National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-09-16
THE SCHOOLS ARE OPEN.
The Small hoy Begins Again His Unwilling
Trudge-Exercises and Incidents OF tho
Onenipg Dsy

Trudge-ENercses anu incidents OF the
Opening Day.
month avo the average boy was the first of
the family at breakfast Yesterday morning
1t took three calls to arouse him, although he
retired carly Sunday night. The boy didn't
want to get UP. While he lay in bed visions
of schools books and months of hard study
rose up before him, and he preferred TO think
| Of rather than realize them. All was activity
around the school houses Teachers were out
! early with smile and cheering words for the
| returning pupils. and as the frat day Is some
what ola novelty very few scholars were tnrdy
The work of yesterday was mainly in organ
! izing and transferring. Every pupil looked
forward to the latter, as II meant promotion
only the pupils on the rolls at the close of last
year attended yesterday, as the ticket schol-
| ars arc not admitted until today. The trans
fer of pupils was attended with considerable
coniusion, and the streets were filled with
/ squads of boys, with books piled high, going
| from one school to another. Boys and girls
moved from one room 10 another in the large
| buildings exchanging greetings with their
| companions and laughing at scholars unfor
tunatc to remain behind These latter were
| easily identified. If u boy he put on surly
air, and said, II don't care" while u girl
would hang down her head and irown at the
new corners. Sometimes II girl would be seen
| leaning on her folded arms, weeping bitterly,
| thinking IL 4 disgrace to be kept back The
teachers were kept busy in consoling these and
| giving good advice.
Superintendent Wilson opened the high
school, at which there were nearly 700 pupils
| in attendance When the work of organiZa-
ton is finished If any more pupils can be ac-
commodnted an examination of applicants
will be held. Mr.. Wilson proposes 20 make
vocal music an elective study, AS 1t is not
thought best to have one large singing body Of
| 200 pupils. He reported the growth of the
| high school as almost incredible, aud said
| that the limit OF accommodations had almost
been reached. lie advocates having another
! large building for the school.
| In making some remarks to teachers about
| education Mr.. Wilson suggested that the teach
| ers observe the following text: The most pre-
tentous schemes and curricula Of education
arc, after all, comparatively valueless If they
do not secure for the pupil the power of doing
common tninEs Well lie a, ,,. announces , y, e
known as "walter Scott day." The day will
be celebrated by reading essays and quota
| tons from SCOTS works, similar to the cele.
bration of Franklln's birthday, as observed
| last year. The celebration Will occur about
! Feb. 20 or 2l.
The attendance at all of the schools promises
u large increase both IN colored and white
schools The new admissions in the colored
schools will be nearly 200, and the ticket
scholars will be admitted to-day. The colorcd
high school was opened by Mr.. Cardoza, the
new principal, yesterday, and 80 new pupils
were admitted, making the total number at
present 145
up to yesterday was 400 for
| INC ScCOuu SCHOOL ulNlhlOn' l,EUO lUT lne HTSt
division; 500 for the third; 627 for the fourth,
and 273 for the fifth. 1t is estimated that
nearly 5000 ticket scholars will be admitted
to-day. There are over fifty school buildings
| for the accommodation of the scholars, and
not far from 10000 pupils can be accommodated.
There are also two schools in course of erection,
and the money realized from the Holmead es-
tate will probably erect two more, SO that
| there will be sufficient accommodation for
| the scholars next year. About one-half Of
the buildings occupied this year are rented,
and have formerly been used for all sorts of
| purposes, some being uniittor school use. The
! question of heating the school buildings this
| year is an important one, and there are two
| systems now used. Much time has been con.
sumed by this question, and rs yet practically
nothing has been done. The Rutton system is
commended for large buildings, while the
steam heaters are said to be specially adapted
| for use in the smaller ones.
| This is what the children will start in on
| First grade-Franklin Primer Q.eighs pro-
nouncing edition., u cents; Franklin Second
| Reader l.eigh's pronouncing edition., 80 CENTS
slate, 81 by 10, cents slate pencil, cent.