The Washington times., 1895-02-03
SCOPE OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Exhaustive Debate in Connection
with the District Bill.
SOME QUEER OBJECTIONS MADE
New England Senator'S Opposition to the Ap-
preparation for Building for the Busi-
ness High school-senator Villas Eloquent
Ples-senator Sherman says Washington
Ought to Have 100 School Buildings.

The item of public schools was the first in
the District appropriation bill to engage the
attention of the Senate yesterday when. about
o'clock, that measure was called up by SEN
ator German.
Senator Gallinger made lengthy speech,
in which he criticised the present system OF
government for the District, saying that it
was far from an ideal one. as had been
claimed nor did be believe that the majority
OF the people of the District were satisfied
with it. as had been asserted. He declared
that appropriations for the District were as a
rule inadequate. especially in so far as this
related to the public schools. The school
accommodations here were so inadequate, he
said, that 3,274 children cannot be seated all
day. Senator Gallinger also objeeted to the
low pay given to teachers. He doubted the
adyisability of paying out $4,000 1or Busi-
ness High School when there were so many
schools needed to accommodate the children
clamoring for admission to the lower grades.
SHERMAN ALSO OBJECTS.
Senator Sherman also raised objection % the
high schocl appropriation. and urged larger
facilities for the elementary grades.
Mr. German called Mr. Sherman's attention
to the fact that the Business High School is
already in existence, and the appropriation is
only Intended to provide proper building
The one now u ed was disgrace to the Dis
trict. The proposed APPROPRIATION was exactly
IN the line OF the suggestions Of the Senator
from Ohio TO provide the right sort OF eduea-
tion. he also emphasized the necessity for
manual training schools, which would give
the pnIIiran Enph rracfiCul adnratinn az
would enable them ar once 10 enter upon
useful profession as soon as they left the
school. He hoped the Senate would agree TO
every appropriation recommended as they
were all absolutely necessary.
Senator Sherman said nothing had been
further from his Intention than to eritieise
the appropriations made for the schools. He
thought. on the contrary. that there ought to
be schoolhouse for every 800 of the popu-
lation. The objection in his mind was to
appropriation to anything that went be-
yoEd elementary education. He did not
think it was the business OF the State to so
extend public school education.
PLATF HAS DOUBTS.
Senator Platt was in doubt as to what chill
dren had the right to enter this school. If
any child in the District could enter it, he
had no objection to It; but if. as he had been
informed graduation at some one of the other
high schools was prerequisite TO admission
III the Business High School, he die OBJECT.
While Senator Plat was proceeding with
his argument. Senator Chandler rose and
made the point OF order that there was no
quorum present, whereupon the roll was
called.
A quorum having been found present,
Senator Plat continued his remarks. confin-
ing them chiefly to a statement of his objec-
tions to what he called business college be-
ing injected into public school system.
Senator Kyle asked Senator Plat 10 point
out why school where commercial law and
commercial geometry were taught was not as
properly part of public school system as a
high school, where Greek and Latin formed
part Of the curriculum.
Senator Chandler also urged the Senator
from Connecticut to enlighten the Senate
upon this point, but Mr.. Platt objected on the
ground of lack OF time.
KYLE DEFENDS THE APPROPRIATION
Senator Kyle made foreibIe plea for the
higher branches OF education. The Business
High School of Washington. ne said. was the
result of the crowded condition OF the other
high schools. He cited the fact that since its
establishment over 200 pupils had been grad
uated from it, majority OF whom had imme-
diateiy obtained remunerative employment.
Senator Villas expressed his surprise that
from New England should have come any
objection TO any form of popular school edu-
cation. He secuted the idea that the gov
ernment should extend no aid to any but
elementary schools. He did not regard that
a. good economy. Fer every dollar saved
there thousands were lost 10 the world. It
was his opinion that the government should
still further extend the public school system,
until every youth could become a skilIful
artisan or professional worker through its
beneilcent operations. The technical school
of to-day was only what the common school
was hundred years ago. Mr.. Villas was
very earnest IN his advocacy of extending TO
children the fullest opportunities for obtain
ing the most useful education possible.
HAwLEY ADVOCATES SEWING AND COOKING.
Senator Hawley felt grateful to the Appro-
priations Committee for whaAit had done for
education IN the District in this bill, but
raised objection to the business High School
as a part OF the public school system. He
thought that sewing and cooking should he
made compulsory studies in the school for
girls.
Senator Aldrich did not think this was
proper appropriation in view OF the fact that
thousands of children in the District were
without any school accommodations what
ever.
The subject was further debated by Sena-
tors Butler and Palmer who both advocated
the extension of public school education.
Senator Aldrich offered to amend by strik-
ing out the provision Tor the Business High
School and apply 100000 for additional
elementary schools.
Senator Allison called attention to the fact
that all the amendments inserted by the
Senate Appropriations Committee had the
approval OF the board of school trustees.
Senator German moved that this bill be
taken up Immediately after routine business
on Monday, and discussed until $50 o'clock
on that Gay. and debate continued thereafter
under the fve-minute rule, and this was
agreed to.
IN SENATE AND HOUSE.
The Senate succeeded Yesterday in making