Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-04-13
"OIivia'' Upon Our Pablic Schools.

Editor SGr:-Wlll the EVENING STAR allow
an explanation to the public In the name Of
fair play? More than half a year ago the
unruly boys OF Wallach Building whilst going
and returning from school. and during recess
hours, Threw more than eigut cart loads 0!
stones taken from the surface or an unfinished
street, adjoining my property. The contractor
after laying live inches OF broken stone On the
street abandoned the contract, and this fur
n1shed the boys With the implements OF mis-
Chief Neither scythe, sickle or lawn mower
codld De used on the grounds which surround
LII. Lly mouse. Taxing the aliiiayit Of the maa
who assisted in gathering the stones and cart
ing them away, ] laid IL before the Commits
sloners after Joining 1t with my own. The
pu1nc VIII recai! the card OF the commissioners
declaring that Mrs. Briggs had Just cause OF
complaint, and asking the school board to take
up tne matter: Az tie same time Judge DENT,
chairman OF the District commission, inquired
w nat the boys were aiming al by throwing so
many stones?" | replied that It seemed to be
the birds in the trees; the honey locusts and
the fruits In their season. After thinking o.
the dilemma moment, the Judge advised cut
ting down The trees; he also added that he had
sacrificed peTsimmOn trees at his GEORGETOWN
nome and foundthe plan to work well. Acting
upon ~, one au.iGe OF inc highest District author
1ty, Tor what Is the use OF having king II we
cannot obey him, | Immediately returned
home, secured the services OF colored man.
VINO brought bis ak, which he laid at the foot of
NY darling trees and In q short time two
trees, taller than an ordinary house, laid their
waving foliage and green treSSeS on the bosom
OF mother earth. The fall OF the trees, like an
electric shock. decided the writer to act NO
more In this direction. Judge Dent may ad-
wise. but hereafter | shall never consent to the
ASSASSINATION OF a tree. Commissioners Nor
gan and TWlntng were then appealed 10. as the
obstruction OF the Two trees made no difference
IN the throwing OF the stones. Months have
come aLo gone. All through the winter the
committee OF three school trustees have bean
sitting and trying TO incubate the stones, AT
tie last meeting, at which only the crinlraIS
accused were present, they were allowed 10
pead thelr own case, and these judges brought
IN a verdict of guilty" against Mrs. Briggs
Stch trial and such verdict could never
have been brought forth outside OF the District
OF Columbia. lnto what hands have our pub.
TIC SchoolS fallen, when three men can meet
and thus report. Ia the face OF eight cart LOAF
OF stone, with a1lIdaVitS to the effect that these
stones were thrown by the boys OF Wallach
school, notwithstanding the law which mates
II a legal offence TO throw stones In Washing
ton? New school sites are ABOUT to be plr-
chased. and, like garbage depots and other
tai and physical disease are found to damage
all the property adjacent. What are tnese
PUBIC scnool buildings. containing HUNDREDS Of
and scarlet fever mills, and where a
few criminal minded children vacclnate q
large proportion or the others with moral de-
ioimlt!? The pubic school system az nov
on the face OF civilization. Why? Because
superintendent has devised course OF study
which covers eleven years OF scnool life before
the child can be "educated' What poor Child
WAS ever allowed an eleven years ntbOle at the
public crib? on an average three years at the
longest. At the end or three year3 The child
leaves school without any defined IDEAS Of
knowledge. Instead OF having a system"
ftted TO his three precious years, he has only
been given small piece OF the eleven year
garment. The apprenticeship OF youth is
coming generation in the face? Whilst the
school trustees are wraDgling over school
sites furniture, aud who shall be awarded
chances TO gather In the public school spoils,
the buildings themselves are SO foul that uhey
smell TO Heaven Ike Macbeth's crime and the
health officer has to be invoked with all his
paraphernaia to stamp out the perfumes.
"OLIvA.n