Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-14

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
In discussing the subject of the public
schools two questions are to BE- determined.
each requiring tender treatment but, being
different, these questions require the appl-
cation of different methods. What should
be the course Of treatment in dealing with
the white schools is one question; what
should be the course of treatment in dealing
with the colored schools Is another ques-
ton.
Our country is intensely busy in looking
after and handling practical things, and
methods and an education. or whatever
kind to be of service. must be practical:
1t must arm the possessor with that kind
Of knowledge that will aid him in making
success in life. The past training of the
colored people in this country has been
quite different from that of the white peo-
pie. the result being that we have two indi-
viduals of different thought, different hab-
its and different ambition. 80 that the pres
ent prevailing social condition Of the two
races is the direct logical result of past
usagss, customs and laws.
The coIored child should be taught that
kind of education that will fit and qualify
him to successfully meet the prevailing So
cial conditions In this country and since a
public school education is all that a large
majority ever get, 1t is OF the highest i'm
portance that the essentials be thoroughly
taught and fixed in the mind in the public
schools. Reading, spelling. arithmetic.
grammar. letter writing and composition
should be correctly taught and most thor
oughly drilled i'm the pupils in all the
grades. These are the essential studies, and
may we'll be termed the life subjects. for
every person will be required to use the one
or the other of them every day so long as
one lives. They should receive. therefore,
more attention in the public schools than
any other. The next in Importance should
be geography. hygiene, history. morals and
manners, and vocal music. Good text books
on all the foregoing subjects should be put
in the hands of each scholar, for in this
way the necessary faculty of taking hold of
a book or a subject and conducting an in
dependent investigation is begun and
taught. After these subjects others might
be added II time permits.
The proper authority should decide on one
system of teaching and know that every
teacher In the schools works according to
it. The same text books should be used in
all the schools Each teacher in each grade
should be required to teach a prescribed
course, and If 10 per cent of her scholars
fail to pass, or If her successful pupils fail
to make an average standing in their ex-
amina ton for the next grade, she ought to
be either recommended for reduction in sal
airy or otherwise dealt with as 1t may seem
best to the authorities. II scholar be
transferred from one school building to an
other 1t ought not to be, so far as the adj
vaucement of the pupil Is concerned, any
more than a change Of seats in the same
room; the pupil should be able to go right
on without any trouble. We have heard
that some pupils in passing from one grade
to another were compelled to spend the
first three or four months of the year in
their new grade in perfectinK theus slves in
qualified to take up the work of the new
grade This Is loss of time and waste
of public treasury. Teachers should be
required to give their whole time to their