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

HIGH sCHOoL-APPoISTNENTs AND CHANGES
AMONG TEACHERs-sUCCEssFUL CANDIDATES.
An important step was taken last evening bv
the school board towards the solution of the
problem OF the relief of the High school from
the difficulties connected with its oyercrowded
condition. The matter had been referred to
the committed on High and Normal School and
at the meeting Of the board last evening a
carefully considered and practical report was
presented by the chairman of the committee,
Mr.. Rufus II. Thayer. The other two men,
bers of the committee, Mr.. John W. Ross.
the president. and Rev. Francis g.. Grimke.
signing the report. The statement of the
situation. as presented in the last annual re-
port of the board. ia quoted by the committee.
II is stated that in the opinion of the board a
point has been reached in the history of the
Washington High School when il has become
apparent that a single high school Is INSULT
Gent to meet tho wants of a community num-
berIng nearly or quite a quarter of a million
OF inhabitants. The attendance last year
reached the number Of 100. which was not
only enough to I'LL the High School Building,
but the new addition. The location of a single
building IN a territory sixty miles square. 1t is
stated. must necessarily he Involvement OF ac-
cess to a large number Of pupils.
TWO ADDITIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS.
In the opinion of the board the only COM
plete remedy Is the establishment of two ad-
ditiOnal high schools. one on Capitol Hill and
the other either IN o. convenient to George
town. The report also quotes from Supcriu-
tendent POwelIs last annual report. from Prin-
cIpal Lanes report and from reports made by
Supervising PRINCIPALS stuart of the third divl-
sion and Jannsy OF the fifth division. all of
whom urge the necessity of some action to re-
Heve the condition Of the High School. The
committee states that there are now 1,267
pupils in the High School. and that the esti-
mated number for next year Is L,61l. Con-
tinuing. the committee saws: The board is
fully advised az TO the recent extension of the
present High School building. which supplied
an urgent need. relieving IN overwhelming de-
maud for room and permitting an enlargement
of facilities and a satisfactory adjustment of
the work of the school. Notwithstanding this
extension the building is now inadequate. The
number OF High School pupils has been rap
idly increasing each year and has more than
kept pace with the enlarged accommodations.
II Is not deemed necessary to discuss the rea-
son producing this result. Your committee be-
lieve that the intelligent and forcIble state
mentS made IN the last annual report of the
board pages Z, 5 and 81 under the head of Pay
OF Teachers and The Washington High School
embrace the principal causes operating to pro-
duce this result. But whatever the cause. the
board Is confronted with the result i'll the form
OF over l.6OO pupils who will be knocking at
the doors OF the High School at the beginning
OF the next school year.
LOCATION OF THE HIGH SCHOOL
1.-The solution of this question is also seri-
ously embarrassed by the fact that the High
School Is not located with marked convenience
to the large area of the city. The closely popu-
lated area from which these pupils mostly
come stretches from the limits Of Georgetown
10 the remote points of East Washington. a dis
tance OF more than four miles. The outlying
territory OF Anacostla, BennIngs. B~rightwOod
and Ienallytown must be mmod also.
The corner of 9TH stree: and PENNSYLVANIA
avenue may be taken as a reasonably central
point for this whole area, particularly so when
consideration Is given to the street car faciii-
ties of the city. Unfortunately the school is
located nearly one mile north of this point. Ii
Is thus seen that High School pupils from the
Capitol Hill district and from Georgetown
have a distance of from two to three and one-
half miles to traverse to reach eth and o
streets. Ihe cost of car fare is not too insig-
nlhcant not to be IN many cases burdcnsome.
1t Is not doubted that in some cases it operates
as a bar to the parent and prevents him from
giving his child the advantages of q high
school course. Besides the cost of car fare the
long distance becomes a more serious deterrent
factor when Indictment weather intervenes.
which operates more especially upon the
younger pupils and upon the female pupils.
Territorial convenience. therefore. is one of
the important factors TO which careful cOnsid-
Grafton must be given in the disposition of this
question. This element of the problem in
NANGCo anu tuADA LCtSd uutSllOu NulCu mas tGGn
much discussed and variously determined in
different school Jurisdictions. 1t is a question
which sooner or later presents itself in every
large municipality of the country when the
number OF high School pupils reaches from
1000 10 l.2O0 pupils.
METHODS OF MEETING THE QUESTION.
There are two Rethods OF meeting this ques-
ton:
First. By establishing additional independ-
ent high schools.
Second. BY maintaining one central high
school anu establishing from time to time sup
Elementary schools In which the lower grades
OF nigh school work shall be done.
"ltls manifest that we are rapidly reaching
ii We have not already reached. the point
where TINS problem must be solved in Wash
InGton. 1t Is freely admitted that the maxi
mum number of pupils that can be handled most
eHectiVeIy Ia a single school OF this character
is from l.uOO TO LOO. To care for more than
TINS number will be At the expense OF efficiency.
o. health aud Of wholesome moral influences.
Tour committee, after a careful study OF the
present data and IN view of the limitations
placed upon the board bv the present apDro-
prIations and those IN the bill now pending he
Tore Congress. do not think it wise or ueces-
sary 10 dispose of this important question at
this time. Its importance demands the most
careful study. TO establish one or more indie
pendCnt would re- uire "a considera-
DE expenditure OF money. Careful estimates
OF costs WOI!G have 10 be made and submitted
10 the Commissioner and to Congress. Be fore
entering upon such = field /; seems wise TO make
some experiments iii adjustment within the
limits OF our present system. When The time
Is reached for the ,rttlemeE: of the main prob
lem We shall not only nave the experience of
other cities to AID Us, but will have gathered
wisdom OF our own as the fruit OF our expert
ments.
EXPERIMENTAL SCHOOLS.
This brings Us TO the first proposition, which
we commend 10 the favorable action of the
board 1t Is that, III at least two localities.
carefully selected. in buildings already owned
and equipped. experimental adjunct schools be
established. 70 which shall be couided the
Work OF the first yeTr Of the High school
course for a limited number o. pupils. II
must be borne H. mind that the main present
motive tor the action recommended Is tine alb
solute necessity existing for reIiet TO the High
school by reducing The number OF prospective
pupils By about go. To effect this result with
the least disturbance 10 our present system
ana with ths best promise of improved con-
JitioEs defines our limits of experiment..
Whatever Is done must be ACCOMPLISHED
WITHIN the limits OF existing appropriation
and must under no circumstances lessen the
ehclency Of any other branch or part OF the
system.
TIE LOCATIONS SUGGESTED.
where shall such relief schools be located
Your committee believe that the first locality
TO be selected for this purpose should be the
third division. This division is a long dis.