The Evening critic., 1882-02-21
REMEMBERING WASHINGTON.
How IL Was Done i'm the Public
Schools.

In all the public schools of the District
exercises were held to-day to commemorate
the anniversary of Washington S birthday.
There was no set programme fixed by
Superintendent Wilson, but that gentleman
simply instructed the principals and
teachers of the various schools to prepare
programme of some kind by way of bring
ing to the attention of the scholars all Of
the incidents in the life and character of
the father of his country. This gave each
teacher an opportunity to display his or
her ingenuity. This was well done in all
the schools.
In the Normal School Miss Smith, the
principal, prepared the following excellent
programme which was carried out to the
letter, the exercises lasting from 1890 till
nearly 8 o'clock;
l. Anecdotes to illustrate the following
traits in the character Of George Washing
ton, viz: affection for his mother, truthful
ness, politeness, bravery, dislike for pro.
fame language. 2. Washington's home, its
location, his parents, other members of
family, etc. 3. His childhood and how 1t
differed from that of Lincoln, Garfield and
many other great men. A. Education. 5.
Personal appearance. g. Neatness and
punctuality. z. Wisdom and justice when
q school boy. 8. Something about
his disposition. o. Favorite sports.
10. His note books. IL. Maxims. H.
Washington a surveyor. 10. Washington
messenger sent to French forts. Ia. One
of Gen. Braddocks aides. 10. Washington
visited by an Indian. 16. How Washing
ton received thanks for his services in the
French and Indian war. H. Marriage and
residence at Mt. Vernon. IS. His tomb.
10. Commander-in.c chief of the Continental
army. 90. Services rendered by Washing
ton TO his country. 81. Anecdote about
Washingtons passing through Trenton. %.
Washington as first President. %. Singing.
a. Recitation. 25. Essay. Singing
America"
These topics were taken up by the young
ladies of the school and handled with
ability, denoting much care and study on
| their part. Most of them showed wonder
ful historical research.
The Boys High school.
Mr.. Paul, the principal of the Boys
| High School, also had a splendid pro-
| gramme. In this school Masters James A.
Maher, Clement NJ. Sites Samuel II. Chase
and Edwin S. Haskell delivered original
orations on the life and character of Wash
ington. In addition, selections beftting
were spoken and read by Masters Harry
English, Albert Hall, Frank Stutzman
Herman Birney, Moshein Swartzell Harry
J. Phillips and William Cutter. The ex.
ercises were interspersed with the singing
of patriotic songs by the young gentlemen
In the lower.grade schools the old birth
place of Washington and the home in which
he died"were drawn upon the blackboards
This mode of bringing up to the minds O
the little ones the early and late history o
Washington proved of vast interest to them
In these schools the teacher in almos
every instance delivered lecture on the
life of Washington.
Exercises similar to the above were held
in all the schools OF the city. This move
idea of commemorating Washington's birth
day is good one, and should be repeated
each year. 1t originated in some of tn
New England cities last year, and is nov
generally carried out throughout tn
country.