Evening star., 1893-09-01
Opening Day Will Be on the 18th
Of September.
4 TALK WITH PRESIDENT MITCHELL
He Thinks the Outlook Very En-
couraging.
NJ A N y AL T r MING

iuinpld Will open on MONDAY september lo
Only fortnight more Of vacation and then
the work Of the winter will begin.
September Is is the day that has been set
apart for the celebration Of the Capitol CEN
tennial. but this fact will not interfere with
the opening Of the public schools. OF course
but little will be done on that day as 1t
is the intention Of the school trustees to
give the children every possible chance to
participate In the celebration. On the first
day Of the school year but little is ever ac
complished beyond giving the children their
tickets and transfer cards and straighten-
ing out as far as possible the class work
for the ensuing year. 1t takes some little
time, anyhow. to set into working order
such big institution as the public school
system that will probably provide educa-
tional facilities this year for more than
forty thousand pupils.
Additions and improvements.
There are to be no great innovations into
the system, although there are to be a
number of additions and improvements.
The force Of teachers will be increased
about sixty. most Of the new positions hav-
ing already been filled by appointments
from the graduates Of the Normal School.
There is to be but one new school occu-
pied this fall. This is the Fillmore building
In Georgetown. on S5th street. few blocks
above the convent. In taking possession
of this new school a number of rented
buildings In the vicinity will be vacated.
The Curtiss building In Georgetown. which
has hitherto been used a graded school,
will be turned over to the Western High
School for its use, with the exception OF a
single class room.
MIR. Mitchell on the Prospects,.
Speaking of the prospects for the coming
year Mr.. John T. Mitchell. president of the
board Of school trustees said to a Star re-
porter: The outlook for the present wear
shows Increase p-all
the addition OF valuable material to the
teaching force. The Business High School,
after the three years experience we have
had with II, has proved to be one Of the
most valuable OF all aids to public educa-
tion. affording as it does the means for se-
curing livelihood TO large number of
young men and women who graduate after
two years instruction in a thorough busi-
ness course that includes penmansh;p
stenography, typewriting. bookkeeping, the
elementary branches Of commercial law
anu o.her matters that are particularly
connected with preparation for an active
business life
so far as 1 am informed this is the only
enureiy business course connected with
any system OF public school eiuca tion
Possibly there is such a system either in
San Francisco or Denver. but i am not GER
tam tam OF IT. 1t is perhaps the very best
branch OF our public schools. after the
eisnth grade, which comes in between the
elementary grades and the academic branch
OF the High School Pupils who enter the
business branch. after an examination to
determine their fitness for the course. are
prepared for an active business life. r'he
best evidence that we have of its success
is the fact that Of the first class that grad
9ated' IN 1877 nine-tenths Of all the stu
dents, dents have already succeeded In Sc
curing paying situations without having
TO invoke the aid of that unknown
sncs Suanuty r,s usually ssIi d denominated infiu
High School numbered thirty-eight. think
the school will start this fall with at least
$50 pupils"
Manual Training.
BY far the most important addition that
will be made to the public school system
this coming year will be considerable ex-
tension Of .the course Of manual training
This matter Of teaching the boys how to
handle tools and the girl, to Sew ana cook
has proved immensely successful since it
was inauGurated in this city, ana the ex-
ltoitions Of the manual training schools last
June attracted u good deal of attention and
favorable comment.
At the meeting of the school board on
July s. after the closing Of the school year.
committee of four was appointed to con-
s:der the "advisabiity and feasibility Of ex-
tending the system Of manual training in
the schools Of the District of Columbia" :"
The committee has been considering the
matter carefully all summer. and President
Mitchell, who Is particularly interested in
the subject, has been working on the re-
rort, which will be submitted at the first
meeting OF the trustees.
The report will recommend the organiza-
ton OF a manual training school that shall
be comparable in scope and usefulness
with the Business High School. The sug-
gestion is in direct line with the wishes Of
all the trustees. and there Is no doubt that
the school will be started with the be-
ginning of the new school year. The plan
of the school calls for a two years course
for students. who shall devote all their
time probably from to O'Clock, to learn
ing trade, under the supervision and di
rectiOn of competent and careful in
structors. The course will supplement the
present course of an hour or two a week.
which naturally is not more than enough
to give the students fair start. 1t does
not fit them to earn their own living with
out any further preparation, as the new
school will do. Students who have gone
through the regular public school course
probably as far as the eighth grade will be
admitted to this manual training school
If they show any particular aptitude for
the work.
Purposes Of the New System.
AS many students will be taken as can
be accommodated. At first there will be
some question as to how to provide room
for them and this will limit the number
at first. Later 1t is hoped to develop the
school just as has been done with the Busi-
ness High School. The boys will be taught
q trade and the girls will be taught to sew
and cook In the former they will learn
not only plain sewing, but fancy sewing
as well, dressmaking and the advanced
methods of cutting and fitting. In short, 1t
ia the purpose Of the new manual training
school to fit young people Of both sexes
to earn their own living by the skill Of
then own hands to understand the dignity
of LABOR SO that they shall not be ashamed
to woTk