The times., 1898-12-22
9HE COL0RHD SCHOOLS.
Superintendent Cook Submits
His Annual Report.
NEW BUILDINGS WANTED
Statixtics of the Enrolment and At
tendance : Repairs ands Increased
Accommodations = The Work In
the Various Grades = The Sewing
and Woodworking Departmental.

George +. II. Cook, superintendent OF
the colorcd schools of the District, yes
terday submitted his annual report to the
District Commissioners detailing the
workings of the various schools and de-
partments coming under his supervision
during the fiscal year ended June 30 last.
The report opens with directory of ali
the teachers of the Ninth, Tenth and
Eleventh school divisions, the colored
high. normal, drawing, manual training,
sewing, cooking and physical culture
schools. The whole number of colored
scholars enrolled in the District is Il sI5;
the average number enrolled, lo.57S; the
average daily attendance, 1O.olO, and the
per cent of attendance 81.
In the High School were 2s3 boys and
513 girls. making total of 7is. The per
cent OF the whole enrolment In the diff
ferent grades was 0.43 in the normal
school, 5.32 in the High School, 26.S7 In
the grammar schools and 67.3s In the pri-
mary schools. The number OF teachers
was 3ls. of whom 273 were male. The day
schools cost s27l, ,7o,.52.
In the night schools were enrolled 39s
persons, taught by twenty-five teachers
and conducted at a cost of 81 250s5.
There are twenty-seven eolored school
buildings, of which three are rented. The
total number of school rooms is ei6.
The Report.
The report reads in part, as follows:
1.-The relatively larger increase in the
average enrolment and average daily at
tendance than in the entire enrolment
indicates AN improved condition in the
degree of permanent attendance and per-
mits larger opportunity for availment of
| school benefits.
For effective school work, permanence
| in attendance is an essential factor. In
| these schools there are very many whose
I, attendance is too limited for the attain
| ment of appreciable result This fact Is
| well evinced in the changes shown in
| the enrolment OF pupils from month to
| month. AS these large fluctuations are
| of annual recurrence. they present mat
ter for consideration as to the ways and
| means by which the pupils OF this class
| will suffer least loss of school .oppor-
tunity. They vary in their attendance
from that OF a few days to that OF a
| large portion OF the school year On their
| return to school, either in the current or
in a subsequent year, the loss of oppor-
| tunity in the interval is often so great as
to forbid in the graded school that -classi-
fication which their degree OF attainment
| suggests
There are in the kindergartens those
of tender and more susceptible years than
those embraced by the public school pro-
vision, whose systematic training under
Intelligent appreciative. and cultured di-
rection will not only insure to their lives
proper moral and intellectual bent, but
will also greatly facilitate and Intensity
4 q, f,,t. Al
suit No other school population can
present greater need of, nor a ripper field
for this early training. Almost helpless
ly weighted with centuries OF unfavorable
condition in the past, and with present
environment largely inimical to proper
moral and intellectual growth, many of
the homes are incapacitated TO give to
these children of tender years that care
and training which insure noble and use
full manhood and womanhood.
Accommodations Needed.
Most of the buildings are in. good
condition There are, however. a few.
with defects sufficiently grave to demand
earliest attention. Among this class are
the Sumner and the Lincoln, erected III
ls71. In both the ventilation is very poor.
Their basement floors are laid upon the
bare earth, thus affording opportunity for
| the escape of soil gas. which, with thai
from decaying wood. adds to the great y
vitiated air conditions of the school
room resulting from the imperfect means
| of ventilation.
"The Randall, another building of the
early period is objectionable in its stair.
ways, which are so dangerous as to
| threaten injury to life and limb in event
of panic or fire. For the immediate re.
lief OF the present enrolment in the
schools, irrespective of accommodation tc
meet the annual increase and the needs
OF others not yet enrolled. three eight
room buildings and sites, one in each OF
the three divisions, are sorely needed
. The first should be located in the Ninth
| division at some point ives; of the Brigg.
school, The second should be located il
the Tenth division. at some point afford
ing easy transfer of schools from the
Cook, Banneker. Jones and Blater build
| ings The third should be located In the
| Eleventh division and southeast of ths
Randall school.
Work in the Grades.
'As three and half hours daily are pre-
scribed by the course of instruction fol
, first grade schools, there is no time los
to this grade for the Accomplishment o.
| its work in the divided occupancy of tn,
| school room; but in the four hours pre-
scribed for the accomplishment of secont
grade work, and in the five hours for tha
of succeeding grades, there is a serious OBJ
stacle presented in the session of reduced
hours consequent upon the want of prope
accommodation for every school.
obstruction in cookery is restricted t,
girls of the seventh and eighth grades
and optional for those of the high school
In addition 10 the instruction of all girl
of the third, fourth and fifth grades Il
the regular school room by the specia
teacher one hour weekly instruction il
the cutting and fitting of plain garment
was given TO all girls of the sixth grad
in the three shops. These shops are 10
: Gated at the Miner, Garnet, and Lincol
buildings.
THE shops for wood working are 10
Gated at the Miller Stevens, Randall an
Lincoln buildings. Those at the Mile
Building embrace all stages of the awor
of instruction, while those at the othe
buildings are restricted to first-year work
: In number these shops are sufficient to ac
= commodate all the boys of the eligibl
grades, but in the character of the accom-