The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-03-07
OUR SCHOOLS AND THEIR NEEDS.

A Striking Statement OF the Neglect Of Our Rulers.
TO THE EDyroR-Sir: Your informant was mis-.
taken In supposing me 10 be the person who IN.
formed Senator Ingalls, that his son was attending
halliday school In former stable but such 10 the
fact. In addition to that, his little girl with mine,
attends another halliday school In a room 80 dark
and dingy that one scarcely see TO read there
d cloudy day. Down near the Navy Yard several
schools occupy an old eDgne-house, and one
school Ia located over a tin shop. OF course,
none of these are ventilated or otherwise suitable
for schoolrooms, but we are obliged to occupy them
or 60 without schools. Some Idea can be formed OF
the necessity for more school buildings by the fact
that OF the 6s3 schools In the District 1872 are halliday
schools! halliday school Is perhaps long enough
for the first aud second-grade scholars but we hare
foriy-one third and fourth-grade halliday schools
simply because there are not rooms enough. Even
the rooms In the stable, old engnehous9, etc., have
to accommodate two sets OF chlldren-One school In
the forenoon and another In the afternoon
Now, children In the third aud fourth grades range
from eight TO fourteen years OF age, and are pursu
ing branches which they ought TO have time to study
In school; but with a halliday school 1t
is impossible What makes this worse is
the fact that many children leave school at four
teen especially the children OF the poorer classes,
who 90 out to work when they nnd an opportunity,
and thus they get but half chance even during the
few years they do attend
II Is serious question whether, II this state OF af-
fairs ls to continue, 1t would not be more Just to
close the High School, and use that building and the
money expended TO furnish better facilities for edu-
eating those lower down In the grade, and who never
expect to reach above the NTH and sixth
grades. In the Third Division, embracing the fec-
tlon east Of the Capitol, We have no less than nve
fourth-grade halliday schools, while there are but
two others In the entire District and they In the
Fifth or Georgetown Division. II IL, as you suggest,
very singular fact that tho Blair Educational bill
excludes the District from any share therein; and,
what Ia stronger sii IL the fact that 1t was In the
bill as originally presented, and was stricken out on
the motion OF q senator whose State has school
fund OF near go 900 derived from public lands
donated to II by the General Government! The ex-
cuse given through the Star at the time was that as
the District was right here under the care OF Con-
press they could provide for II at any time. How
Congress will be likely 10 provide for II 10 the future
can be judged OF by what II has done In the past
II has given to the States 100000 OF acres OF
public lands for public schools, State universities.
and agricultural colleges, besides iGOOOoOOO acres
for railroads, aud large amounts In money, while 10
the District II has never given an acre OF land or
dollar OF money ON the contrary, 1t received as
free gift from the citizens OF the District one-haf OF
all the lots In the National Capital, and out Of the
proceeds OF those lots which It sold, II paid for the
public reservations on which the public buildings
stand and the completion Of the buildings them
selyes.
notice that bill is now pending to repay to the
States OF Maryland and Virginia the money those
States donated advanced TO aid In the erection Of
the public buildings, 10 which do not object. But
why not at the same time repay the District the
amount OF It's glftY That amount, with pro rata
share OF the puOlic lands, would furnish Va magn-
nceni school fund.- and as simple matter ofjustice,
We ought TO nave II. II not, why not? VIII any
one tell us7 W. O.. DODGE.
FEBRUARY 22, 1885.
II was Senator Hawley who was 30 aslonlshed ut
the condition Of school aaiTs, as stated in his
address at the meeting forthe Newsboys Home, and
reported In the Sta' Of January 49,