Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-12
The Public Schools to Open Monday
Morning Next.
ACTION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
A Statement Submitted by Su-
perintendent A. T. Stuart.
COURSE OF INSTRUCTION

o'clock the scholastic year of 19OO-1O1 will
be inaugurated The children Of Washing
ton. after a vacation which has been
marked by continued intensely hot wea .her.
and which may prevail until the day
of opening, will make their way to the
school rooms. where for nine months they
will be trained in the principles of educa-
ton.
The coming scholastic year will be nota-
BILE in many respects. as 1t will be con-
Quoted according to the ideas and designs
of the new regime in District educational!
work. the new.y organized board OF edu-
cation. which suppianted the board of
school trustees. The curriculum Of the
various grades In the grammar schools has
been materially changed in many respects
Considerable interest attaches to the re-
suit of the changes and med fcations which
have been ordered. and the progress Of the
public school pupils during the coming
term will be keenly watched alike by par
ents and officials. The buildings through
out the city and county have been put In
the best of shape during the past sum
mer. having been repaired and renovated as
far as the congressional appropriation for
that purpose would allow.
No ceremony marks the inaugural day or
a school year in Washington There Is too
much work to be done. Pupils must be
enrolled. must become acquainted with
their teachers and the details Of book reQui-
sitons must be made out
The boards Meeting.
The final meeting of the board Of edu-
cation prior to the opening OF the schools
was held yesterday afternoon at the Frank
lin building. 18th street, 1t was the
eleventh regular meeting of the board since
its organization and each member was In
attendance. Many OF those present re-
turned to the city from their summering
places that they might give personal at
tentiOn to the duties and responsibilities at
taching to their positions.
The principal business of the board was
the adoption of the recommendations OF
Superintendent Stuart concerning changes
III the course OF study I'm the schools, as
outlined In The Star Of yesterday.
Mr.. George II. Harres. vice president OF
the board. called attention to the fact that
Il truant law Is upon the statute books OF
the District. but has never been enforced.
This law provides for the compulsory at
tendance of children between certain ages.
Mr.. Harries suggested that al some time
in the near future the board take up the
question Of amending the law as 1t sees fit
for recommendation to Congress.
DR. Francis r. Lane. the director of high
schools. recommended to the board that
the Night High School be opened as early
in October as possible. and steps to that
end will be taken.
Industrial Education.
TIE board adopted q report from the
committee industrial education regard
ing the examination of applicants for pro-
motion and appointment in the manual
training department of the school system.
The supervision OF the extensive school
library in the Franklin building given
To the secretary of the board, Mr.. Fl. II.
TwOmbly who intends to have the books
classified. catalogued and the entire libra
ry put in first-class shape. Miss Nina
GoetZ will continue I'm active charge of the
library. however
urfI nff ot,ta
assistant teacher in the Normal School.
Mr. C.. K. Edmunds appointed in
structor of physics in the Central High
school; MIR. j. RotherelI was appointed in
,tructor of physics in the Eastern High
school, vice Dr. B. B. Bracket, resigned.
other appointments made for the Eastern
We're: Miss Mabel c. Halves. teacher of
mathematics. vice Panl Finckel resigned
and Miss Rena Samson. teacher of French,
vice Mile. Melie. resigned The resigna-
tinns OF Misses Mary KeOugh and Helen
Ray. teachers. were accepted. Leaves of
absence were granted as follows: Miss Ida
A. Green, three months: Miss Sarah Bea-
mer. two months and a half: Miss Char
lotte Dessez. three months. and Mr.. II. W.
Freeman. jr.. three months
Statement by Superintendent.
In presenting his recommendations for
changes In the course of study. Superinten-
dent Stuart explained his course to the
board follows:
tee the District of Columbia reported
the result Of an Inquiry ordered under SEN
ate resolution No. 40 as to what course Of
study ia prescribed for the public schools
of the District. and whether thorough in
struction in spelling. reading writing
grammar. arithmetic and geography super
sedes teaching Of the higher bra inches of
learning. The inquiry revealed. to quote
the language of the report. "a vast prepon-
deranCe of evidence tending to show a want
of necessary drill in spelling penmanship
arithmetic. grammar and geography. This
want OF drill seems to arise from the large
number of matters called nature or sci
"nce studies taught in the lower grades
Another important conclusion reached
ny the report was that the dsuse of text
looks had interfered with the success in
primary training in the schools The COM
inittee, with the ayowed purpose Of cor
recting these and other apparent defects i'm
the school system proposed the appoint
nent of board of education with
weIi-defined powers, which can Investigate
ana regulate every subject connected with
the management OF the public schools, i'm
prove their methods and make them eff
Gent. and embodied this recommends ton
In an amendment to the District of Column
tia appropriation act then pending
Inc appropriation act became a law
June u. 1860, and under It's operation this
board was appointed by the Commission
Fundamental Branches.
Il submit at this time some suggestions
which point the way to d more thorough
drill in the fundamental branches of the
elementary schools. What / present is not
ana should not be thought OF as a com
prehensive or finished course of instruc-
ton Neither does 1t furnish direction. to
teachers nor discuss principles 1t aims
IN the briefest outlines to define the work
that can reasonably be required of the pu-
phi in each grade. and materially reduces
the amount Of time now given to mature
work. drawing. music and the special
studies generally 1t IS not intended to dis
parage the latter. but only to subordinate
them They are not and ought not to be
denied place in the curriculum. Neither
are they to be simply tolerated as having
no part nor lot in practical life. They are
rather to be taken at their true value as
cOmpieinenting, ii Eliminating. embellishing
every other subject of study. But they
must not lord it over their humber breth-
ZEN Especially must they respect the rights
OF that statd and time-honored trio, the
three RS
Nature study. or the observation of the
familiar facts OF the world about US In an
orderly tscientitic) way and with a definite
purpose. has an acknowledged value In the
earIies, elementary teaching. In that II
gives keen edge to the child's power to
See and supplies him with a store of knoyl-
frat h.