The Washington times., 1895-06-19

VTHE country SCHOOL, Is not the name
an open sesame 20 an almost mex
haustible mine of happy memories
and fond recollections, OF petty,
childish difficulties and lofty ambitions,
built ike castles in the air, and like them
as easily raZed to earth by the next sue
ceeding faintest breath carrying on its
wings the mere suggestion OF still grander
hope for future life.
While battling with our now far greater
difficulties, and gazing out from under the
burden of sustaining our more or less lofty
ambitious, bow restful and soothing it is
to transport ourselves by that wondrous
power which kind nature has given us as
a recompense for the many trials with which
she loads US. to the dear little wooden
school house, mayhap long since decayed
and vanished
The hurry and skurry of leaving home
and mother on bright, sunny spring morn
ing, not to get to school oh, no, not
for a moment-but to join the other little
rascals on their way 10 school, and with
them to drag their chubby unwilling legs
along the dusty road playing all manner
of pranks on each other, and directing them
also, alas, against the wandering dogs, the
crabid cross roads cobbIer Who has been
working for hours, and who in consequence
cannot countenancc consistently such idle
ness as these careless children display.
Then, too of course, must they gaze in
wonder and awe for moment at the genial
blacksmith, who, although he, too, has been
working for hours. has not forgotten the
time " hen he himself was a ltstless, careless
boy. 4 last final game OF marbles and tue
shying Of a few stones at the unoffendng
birds, while the girls gather few dainty
flowers for the teacher, who even now is
summoning them at the doorway with the
cracked hand bell.
Inside, the low, long benches quickly fill
with the children of all ages, all unhappy, at
least so they think, some reciting while
others study, those studying making nearly
as much noise and as little progress as those
reciting, and all casting wistful glances out
through the open windows and longing TO be
with the birds and flowers in the open fields
| and shady glens. The master with rod IN
| one hand and dull spelling book, or still
| duller arithmetic in the other, striving to
| force the contents of the one in, by 'he
ont ward application OF the other. Inc
| fool in the corner with his cap, dlsconsolate
and sad vet retaining sufficient spirit to cast
| a shy. WICKED glance at his reciting comrade
| who straightway makes the most glaTing
| blunder in spelling and receives ia requltal
| such chastisemeHt as the pedagog sees M 20
| b-Stow or as the heat of the day VIII allow.
| This is the country school which we hold
| in the Businesses of our memory as sacred
I treasure. HOW uIltEtiN dit NuS tVNAANsi
| schools OF to-day and yet how similar, too,
| in some respects, as they always will be.
! The same heartaches and the same trials.
| The same fields, flowers and birds. The
same restless longing for the open an
The country schools of the District OF
| Columbia are embodied in the same system
| which predominates in the city schools.
| The same course of study. the same text
| books, teachers of equal ability, mechanical
| apuliances of the same kind and, TO q GER
tain extent, where the population demands,
buildings the equal in every respect, as To
heat. light and sanitary condition. or those
| to which the children OF Washington are
sent
| In such centralized localities as Mount
Pleasant, Brightwood, Benning, and An
| acostfa modern 70 ur and eiGht-room
| buildings have been erected for the ac-
commoddtion OF the children. Graduates
of the Normal School are assigned 10 the
| lower grades in the same manner as to
thoseof the city schools. Teachers work and
| grow in these schools, promotions are made
| from grade 10 grade as vacancies occur,
| 81, that the corps of teachers IN the country
| is the equal in every respect or tnat OF the
| CITY, and is. in fact, so closely fdentfled
| with it that the two are practically one
| and the same But the country teacher mas
| much to contend with of which her cIty
sister knows little or nothing. In many
cases she has to start for her distant school
n full hour before 0 O'Clock in order TO wei
come her children to their days WORK
when they arrive And when she does reach
her building she must forget her trials aud
present to the children smiling counte
nance and tidy appearance Then, too
the children must get an early start IN order
to reach school, S as not to be marked
tardy.
1t is not conducive to the best work TO
have To plod over several miles OF rough
country road in all conditions of weather
before entering the schoolroOm. but not
withstan1ipg these drawbacks the stand
ing of the country schools CT the District
of Columbia is of a very high standard
and compares most favorably with those
of the city proper. 1t is exceedingly
gratifying to those in charge to note from
wear tn year the punctual. regular at
tendance and the steady improvement III
scholarship of the pupils attending these
suburban schools.