Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-13
come only night or two and then drop out.

come only night or two and then drop out.
are known to be those who need most the work
we are anxious to do for them. They are the
restless uneasy. aimlcss portion of untxught
young people, and hence the dangerous por-
ton. They are not necessarily bad, but are in
condition to easily become SO. They are the
prey of their own whims and the creatures Of
momentary influences. These are they who
lack self-control, who are without education.
because they have neglected their opportuni-
ties, not because they have been unfortunately
circumstanced in life, not because Of misfor-
tune. They have been careless, unreliable all
their lives. Their parents OF guardians have
done little or nothing to make them response
ble reliable, safe persons. 1t is found that this
class OF persons is not reached by the night
schools fail to hold and interest them long
enough to strengthen their better impulses and
resolutions. The state is directly interested in
retaining these persons. We're they reclaimed
and made good. geace-lovins,, productive citi,
have much less to do, for from these. sooner or
later. the criminal classes are recruited. The
number of teachers is legion who can trace tru-
aney and careless regard for authority, UNI
checked by the parent through the stages Of
the troublesome. aimless boy; the arrest the
Police Court, the reform school, the work
house or the prison. The steps are known.
They are logical and sequential and are as sure
as seed time, growth and harvest.
1T is believed that the number of such per-
sons is but small percentage Of the school
population of the city. Ninety per cent Of
these can be trained to reliable. valuable citi-
zenship by directive, formative means il taken
in time. We ought to know how many Of this
class Of persons Of both sexes Of school age are
in the community. We now have no means of
knowing. Any estimate Of the number is ram
dom guess work. For this purpose we want
rRuANT OFFICERS.
'.If it is not thought desirable or ia not pos
sible to secure by legislation one or more truant
officers to be directed by the superintendent,
l suggest the prcpriety of asking the honorable
Commissioners to detail one or two police
officers for this purpose. II it is found that
the number of children is large enough to
make it desirable to do so special schools may
be provided for them, to be called ungradcd
schools. feel very sure that fer every dollar
spent in this sensible prevention of crime many
times that sum will be saved by the decreased
necessity for the detection and punishment Of
crime. Let us then ask that one or two intclli-
gent, reliable officers be detailed for this i'm
portant service. The badges may be (should
be- removed. but the authority may be re-
tanned BY no other means can two such
officers do 80 much to prevent crime, do so
much to insure peace and quiet to our fair city
and insure safety to its citizens.
For it is much better to try to reach these
people earlier in life. For this reason we
should have
FREE KINDEEdARTENs.
II need not here repeat what have said in
previous reports of the educational vaIus Of
kindergartens. l believe. however, that it
would he wise to establish kindergartens with
view Of reaching at az carly time in their lives
those young persons who later. il not thus
reached and saved. constitute the truant ele-
ment Of the day schools, as we'll az those I'M
stable persons whom. it il seen, the night
schools fail to hold and interest. 1t is I'M
doubtediy true that many OF the first class are
also found in the second. 1t has been found,
the proof of which is abundant, tim. the Young
persons above named are not incorrigible, or
what may be termed bad, when they first mani
fest their characteristics. They are weak in
self-control. As before intim8ted there is not
now and never has been any person who will
or can teach them self-contrOl make them re-
liable. who il authorized to do 30. They drift
and drift. and the more they drift the less
power they have over themselves until they
reach the borders and enter the arena Of crime
that is hard by, when their drifting ceases in
many cases and they become aggressive wrong
aOers and soon become menace and an ey-
pense TO the state. Could these persons have
been taken early in life, at four or five years Of
age, and been given the training that the kin
dergarten insureS most OF them would have
been saved from wrOngdoing and caused to
enter the walks Of useful and productive lives.
"YOu have many teachers who can diagnose o
case of crime and give the history of the causes
leading to it better than the detective officer
who can excel them In securing the culprit
after crime has been committed. The expense
OF prevention, certainly insured by the kim
dergarten. would be less than that incurred by
tle state in guarding, arresting and Furnishing,
after crime has become a habit, those who
night be saved by its timely influence.
SUGGEST THAT CONGRESS BE ASKED
''First, to add twenty to the number of teach
era that will be provided for the ordinary
schools and insert in the proper place in the
clause providing for teachers the words in
Guiding teachers of kindergartens' This will
amount to Sl3, 200.
Second. to add to the rent fund $4,000 and
t. insert in the proper place in the clause pro-
viding an appropriation for ent the words
including rooms for kindergartens.
"Ihird, to add to the manual training fund CT
to the contingent fund $4,000, and to insert in
the proper place in the clause providing such
fund the words including outfits for kinder
gartens.'
with these appropriations, the total amount
of which is $33. 7OO we can establish and
maintain twenty kindergartens.
BOYS AND TOBACCO.
at seems to me to be most desirable and IN
cumbent on the school authorities TO try TO
secure such legislation will prevent the sale
Of tobacco in any form to boys of immature
age. Such boys should also be prohibited from
using tobacco in any FORM No sooner is a
school house built than some enterpriSing
dealer establishes himself very near the house
for the purposes Of trade. The most prominent
thing offered for snle in many instances il to-
bacco in one form or other. This temptation
al least should he removed from the boys
Proof unmistakable and without practical limit
can be had ofthe evil effects Of cigarette smok-.
ing on boys who attend school. Their teachers
mark decline in their ability no less than in
their disposition to do their work Of the school,
That positive injury to the minds Of growing
persons from the use and especially from the
inordinate use Of tobacco cannot be questioned
for . moment"
SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT.
The following is the statement Of the number
Of public school children in the District:
White colored. Total.