The times., 1899-05-14

came the seat of National Government,
until within the past fifteen years the
crudest methods Of teaching were employ
ed. Those were days when the teachers
were persons who, as general thing, had
failed in every other undertaking in life
and were forced TO follow the occupation
OF schoolmarm" or master as last re-
sort The ruler and proverbial bunch of
birch switches were considered the most
effective factors in teaching the young
idea how TO shoot. The source of all
knowledge was thought to be in text books
and the closest application to their study
was considered necessary to acquiring an
education. The boys and girls were, dur
ing school hours. under the closest sur
VIGILANCE and were made to feel that their
instructors regarded their every move
ment with suspicion.
Poor SchooIhouses.
The buildings of that period were unfit
for the assemblage of large number of
children. They were without proper ven
tilation and the ordinary sanitary arrange
ments of their time. Until 1885 many Of
the buildings used for the school purposes
were rented either from the Government
OF from individuals. number of the
school buildings of that day had been
formerly used as barracks, but, becoming
useless to the War Department for such
purposes, they were repaired and con-
yerted into halls of learning.
Since the selection of Prof. W. B. Pow
ell as superintendent of the public schools
of Washington, in 1885, there has been
a radical improvement in everything per-
tanning to public education in the District.
Up to the time of Mr.. Powell's appoint
ment the progress shown in free education
al
improvement exhibited in other branches
OF local administration, but it can be said
with every justification that since that
time changes for the better in the public
school system have been of such number
and Importance as to far outstrip munich
pal improvements in other directions. II
is now generally acknowledged by those
conyersant with public school systems in
various parts Of the country that, all in
ALL the Washington schools are superior
there being but few cities that have the
right 10 lay claim TO favorable compari-
son.
The greatest improvement under Mr.
Poweil's administration has been in tbs
methods of instruction. Old ways hay'
been abandoned as far as practicable an'
the new and more advanced ideas of thi
age substituted. Mr.. Powell is an euthor
i;y on matters pertaining to educationa
lines has been obtained through years o
study of the courses Of instruction EN-
pIoyed in the various large cities of tn
country. He has followed closely ever,
new suggestion for the education of tn
young. and through his comprehensive
knowledge OF educational systems has beel
able to detect faults and suggest origina
and effective remedies. In recommending
changes in the public school system. Mr.
Powell has always been very conserya
tive. He has not attempted TO bring sud
den revolution in the school work, but ha
rather striyen to apply new methods ii
moderation, gradually leading the peopl
of the District to see the advantage o
modern education devices.
System of school Ethics.
In planning the courses of study for tn
public schools, the ideas of Prof. Fell
Adler. of New York, the founder of tn
Ethical Culture Schools there. have bee
largely adopted. In Prof. Adler's systel
the object is to develop character in
child and teach him in what way to direc
his energies so as TO produce the best re
suits II aims to keep the child's min
bent in one direction until the objeC
sought is accomplished. a pupil is taugt
more by repetition. He or she is given
subject to study in the first grade and /
each succeeding grade this subject is de
veloped and expanded. The deveIopmer
of the artistic side of The pupils natuI
is an important factor in the system as
the thorough instruction given in manu-;
training According 10 Prof. Adler. n be
or girl should not be made to believe th;
the only reason for obeying the commo
laws of righteousness is to be found
the fact that the Almighty or the Bib
says so, but also In the proposition thi
right produces the best results. In II
Washington schools 1t is pre-eminent
the end of training to teach the child
inteliigently use the tools placed in his {
her hand while al school. Manual trainir
has in past years been introduced and hi
been found SO valuable an adjunct
school training that this important d.
partment is being enlarged as rapidly
possible. The work is commenced in II
seventh grade and continued through ii
high school. The boys are taught In Il
primary stages OF the work TO hand
carpenters tools. and later, in the his
school, mechanical drawing, wood turnin
blacksmifhing. and engineering. The gir
are taught sewing and cooking through Il