproduce clothed In their own words; so also
will lessons on animals and Objects illustrated
as far as possible by the things themselves,
ard then by representation by means of pic
lures and more especially free hand drawing
On the blackboard. From each school
| specimens Of its work are to be sent
to this office monthly, to enable me to judge OF
the work and make helpful suggestions.
In drawing, special course OF lessons In draw
ing the human face and animal forms for the
In the lower grades Of schools Is to be given to
the pupils of the normal school and to all the
primary teachers In lessons In natural science,
there is to be more visible illustration, In which
the pupils are to take part just as far as may be
practicable. Only interest pupils In these sub
jects, and they will gladly give the teacher most
suost anttal aid in making or obtaining the
simple apparatus and objects required
for illustrating the elements of science to
tie taught in the lower grades of schools.
In geography and history the topical method is
to be used, and the memOrizing or great num-
Der OF isolated names, facts and dates. or the
words OF the text books is 70 be avoided. In
connection with these studies map-drawing is
to be thoroughly taught, not as an Independent
subject for the sake of ITSELF but as most val
liable aid In the study OF geography and his
tory. In this work the aim should be TO secure
artistic finish Is unnecessary. In vocal music
there is to be more individual practice In sing
ing The above brief outline indicates some OF
the directions In which we propose to move.
The end Of the year will tell us whether the
ways are better and how far we have progressed
In them"
CHANGES IN BYLAWS AND RULES.
Under this head the report says: "Some Inn.
DOrtant changes In the bylaws and rules were