Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-06
FAVOR SCHOOL INSPECTION
The Gathering Of Statistics Under Medical
Direction Approved
Discussion of the Ssbject Before East
Washington Assocfatfon-Report
of school Committee.

The meeting OF the East Washington
Citizens Association last night was occu-
pied largely with school topics. As mat
tiers of general interest were up for discus
sion. the association met at McCauley's
Hall. where citizens generally were well
coined and permitted to take part in the
exercises.
The important business OF the session
was the receipt Of the report of the COM
mittee on schools, and 1t was predicted
that matters of such universal Importance
would be brought out that 1t would be we'll
to have prominent educators present to
take part in the discussion. w. T. Harris,
commissioner Of education; Prof. W. B.
Powell of the public schools, DR.. William
L. Robins and the District health officer
were present. together with number Of
the fair sex
President T. w. Smith presided and lost
no time after the formal opening Of the
meeting to call for the report of the COM
mittee on schools. 1t was presented by
Chairman Appleton P. Clark. jr.. and was
most comprehensive statement Of the
needs OF the District, East Washington in
particular. for improved methods Of in
struction and increased facilities. The re-
port attacked the methods employed in
our schools, setting forth in one place
that the course of study is SO diseursive
that every branch of knowledge is at
tempted to be taught, even in the primari
and little children are burdened with books,
and. worse still. their minds are burdened
with studies their undeveloped intellect
cannot grasp. and which serve but the pur-
pose to waste precious time and make the
little ones subjects for the insane asylum
and infirmaries.
The Report of Committee.
The report specifically urged the neces-
sity Of new building at the corner of I'd
street and South Carolina avenue, to re-
lieve the crowded condition of the Lenox
and Mccormick schools Such a building
would cost $4,000. The report also recon-
mended an appropriation of $4,000 for the
prosecution of the work of medical inspec-
ton in the public schools.
The mention of this last item brought out
DR.. Rollins, who has already devoted much
time to the subject of public school inspec-
ton, and under whose direction at the
present time the schools are taking some
medical statistics. He said among other
things that competent authorities had esti-
mated that fully 20 per cent of the con-
tagious diseases in schools could be pre-
vented by proper medical inspection. He
related, in an Interesting way, the history
of public school inspection, and told of the
benefits that had been derived therefrom
The experience and system of other cities
were brought out in this respect. and when
the speaker had concluded he was loudly
arplauded.
Address by Commissioner Harris.
Commissioner w. T. Harris of the bureau
OF education was called upon for some re-
marks and he took as his theme the re-
lation of schools to moral and industrial
life. The speaker read largely from sta
tistics. and showed that the theory that
the public school system had increased
crime was false. The greatest attention
was given to Commissioner Harris, and he
received the thanks of the association,
Health Officer Woodward was the last
speaker of the evening. He talked briefly
upon the necessity of healthy body before
any attempt was made to cultivate the
mind. He thoroughly approved Dr. Roll
Inns paper, and expressed the belief that
the adoption of general system of school
inspection would reduce the liability to
disease IN the public schools to a mini
mum.