The record-union., 1893-01-25
VISITING THE SCHOOLS.
The Directors Complete Their Annual
Inspection Tour.
More Room Needed at the High School
The Condition of Things GEN
orally Satisfactory.

School Directors Sherburn, Tufts, Har
rison and Erlwine made another round
on their annual tour of inspection of the
schools yesterday afternoon, accompanied
by a RECORD UNION reporter.
The first place visited was the High
School, where everything was found in
the best possible shape, although sick
ness has depleted the corps of teachers to
some extent.
The new laboratory was inspected and
pronounced as well adapted to the pur-
pose as possible with the limited facilities
at the Principals command. T. E. Ray,
who has been engaged to give instruc
ton in chemistry, has inaugurated total
revolution of the process heretofore in
vogue, making it a practical course in the
science. As soon as the class had OBJ
tanned what little preparatory theoretical
knowledge was necessary, he took
them to the laboratory and showed
them various experiments, with the
necessary explanations, and then set
them at work under his super
vision to work out some simple
problems for themselves. Chemistry,
without experiments, is not an intensely
interesting study, but under Mr.. Rays
plan great degree of enthusiasm has
developed in the class, and the pupils bid
fair, under the new regime, to acquire a
more thorough practical knowledge of
chemical processes this year than under
the old process of recitations in several
years.
The report of Principal Pond shows
the present building to be totally made
quate to the yearly increasing capacity
required, and he stated yesterday that if
the increase in the number of pupils next
term should be in proportion to that Of the
present term he did not know where he
could put them, and that they would need
additional teachers. The entries in the
Junior class at the beginning of the year
very far exceeded that of previous years,
and the building and corps of teachers
are both overtaXed.
According to Professor Pond a new
high school building is a necessity and
must soon be supplied, or many who
Will apply for admission must be denied.
TwENTY-sEVENTH AND ].
The board next visited the school at
Twenty-seventh and j streets, and were
very much pleased with both the state of
the building and the pupils. The attend
ance, however, was not up to the usual
standard. the teachers reporting that from
five to eight pupils in each class were de-
tanned at home from illness, chiefly colds,
resulting from the protracted damp and
foggy weather. The Directors were earn
estly requested to have the yard filled, as
when 1t rained the surface was divided
as the Biographies state the earth's sur
face to be-into about one-fourth land and
three-fourths water. 1t was thought by
the Directors present that the filling
should be done.
TWENTY-FOURTH AND n.
The school at Twenty-fourth and n
streets came next, and was found in good
condition, although there were some sick
absentees from the classes on the lower
floors. The discipline was excellent, and
the visitors expressed themselves as we'll
pleased.
THE SUFFER- GRAMMAR SCHOOL
At Twenty-first and L streets was next
visited, and Principal j. w. Johnson,
espying the approach of the Directors,
grasped the bell and forestalled
Chairman Sherburn by ringing the
ire-drill alarm. which, if not done
with the true auctioneer's swing,
was effectual in emptying the building in
about fifty-ive seconds. The time would
stairs been wider. Here everything was
progressing finely, and very little sick
ness of pupils was reported.
JEFFERSON PRIMARY.
The school at Sixteenth and n streets
lay next in the route, and was found in
excellent condition, the discipline being
worthy of notice; but on inquiry 1t was
found that quite number of pupils were
on the sick list. The attention Of the Di-
rectors was called to some necessary re-
pairs, which will be made.
WASHINGTON PRIMARY.
The school at Thirteenth and G streets
came last. and proved to be in crafty
ing condition in every way, and the Di-
rectors expressed themselves as pleased
at the increased progress toward very
high standard which had been made in
the various schools visited during the past
year.