Evening star., 1898-12-22


pupils all expenses except repairs and per
| manent improvements being excluded, was
S21.41
There were enrolled in the night schools
lag white and I,596 colored persons.
These We're taught by JS teachers. of whom
= were white and II coored. The night
schools cost: For teachers s5.9sS.25; for in
cidental expenses, $a9S.3I Total ST. 4S6G1
The day schools Were in session 1Sl days:
the night schools were open rs nights in
the first eight divisions, and ~ nights in
| the ninth, tenth and eleventh divisions.
Below High Schools.
1t is stated that there are 6I5 schools in
the District below the high schools OF
these 461 whole day. and 14S halliday
schools. The 90 are also classified as city
grammar schools. 2u9 in number: city prim-
airy schools, 30, and county schools, G1j.
1T has long been my opinion says Mr.
Powell, that were adequate and appro-
pirate, comfortable and healthfui buildings
and grounds provided for all who would
voluntarily attend school, and were IA
| tional, natural instruction or leadership
given or secured there would be little or no
occasion for truant laws. Uncomfortable
and uninviting conditions of school appoint-
ments and bad teaching are the causes of
most truancy rather than the inherent dis
position of children to be bad Incioient
truanCy shows the possession of Il sense of
right. the appreciation of appropriateness
or simple justice or fairness as often as
it does a disposition to do wrong. | have
this faith in the human heart. Children
cannot be correctly or we'll taught in great
crowds. Schools therefore must be of mod
crate size; they ought to be small
Mr.. Powell states that he is opposed to
the system of halliday schools f;,Voring
more schools and teachers.
"Onc of the most important events of the
past year he says, lis that of securing an
appropriation for the starting of kindergar-
tens as a part of our system of schools At
he. tin,r Nhny-l 1 h,
established sixteen kindergartenS all but
one of which have been housed in regular
school rooms. KindergartenS, because they
are for the young children, are not to be
intrusted to teachers of Indifferent acquire
ment and immature years. but rather
should one say, kindergartens because for
the youngest children. require the broadest
womanhoOd the richest attainments, the
most mature thought, and the ripest eX-
perience on the part of their teachers. 1t
was wise, | believe, for the board of trus-
tees to require OF applicants for teachers
positions in our kindergartens u prepara-
ton, scholastic and technical, as broad and
eXacting those required of candidates
for positions in our graded schools"
Manual Training.
Continuing, Mr. Powell says: 'Another
important item in our growth or expan-
sion during the past year to be recorded is
that of providing for the manual training
high school In the last estimates the
board of trustees asked for two such
schools, one of which was provided for in
part at the last session of Congress. The
Washington schools have grown in manual
skill and art appreciation, and now ask for
opportunity to continue the work which
the city has recognized right. advisable
and in every way to be desired for the last
ten or twelve years.
We ought to have large appropriations
for these schools many localities are
deprived of their privileges at present. II
is desirable | think tn give
TO half u dozen or more suburban places in
addition to the schools we now have. The
people in several places have made strong
appeals for schools to which have not
been able to respond l cannot urge too
strongly on the board of trustees the obii-
cation devolving on the authorities to allow
none but experienced people to teach in
these schools. If the night schools are to
be simply places where persons who are
not otherwise provided for can get salaries,
they would better be closed and the money
either returned to the treasury or be given
to some purpose that will benefit the COM
nlunlty at large. 1t is not profitable for
this or any other community to open
schooiroom doors, warm and light the
houses, and pay salaries for the instruction
of people presenting themselves at the
night schools unless teachers are employed
who thoroughly known their business, and
besides knowing what to do are imbued
with philanthropic spirit or feeling to-
ward their fellowman.''
The Public Library.
Referring to the establishment of the
public library, and the opening of the Con-
gressional Library at night, Mr. Powell
styles them two innovations on account
of which the public schools have reason
for profound qualification.
1t is stated that from / 500 TO 1000 out
ings were made last year by classes on
field work, which includes all kinds of
teaching outside of the schooroom this
being larger number of trips than in any
previous year. Geogra ply botany gee
lcgy, the fine arts, and other branches have
been studied in part by this method. One
of the best innovations of the present year
has been the introduction of illustrated