The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-04
VISITED NORTHERN SCHOOLS.
MIR. AsHMORE INSPECTED SYSTEMS
IN WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK.

IN WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK.
superintendent VIII Resume His Du-
ties in the Savannah schools To-
day-ReturBed Just as His Leave
alphabetically benefited by His
TrIp-savnnnnh schools Better
systematIxed and Unified Than
Those at the NOrth-NanuaI Train
ing Feature That Mr.. Ashmore
Regards FavOrabIy-DOubtful If IL
viii Find Its Way Into the savan-
nah schools.
Mr.. Otis Ashmo1e. superintendent Of the
schools Of Savannah and Chatham coun-
ty, returned yesterday molnirg with Mrs.
Ashmore lr m a Il p 10 the North. 1t was
party for recreation and partly for an
opportun ~ TO study he school systems OF
Washington and New York that Mr.. Ash
more secured two weeks leave from the
Board of Education. Yesterday was the
termination of his leave. and today he
viii resume his duties as superintendent,
which have been discharged during his
absence by Mr.. Frank Ferguson, ass stant
superintendent
The trip benefited Mr.. Ashmore consid-
erably. 1t was the first he has had in two
or three years. his stay in Savannah our
ing tie summers having been necsssita ed
by important work of preparation for the
re-opening OF the schools. His health had
begun TO demand change, and his many
friends viii be pleased to learn that he 1e-
turns considerably improved.
~. s.,,
pressed with the school systems of the
two cities he visited. That of Washington
he regards as particularly fine, and it was
with great interest that he investigated
the me hols and made study of the adj
ministIation Of the schools.
Savannah has nothing to be ashamed of
in the matter of its schools. Mr. Ashmore
was grained to note that a comparison
of the local system with that in vogue in
New York and Washington would not re-
suit In any judgment that Savannah might
regret. Indeed, Mr. Ashmore believes the
schools OF Savannah, as far as they 80,
are just a measure superior to those of
the larger cities. He accounts for this
stlpt riorty in the fact of the system be-
ing less cumbersome Naturally a school
system of the vast extent Of that in New
York is a bit unwieldy and just a little
moro difficult to conduct without friction
or disorder than one in a city of this size
The schools of Savannah are better sys-
tematized and more unified, Mr.. Ashmore
believes He thinks there is closer rela-
tionship between superintendent and prln-
cpsls and principals and their teachers,
the comparatively few making 1t an easy
matter for personal meetings and discus
sions of matters appertaining to the
schools.
1t is Of course true that there are
branches taught in the schools of the large
cities that are not enjoyed in Savannah.
One Of these Is manual training. 1t was
to study this feature of the work that
Mr.. Ashmore visited the schools in Wash
ington and New York The Board of Ed
ucation had given him no special commits
sion TO this effect, nor does he expect to
make any recommendation to the board
for its adoption in the local schools.
More time and money is demanded for
the Introduction of the manual training
feature into public schools than may be
expended in Savannah. A sine qua non,
also, is plenty of room for school pur-
poses, and that is a disadvantage under
which the system has been laboring as il
is. Mr.. Ashmore is an advocate of man
ual training and believes its introduction
into the Savannah schools would benefit
the children, but he does not see how they
can now enjoy It's advantages. The OBJ
stacles mentioned will be likely to keep
1t out of the local schools for some time
The manual training OF the Washington
schools Mr. Ashmore found more effective
than In New York. The work is better
systematiZed in the former city. It con.
sists in the education of the hand and
eye, both boys and girls receiving il. The
boys are taught drawing and carpenter
work, while the girls are instructed in
sewing and cooking, accomplishments that
are rather neglected by the girls in Sa-
vannah.