Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-18

Mr.. VIM B. Powell superintendent of the
white schools of the District. has prepared his
annual report, which is now in the hands Of
the District Commissioners.
Congress" he says. has provided literally
for the erection, extension and improvement
OF school buildings during the last three years.
Most of our schools are taught on full time.
Very few schools above the second grade have
been restricted to halliday time. This has been
gratifying. A marked improvement in the
character of the schools has been the result. If
this liberality is continued for one or two years
more our accommodations will be adequate,
all that can be desired, after which We shall
need to provide only for the annual increase or
growth.
1t should be remembered, however, that in
making our present estimate We must consider
he wants OF $4,000 children. We ought also
consider especially the probable growth of
ONE portions OF the city or District not now
provided with schools.
The following schools will be needed by the
time they can be appropriated for and built
III the city continues to grow to prevent the
extension of halliday schools into the third and
fourth grades: An eight-room building in each
OF the first, second, third and fourth divisions:
six or eight-room house at lexington or
Brooks; an elSht-room room building at Ana
costa, which could be erected on the lot now
owned by the District.
THE HIGH SCHOOL PROBLEM.
Provision must be made for tie accommo-
dation OF children attending the high school,
The annex, now building, will no more than
meet the present demands. After the addition
Is completed and the then new high school
occupied onr accommodations for high school
pupils will be exhausted
respectfully suggest that the present high
school Is large enough, if indeed, il is not
already too large. 1t is not practicable per-
haps, to establish other coordinate high
schools. 1 do not believe it desirable. The
plant for such school is expensive II is
Always expensive to manage such plant. as
only experts can manage 1t profitably.
The llml atoms in salaries insisted upon bvCon-
Sres5 make 1t impossible for us to employ the
number OF experts required for more than one
nigh school: L believe, however, that the So
lutlon OF this question is easy and practicable
he iirst year s work of the present high school
might be done advantageously, perhaps more
probably than it is now done, in the respective
localities where these children live. Plants for
these auxiliary high schools or local high
schools, or division high schools. would not be
expensive. This first years work is:
AcademIc-English history. algebra, Latin
lectures onphysiology and physical geography
Scientific-English, history, algebra, Ger
man. lectures on physiology and physical geog-
raphy.
Business-English. history, algebra, book
Keeping and business arithmetic, lectures on
physiology and physical geography.
Inc work OF this year can be done without
much apparatus. The science work is that
which nature affords and is studied better in
the field or fresh from the field than in any
other place or under any other conditions The
work In mathematics requires no apparatus.
The work In English, which should be en-
phaslzed and extended, requires only such
Libraries as we are now irving to furnish for
our eighth-grade schools. Two or three such
schools might be opened another year in build
lngs now owned. The advantages and dlsad-
vantages of this scheme will not here discuss.
l present the question as one that demands So
luton for the immediate future and refer YOU
with qualification to remarks on the same sub
ject by Supervising Principals Stuart and
Janney. part of this report.
ATTENDANCE
The attendance upon the schools during the
year was good The increased attendance in
the first SIX divisions was peculiar in that it was
confined almost wholly to the upper grades.
the increases or decreases being as follows.