Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-11

vIded for this division III the current District
bill. In the fifth division a new building is
fully completed. and it is believed that there
will be no difficulty whatever in providing the
necessary rooms for this purpose in the Curtis
building.
THE EXPENSE OF INSTRUCTION.
at is confidently believed also that
the change proposed will not materially
increase the expense OF instruction. No
more teachers will be required than would
be necessary to maintain the present system.
as the large increase of number of pupils
would in any event necessltate the employ
ment of additional teachers for the High
School. The separation proposed will not re-
quire any more teachers than would otherwise
have 10 be employed. 1t must also be borne
in mind that the 1rst-year work requires no
laboratory apparatus. 1t includes only biolog-
ical science, and all the equipment or plant re-
| CURED Is such a library as We are now seeking
to acquire for eighth-yrade schools.
"Ihe Ommitt desire to impress upon the
board the tact that the change proposed should
not be considered as committing the board to
| the establishment of either permanent supple
mentary high schools or permanent indepcn-
dent high schools. In the judgment of the
committee 1t is not now advisable 10 do more
than is necessitated by the conditions now ex-
listing. We have an increase of high school
pupils beyond the capacity of the present
building. Relief in some direction is abso-
luteiy necessary. Halliday schools should be
avoided. Extended accommodations by rent
ing unsuitable buildings in the nelghborhood
of the High School building is attended by ex-
rense and serious Disadvantages. The course
proposed by the committee Is the one that
seems to them to afford relief with the least eX-
pense and the least disadvantages. At the
same time it lays a foundation upon which the
board may rely for some valuable data to aid
them in the future. The proposed action
therefore is an eXpedient to meet the existing
conditions and should not be regarded as any
thing more than an effort TO meet. IN the best
and most economical way, the present cmerg-
ency. The action above recommended relieves
tho High School 70 the extent of "a pupils,
while the relief desired is approximately 100.
Ii Is necessary to provide for at least rs more
High School pupils Sc as to afford them neces-
sary relief.
THE BUSINESS COURSE.
"The board are aware of the frequent sug-
g~estions that have been made to so amend The
present organization OF our school system as to
give pupils who have passed the eighth grade
facilities for instruction i'll commercial and
business methods and for training similar to
that furnished i'll the best business colleges.
One member OF the board has suggested tie
establishment of IN additional or ninth grade.
and that one school of this grade might be es-
taElIshed IN each OF the divisions where deemed
advisable. The attention of the mi
has been called to this important question.
The suggestions made have great merit of their
own and would deserve very careful considcra-
ton independent of the needed relief of the
High School. But in connection with the fact
OF an oyer-CrOwded high school it has seemed
TO the committee that the question has acquired
additional merit for present consideration. 1t
Is known 10 the board that the business course
of the High School is a two years course and
embraces some aeadcmlcal studies. ~Instruc-
ton III English aud history and physiology,
physics and chemistry is included in this
course. and the committee believe that an
elimination OF any OF these studies would be a
shortening of the course unfortunate for the
pupil. But it is suggested with great force
that many parents have not the means to mann
tain their children in the schools beyond the
eighth grade. Tor two or three years, as CON
templated iii the high school courses, and that
many of these would find the means to send
their children TO II school affOrding Il business
course extending over one year. inasmuch as
such a course would give the pupil material aid
In fitting him for some useful and remunera-
tive employment soon after leaving school.
The force of such a demand is recognized by
the committee. The board of trustees are
bound to accede to any reasonable demand
which seeks an extension of our system Of pub
lie schools III the interest of that class of our
citizens whose means are limited. Believing
that such a demand exists and that the means
at hand are ample TO provide the facilities sug-
gosted, your committee think that the business
course of the High School should be so
amended as to provide a course of one wear
carefully arranged on lines shown by expert
ence to be productive of the best results. 1t is
also deemed entirely practicable to have in
structlOn Tor pupils In this course given out
side of the High School building. In fact a
segregation of the pupils OF this course would
give some distinct advantages and afford larger
opportunities for making the course more val
liable and effective. The withdrawal OF these
pupils from the High School building. in addi-
ton to the number of first year pupils proposed
to be instructed IN the Peabody ard Curtis
buildings, VIII reduce the number of High
School pupils for next year by about 400. Your
mmIt are unable to estimate the number
OF pupils that would select a business course of
one year. The number of pupils in the first
year of the business course of the High school
Is III, and it is safe to assume that not a less
number will be applicants for admission 70 the
separate school.
IN THE THOMSON BUILDING.
"IOur find that the Thomson build
ing, located on 18th street between X and l.
streets, in the first division, can be vacated for
this purpose, and they recommend that the
business and commercial course of the High
school. amended as suggested, be transferred
from the HIGh School to the Thomson build
ing. The committee DO not undertake at the
present time to submit in detail the changes
proposed IN the course of instruction ia said
school nor TO suggest the assignment of teach
ers necessary to properly organize and equip
0dAu SLAOOAs blb Dtltht lHtt II Is tltl1tlN nrlC-
tlcable 10 properly organize the school within
the resources at the command OF the board
without injury TO other branches of the school
system. Admissions TO this school should be
rightly held to promotions from tie eighth
grade or to applicants whose education IL
clearly equivalent TO the standard reached at
tie end OF the eighth grade work. In this way
the school Will be maintained as a course of IN
structlon which may be selected instead of the
more cXtenaed High School courses The
committee feel confident that the present equip
ment OF our public school system fairly enables
the board TO maintain all its branches without
a sacrlhce OF any Of its component parts, and
that as improvements are from time to time
suggested they can be wisely met. There is
not at present, We believe. and there never
should be any antagonism between the several
branches OF the system. Every effort should
be made TO maintain the system upon the
broadest lines and there should be no lrssening
OF standards. While, therefore, the changes
suggested IN this report are primarily enforced
10 afford relief to the High School they would
not be did they not carry with
them promises Of distinct present advantages
and also the development OF data. as the result
OF actual experiment. to aid the board ia de-
terminlnS upon the permanent extension OF
our school system, which It's phenomenal and
healthfui growth Will sooa enforce"
THE REPORT ADOPTED,
The report was adopted and 500 copies were
ordered printed. The changes recommended
by the report will go into effect at the begin
ming of the next school year.
SUCCESSFUL. CANDIDATES.
Prot. Gregory. f-om the committee on teach