Evening star., 1886-10-16
THE NIGHr SCHOOLS.


THE SUCCESS ATTAINED BY THE SCHOOLS LAST
1EAR-rHE1R SCOPE TO BE ENLAkGED THIS
YEAR-PRoPosED RESTRICTIONS REGARDING
AGE.
The night schools, which were fnau9urated
last year with so much success will be re-
opened Tor the winter about the first OF next
month. II Is expected that, as was done last
winter, S, nool sessions OF two hours each will
oe nerd on three nights in the week, aud, judg-
ing from The attendance last year aud the
changes In the plans now propcseai is tnOuvh ht
that the attendance will be iripied as com.
that these schools were started by privaie on
terprise, and that the expenses Incident to such
undertakiil3s the salaries of the teachers were
paiu 6y private 6enevoience. Congress made a
small appropriation VI $500. anu in addition
Tie use of ROBINS IN the puUlic school buildings
was granLeu: without, However, gas, which had
terested LII this enterprise were Confident that
IL would supply long-ieit need in this Dis
trict, and that It's success assured Il the ex-
pericnce In other cities and what was actually
known of he conditions here could be taken as
fair criterion. superintendeht Poweli was
rally In giving il practical shape. The SCHOOL
was eonfaned TO three rooms In the Franklin
building for white pupils and three roon,s in
the sumner building iOr colored pupils. Il was
the aestrs To open schoois
UrHEk SECTIONS
OF the city. but the money available did not
permit 1t. At first 1t WAS expected that only
one room would be needeu, hut the first evsu-
rooms in the Franklin building and part Ut q
third, and Tue next evening all three rooms
were nlled; Tue colored scho0l was still more
crowded. Tnere were some fifty pupils Ia each
rv0M, aud the eagerness ~ learn displayed Sy
all those that attended Was u most encUlraginx
III y eensrai way, with the result that those
who needed elementary instruction were
p.aeed In the nrst room; pupils q little more adj
could add aud multiply and do ordinary sums
in computation were placed in the third or
highest grade. These rooms were placed In
change of y principal aud three teachers,
selected irum the corps oi public school teactl-
ers. Congress having appropriated ~, 1900 for
the scope oi the work. 1nstead OF having a
school In one building In one part OF tile city
the intention Is u have six SCHOOLS In six Oil.
ferent parts Of tue city, three Ior white pupils
aud three TOR coiured pupis. This will afford
.acilities Tor about SuO pupils, and 1t Is bs-
iieved that there will be that number who Will
wish 70 avail themselves oi the advantages Oh
tered.
OLD AND YOU'VE Pupils.
1he admission TO these schools Is Of coufs o
free " all, but the experience OF last year shows
the necessity Of limiting the age Of Che pupils
so aS " prevent very young children nom AZ
tending and also To keep out those advanced in
years. For instance, In the colored uight scloO.s
last year were found heads Of families, men 50
years OF age and over, who were learnin. 10
read and write. II IL Thought by some ul those
Interested In the night school that the object Of
penss IL 70 educate the rising generation, aud
that those wnO have reacued middle age Ouxh I
not to be permitted 10 crowd out those !ounxer.
IL " proposed that those Older thHu thirLy.dve
or iorty be not admitted. On the other hand It
IL quite ~ importsn. To prevent children under
iourtsen year: OF age iroin attending thsss
scoOls unless there are peculiar circumsta Iices
justfying IT, For unless some restriction ot this
kind ts AIopted pareuts will Keep their children
vi u SclasOi age ut home 70 work ana then Uend
thsm % the nixht schoOls.
4 R0sPscr or PxRa9ANENcY.
II seems that the night schools Will become q
permanent part of the public school system IN
this Districi, aud all that II needed 10 make II
p-rinaneDt Is the money 70 pay the salMries VI
teoctters, rs tiie buildings are available for this
purpose. Those interested IN, education deem
thts lew movement ~ one Of The Inquest lin.
portance. ~ II Tue pufpOSo TO have In cOunec
alum with the regular instruction short talks OH
| History, natural pueuomsuM, ~, which viii
| serve TO- set the pupils 70 thinking and inspisg
theAs wish . deatxN - rena. . .. =.