National Republican., 1883-08-17
THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
Interesting Facts as to How They Happened
to Receive Their Names
Thomas jefferson the First President OF
the Washington school Board.
TO The Editor.

a board of thirteen trustees" Here is the
origin of the term trustees" rs applied to
school officers. Following this first ordi-
nance, successive mayors and councils enacted
not less than 32j other ordinances and reso-
lutions concerning the public schools.
In 1871 the mayor and council gave way to
the governor and legislature, who enacted "A
few more laws respecting the public schools
In 1874 the governor and legislature in
turn gave way to the commissioners, who
promulgated from time TO time u number of
orders concerning tho maintenance, care,
and management of these schools. Congress
has also legislated on the subject.
But in mono of these ordinances, rcsolu-
tions, laws orders, or statutes so far rs |
have examined or know, is found anything
about the naming of school houses. This
duty seems to have been assumed and per-
formed by the school board without any
specific grant Of power; but, nevertheless,
to general acceptance, except, perhaps, in u
single instance hereafter to be noted.
The first building of any great importance
erected in Washington for the use of the
public schools was named after Richard
Wallach lIo was not only mayor of the city
at the time, but, cX oilicio, n member and
president of the school board and the min
utes show that he was not mere figure head,
but worker. The Wallach building was
begun in 1868 and completed in 1864. 1t
marks n new departure in the conduct of
school affairs. Old timers looked on in some
thing like amazoment, and confidently pre-
dcted ruin to the municipality from Dick
Wallach's alleged extravaganza.
The next school house, following in the
order of time of erection, was the Franklin.
The record docs not show whether this cdi-
flee was named after the great Benjamin who
"plucked the lightnngs from heaven and the
scepter from tyrants," or after the square on
which it is located, nor does it matter, either
would be appropriate.
The Jefferson building is the largest in the
district, having twenty school rooms and
large hall. 1t was named after Thomas JEFF
ferson, the first president of the Washington
school board. His election is recorded in the
book of minutes of proceedings of the board
as follows: "On proceeding to ballot for
president of the board Thomas jefferson was
unanimously elected" and at subsequent
meeting it Is recorded in the minutes that
the temporary chairman (RObert Brent
laid before the board n letter from Mr.. Jcfior-
son signifying his acceptance of the Office of
president Of the board" Mr.. jefferson was
annually reelected and continued to serve
as president Of the Washington school board
until the expiration of his term of Office MS
president of the United States, when he re-
turned to his home in Virginia.
The SeatOn building was named after
Mayor w. w. Seaton, "a high minded po-
neer" in the cause of public education. He
council: l consider it due to the Importance
of the subject, gentlemen, to ask your atten-
tion to the suggestions which / submitted in
my communication of July last (lSl1) on the
propriety of extending more widely tho
means of education to the INDECENT children
of the city, v and of introducing
the admirable system of common schools
adopted in the New England states. by which
the benefits of education arc placed within
the reach of every child in the community.
The Cranch building was named after Judge
William Cranch, member, with President
Jefferson, of the first school board of the city
of Washington.
The Mccormick building. named after
Hugh Mccormick, is not remarkable for size
or architecture, but is remarkable for being
the first building in the city named after a
schoolmaster l have been somewhat sur
prised at the limited number of honors con-
ferred upon teachers in naming school houses.
1t ght be different if the profession was al
lowed some voice in the matter.
The Abbot building was named after George
j. Abbot trustee from 1916 to 1866, and an
accomplished scholar. He is understood to
have inspired and probably drafted the law
under which the present school system of
Washington has grown up.
The Thomson building was named after
S. John Thomson, from whom it had been
purchased. Mr. Thomson is one of the Oldest
teachers now employed in the public schools,
and ranks deservedly high in the profession.
The Curtis building was named after WV.
Curtis at time when he happened to hold
the presidency of the school board. The ac-
tion of the trustees in naming this building
after one of their own number without pc
titon or request from the people of George
town was felt at the time to have been i'm
proper at least, it was not warranted by any
facts known to the public To guard against
abuses or iavortism of this sort in the future
school buildings should not be named after
living persons. The rule, though unwritten,
Is good one and | understand is being OBJ
served by the present authorities and tho
question is whether the mistake which in
voked it should not now be corrected and the
rule made absolute. This can be done with
out ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS to advantage. The
building is overloaded with namcs-Lnthi-
cum, Peabody, Curtis. Better take of some
of them.
The Henry building was named after Joseph
Henry, first secretary of the Smithsonian in
stitution, and one of the foremost men of his
race and time.
Tho Force building was named after Peter
Force, the antiquarian, who collected vast
body of facts and records and books now in
the congressional library, illustrative of the
early history of the capital.
The Peabody building was named after
George Peabody, the London banker. He
WIS an american Dy DlTtn, ana Will De likely
to be longest remembered through his dona-
tion of several million dollars as q fund to
promote education in the southern states
OF course, naming school house after him
was entirely appropriate; but have thought,
rs this particular school house happens to be
situated on Stanton place, it would have been
better to call it the Stanton place school, as
thereby its location would be pointed out
In fact location is made the controlling rule,
in somo cities, in determining names for
school buildings In Cleveland, for instance,
the school houses take tho names of the
streets on which they are located" Euclid
Avenue school, !" Cease Avenue school," and
so on. This idea was probably in mind when
the Franklin was named, and might be
applied in the present case by giving the
name of the square, Stanton place." to the
school house.
The Webster building was named after the
"God.like Daniel" mot Noah who was him
self product of the public schools and who
always delighted to uphold and defend them,
Tho Gales building was named after the
celebrated journalist of that name, who, with
Mr.. Seat0n edited and published the MteRi-
gencer newspaper for nearly half q century, !
may be wrong as to the time, but it was a
long time anyhow.
The Amidon building was named after
Margaret Milburn Amidon, formerly princi-
pal Of the girls grammar school in the fourth
division. This lady, according to all accounts,
was good teacher, and honorably earned the
distinction which has been conferred upon