The times., 1897-09-13
SCHOOLS WILL SOON OPEN
A Large Increase in the Number
Of Pupils Expected.
MANUAL TRAINING BRANCHES
supt. Powell Enthusiastic Over the
Results That Have Been Obtained
New system of Education Com
pared With the eid-some Of the
Things That Are Needed.

There VIII probably be 10000 pupils
IL the District schools this year, or 5000
more chan last. Superintendent Powell
has a. yet no way of knowing exactly
what the Increase vii be, but this esti-
mate is in accordance with the Increase
IL numbers heretofore. There win be
$4,000 to $4,000 in the day schools and
$500 TO 5000 night pupils
A reporter for The Times had talk
with superintendent Powell yesterday
about the new school year. Heis most en-
thusiasgic about the District educational
system, and believes very thoroughly
hat the new ideas of child training
adopted curing the last few years are u
great success. and VIII be infinitely better
ana more valuable than the old system.
both 10 The children and the community.
Tie over-orowded condition which has
Handicapped the department has largely
been remedied. There is very nearly
enough room for all the pupils, without
crowding, in the buildings ready for use
now and that VIII be ready in few
months
For the new wear there are buildings
on the Conduit Road, on Congress Heights,
aid at the corner OF Fifth and X streets
northeast In q short time the Western
High School building viii be Completed
and also a school building on the Chevy
Chase Road. These new buildings viii
be. it Is thought, amply sufficient for the
Increased number Of pupils.
Tue only present need mentioned by
superintendent Powell yesterday is an ad-
vanccd manual training school 10 CORR
Bp0rd in the manual training system with
the high schools.
1t is 10 be noted also In this matter or
accommodations that while a few years
ago it was thought advisable TO put sixty
pupils in one room. with one teacher. this
number is being lessened gradually uncI
now the ideal, very well lived up TO- is
not more than forty.
The manual training high school Will
be objected TO b few, If any, of the peo-
pie y no predicted bad results from tie
INTRODUCTION of the system, and even siren
uJusly opposed it This system is now
considered one OF the great advances in
the education OF children. and As absO-
lUtely necessary as the three RS. 1t has
been carried 10 such perfection in the Dis
triCt that Commissioner OF Labor Carroll
D. Wright III his last annual report said
that the manual training schools of the
Unitetl Stales were the best in the world
aud those OF Washington second 10 none IN
the United States.
Nearly ali the members of the labor or
ganizations of the city are now favorable
tr the system, and, more than that, strong
supporters Of it, whereas when il was III
troduced there was hardly man in al
the trades Who was not afraid there
would be injurious results.
TIE training DOES not teach the technical
trade hut the general trGdesar Ii makes
tie child more efficient with his hands. In
q broader way il teaches him the beauty
OF fire work, diguifies labor TO him, and
makes HIM better and broader member
of s'C,ety.
While the trade itself is not taught, the
training prepares child WHO wishes to
learn q trade 10 got il on easier teTms, and
To get more out Of it. Its result u him is
that he IL much better man III his trade
and 10 society.
Tie manual work is now universal in
tie District schools. From the time the
child enters the first grade until he
,
AID ia the High Schools, although it is
elective, so per cent of pupils take the
course
Tee system is very practical The heads
or the various departments are university
men with practical training also, but ali
the teachers nearly are local mechanics.
experts in their trades This feature of
tie work has helped in securing the good
VIII OF the labor organizations
AS for the girls training, the sewing
and cooking Work, Superintendent Powell
states that tue examples Of its Immediate
practical advantage TO the pupils are
innuTnerable every year. The girls take
their knowledge home with them and
apply il lmmedia tely with excellent re-
suits. This training for the girls is more
nearly the full teaching Of trade than
the use Of tools taught the boys.
They not only learn the mechanics of
cooking, but also the science ana the
philosophy OF it. They are taught the
reasons why things are. They learn
economy. They learn the values Of
fOoos IL is all a training that is v4r,