Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-01-23


OF WASHINGTON COMPARE WITH THOSE OF
OTHER CIIIEs-THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE
TRUSTEES.
"Did you see Mr.. Dorman Il. Eaton's address
To the Washington Newsboys' meeting in last
Wednesdays starr" asked a STAR reporter of
Mr.. b. q. Lovejoy, president OF the school
board.
yes" said Mr.. Loveioy; "also its corollary,
Senator Hawley's speech. The eloquence of the
orator was misdirected by the errors of the
statistician.'
"were not Mr. Eaton's figures and statements
correcr.
obtained some of his statistics, or how he
reached some of his conclusions" answered
Mr.. Lovejoy. "The statutory school age in the
District Is from o to II years. inclusive. The
census OF 1850 estimates the number of child
rem of school age in the District 10 be $4,000.
with an enrolment of 10000 leaving 5000
unenroiled These are likewise Mr.. Eaton 9l $
have had no education, have never en-
ioyed public school facilities, is not
Justified by facts experience and Obser-
tion. The law never contemplated the
synchronous enrolment OF all these $4,000
children. Ii IS impossible and undesirable that
all children should continue in school from the
ages of q to IL years. Education in its general
sense means more than the knowledge derived
from school books and teachers. Choice or
necessity limits the school career OF rpany chill
dren. Every boy and girl in a store or office is
building q special education on the basis of the
general one already received at school, yet
must be ciassed with the Is, 600 who are the
absentees. Mr.. Eaton should have inquired,
first, how many had received some schooling;
second, how many were experimenting scholar
ship with some useful pursuit All that his
figures prove is that 43 600 children do not
attend school for a period of twelve years
}. g., from the age of to that OF IL years, in
elusive. He states that nearly three-quarters
are enrolled. Ii, therefore, the schooling pro-
vided Is equally distributed among these A, 900
children, each child would have eight years OF
schooling, or three-quarters of the legal term
HOW wAsHINGroNs SCHOOLS COMPARE WITH
OTHERS.
"Is Washington worse off in respect to schools
than most any other city in the United States?"
asked the reporter, referring to Mr. Eaton's re-
mark.
"No.- said Mr. Lovejoy ST think the con-
trary is true. mean that for efficiency and re-
suits they compare favorably with schools else
where. With regard 10 comparative illiteracy
which Is the touchstone of school efficiency and
attendance, the most reliable statistics are fur
nished by Circular of Information No. 8, Bu-
reau OF Education, 1SS4,' which restores TO the
District the good character of which ii was de-
prived by Mr.. Eaton. From this publication it
appears that the illiteracy OF whites between
the ages of 10 and ID years in the northern
states is 3.6 per cent; in the District is only g
per cent; of blacks in the northern states the
cent; in the District 14.9 per cent"
"What does MIR. Eaton mean by stating that
$500 are obliged to leave their desks to make
room for others?''
II cannot conceive" said Mr. Lovejoy att is
not from hygienic and educational stand
point, desirable that the younger children
should for the first two school years have daily
sessions longer than from three to four hours
ms arrangement affords the opportunity for
two separate classes of children to occupy the
same room constituting forenoon and afternoon
schools. IL would be preferable TO have ses-
sionS In the forenoon only. but this would ne
cessitate the duplication OF school rooms for
this class of pupils.
1t is true, however, that few schools of
rad nflpar aIf a6 To, bax- half d,x
SESSIONS for lack of accommodations, but their
number Is too Insignificant to give color to Mr.
that up to the year issi there was mo no school
1ystem In this District responsive to the de-
0ands Of population, and the now generally
accepted educational theory and practice he
Neuld have stated a melancholy truth. If he
mad stated that, between the years SCI and
1886, there had been developed a system of
public schools with accommodations and facili-
80 which to-day compare favorably with those
q other cities, he would have made gratifying
md undeniable statement"
SENATOR HAwLEY's REMARKS
"What did you think of Senator Hawley's re-
marks?'' asked the reporter.
"The spirit of them must have been gratify-
ing to every friend of the public schools" said
MI Lovejoy: "But Mr.. Eatons premises being
IN the main imaginary, Senator Hawley's con-
ciusIons were proportionally illogical. There
= room, however, Tor his generously proffered
services. The District needs such friends In
Congress, and their rarity enhances their value
For the future, senator Hawley must be re-
garded as the champion OF the public schools
OF the capital. He will be asked to consider
that the District has never received a grant of
public lands for educational purposes, such as
most OF the states and territories have enjoyed:
that our schools have been built solely upon
annual appropriations derived from District
resources; that until a few years ago the public
school accommodations of the District were
wretched-One of the best school houses being
the old stable OF President Jefferson still stand
Ing at the southea corner OF 18th and q streets
northwest, where desks and benches were
substituted for stalls, pupils and teacher for the
progeny of the horses which baffled Col. Tarle-
ton . pursuit of the sage of Monticello; that
few years ago Congress, urged by the school au-
thorities, recognized the absolute need of school
buildings, and established precedent of appro-
priating out OF the District treasury the sum of
$lOo,OOo annually for the purchase of sites
and erection of school houses; that IT is
Commissioners have reached the conclusion
that the District revenues will not Justify a
similar appropriation for the coming wear
although very much needed; that the reason
why the last lingering representative body of
the people,, e., the school board-has not APP
Ieared recently before Congress, is because the
school trustees felt delicacy in going over the
heads OF the Commissioners, having received
an intimation some time ago that il would be
oistasteiul 10 those gentlemen. In Justice
however, TO the board OF school trustees Sen,
ator Hawley should be informed. when he says
the people OF the District are at fault in not
making the situation known 10 Congress- that
the Official records show that the annual esti-
commissioners by the board OF school
trustees have been, at least during NV
seven years connection with the schools
always reduced by the Commissioners Their
substituted estimates the only ones presented
10 the secretary OF the Treasury have ever been
approved BY that cabinet officer, but Congress
mas almost invariably made appropria lions for
the schools in excess OF the estimates submitted
by the commissioners. In the autumn OF 1884
the school board submitted estimates for the
current school expenses of 1856. These esti<
mates were reduced by the Commissioners
Congress added about S10,0 900 to the estimates
for schools submitted by the Comm ssioners lint
even then the appropriation, as results show was
not and Is not adequate to tsIe demand and the
teachers have had their salaries cut down three
per cent AretlcieIey bill appropriating S. 600
wouic be a measure of justice TO the teachers
who are an overworked, underpaid class Con,
be hoped that Senator Hawiey will champion
the cause OF those who have no means of redress
In their own hands. IL is to be also hoped that
he will not only protect the present but pro-
vide Tor the future interests OF the schools and
the teachers An unfortunate difference of
opinion exists between the school board and the
Commissioners respecting the school appropri-
alton Tor the ensuing year. There is a mark ed
discrepancy between the recommendations of
the trustees and the estimates submitted by the
Commissioners, they having greatly reduced the
amount submitted by the board"
The Matter of Reckless Drixiu~
To the Editor of TIE EVENING STAB
Commenting on your editorial and the COM
munication about fast and reckless driving and
Its consequence In the shape o: accidents to foot
passengers, add that no more reckless driving
do see than is done by the boy drivers of the
M tSf xra cFf.raea raaf