Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-01

To HAVE BEEN BENEFICIAL.
The annual report Of Mr. W. B. Powell, the
! superintendent OF the public schools, was pre-
scented at the meeting of the school board held
today. In this report interesting statistics are
given showing the growth and prosperity Of the
public school system. Some 10000 pupils are
reported to have been in the schools
during the past year, an increase OF
l.4OO as compared with the previous year. The
! need of additional school buildings is empha-
! sized and the board recommends the erection
of eight new buildings. The working of the
/ free text book system Is discussed by the SUI
perintendent and figures are given showing an
increased attendance because books and sup
I plies furnished
I The surerintendent has the following to say
relative to the growth of the public schools of
/ the city:
| The action taken by the United States
| Senate at the instance of Harvard College
i making inquiry respecting the conduct and
| efficiency of our public schools renders it per-
Missile. perhaps even advisable. to present in
| this report some of the facts of the manage
ment and growth of our school system during
| the past few wears.
Education for all and free public schools
are terms that are nearly synonymous. IF you
don't see what you want ask for it," however.
expresses but part OF the controlling genius
of the public school idea. The idea of ''educa-
ton for all cOntemplates benefits to those who
are indifferent to their own welfare as well as
for those who desire and seek opportunities for
Improvement 1t proceeds on the assumption
that the benehciaries in some, perhaps in many
instances, do not know their best interests and
therefore will not unaided elect a course of acts
that will best subserve their welfare.
1t is not enough that all who desire may have
4 frrVNIf
education is missionary in part. 1t seeks to
benefit society by aggressive means, purposive
efforts in for ling its multiplying iucrements.
But the genius Of the government under which
our free schools exist does not brook compul-
sion except rs a last resort. This is shown by
the establishing of kindergarteus for getting
hold Of the child before bad habits are formed
by the establishment of night schools to give
additional chance to those who regret lost op-
| portunities and by other alluring means of OPP
| portunlties. such as public libraries, &c. be-
fore resort Is had to compulsion.
Education must not only be made free, but
II must be taken to the people and the people
must be helped TO accept it by giving them se-
ductive experiences with it. A thousand books
in a central library will not have as many read
ers "a the same books divided among ten de-
POsitories where the many will come in contact
with them by reason of their other associations.
Many more children will attend school in ten
buildings located so as to be convenient to all
| than will attend the same number Of schools
rnassed in a central locality. 1t is not enough
10 offer opportunity for education to all The
means must be made attractive and must be
| thrown in the way of those whom it is desired
\ to reach
| PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
Actuated by considerations set forth in the
| foregoing remarks the efforts Of the school au-
thorities for number Of years have been
directed with consistent continuity to provid-
| ing opportunity for the many. 1t has been our
| policy to carry opportunity to the child and
make such opportunity tempting and seductive
The board. accordingly, has asked of Congress
appropriations for an increase in the accommo-
datlOns for the lower grade schools, TO be placed
where those for whom they were intended would
be accommodated in reality.
What has been done by Congress during the
time TO which allusion is made is of interest
An account of il is not out of place here. At
the beginning of the school year in the fall Of
/ 1855 there attendance in our schools Of
81 .2e4 pupils below the high school To &C
commodate this number of pupils there were
/ JOS school rooms. (Ihe high schools were at
tina, time amply provided for in the Central
| High School and by renting the Miner building
/ for the colored pupils This made il neces-
sary for lisa pupils to be provided for in
\ rented rooms or to be sent 20 half-time schools
with others who would be compelled to share
with them the accommodations provided 1t
| Is next TO impossible to rent rooms that are fit
| for school purposes either as respects con-
yenience OF healthfulness.
DISADVANTAGE OF HALLIDAY SCHOOLS
The disadvantage of halliday schools has
been set forth in more than one annual report
issued from this office. II need not therefore,
be more than mentioned in this place. The
sufferers because of inadequate facilities in
every instance we're the children Of the lower
grades. IL is n matter of record a fact known
/ all vrls Erg.,r oh IL.
the mass of children never attend high grade
schools however numerous conveniently To-
! Gated they may be. The masses get all the edu-
cation they ever receive in the lower grade
schools 1t thought wise and
/ right that every reasonable effort should
be made to provide good and
ample accommodations for all who
/ should be given instruction in the lower grades
/ to the end not only that good school might be
/ provided for every child asking for it, but that
a good school should be offered 10 every child
/ The exact condition of affairs was made public
and Congress was asked to make appropriations
/ for additional room for primary and inter-
J mediate grades pupils. The result has been
most gratifying. During the school wear
ending June 80, 1892, there were 37,4l3
below the High School. For the accom-
mediation OF these there were $50
! school rooms. This shows an increase Of 49, 5
/ per cent in the number OK pupils taught during
| the seven years under consideration while the
increase in the number of school rooms for
/ their accommodation il 10 per centum During
| the seven years there we're built for the accom-
mediation Of pupils in grades below the high
| school one nine-room house thirty-two eight
| room houses, three four-room houses two two
, room houses. one one-room house and ten ad-
ditiOnal rooms TO other buildings
Number Of houses owned, excluding High
Schools, 1872 Observation-Disclosures. SO
! Number of houses owned, excluding High
| schools, 1883 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS "a
Increase for seven years SO
| Small rather than large buildings have been
made that the schools might be near the pupils
I and that danger in going to and from school
might be avoided as far possible and that
/ exposure to Indictment weather might be re-
duced to a minimum.
TRANSACTIONS.
/ In the year 1886 the board Of trustees abol-
| ished examinations as tests for promotion from
grade to grade below the High School and as
| tests for entrance to the High School At that
time interpreted the action of the board to
mean that the teachers and pupils understand
and trained to do better work than a mere
! examination would indicate
This change of method for making promo
tions may have been. undoubtedly has been in
some measure, cause Of growth in the higher
grades OF schools. 1t Is asserted BY those who
have done continuous teaching in the upper
grades of the schools. including those of the
High School. that pupils have come to their re-