Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-13
THE SCHOOL SYSTEM
Hearing Before the Senate Inves-
tigating Committee.
TRUSTEES PRAISE Ways In VOGUE
Do Not Learn the Alphabet in the
Old Fashion.
LESS MEMORY, MORE REASON

Members Of the board Ct school trustees
were this afternoon before the Senate COM
mittee on the District of Columbia to give
District in pursuance of the Senate resolu-
don introduced by Mr.. Stewart
There were present Senators Mcmillan.
Stewart and Gallinger. Mr. Stewart, who
introduced the resolution, presided.
Members Of the board present were Judge
JOB Barnard, Gen Ellis Spear, Jesse H.
wilson. Geo. H. Harr1es, J. w. Whelpley,
Dr. A d. Hazen, Rev. s. M. Brown, Dr. G.
H. Richardson, Mrs. Miranda TulIoch and
Mrs Elizabeth Francis
Mr.. Wilson Praises the system,
Mr.. Wilson spoke of the school system,
and said he believed the entire school board
believed the system good one, and in ad-
vance OF what it had ever been In the past
He could not understand why people had
criticised the schools Referring to cases of
graduates who had gone from the public
schools to leading colleges and to the Mill
tary and Naval Academy, that they had
taken a high place in their classes
Senator Stewart said the Senate resolu-
ton bore especially upon the studies in the
lowest grades OF the schools.
Mr.. Wilson explained the system Of
teaching children to read before they learn
the alphabet, and as strange as that SEEM
ed, 1t had worked we'll.
There was NO spelling book among the
little children and they did not teach them
their A B C's. He read a list of text books
now used in the first three grades.
Senator Stewart said If they had, any bet
ter way to teach the children the alphabet
he would like to know 1t.
Mr.. Wilson said he thought the plan in
the schools here was better than the old
system.
Mrs. Francis said she had taught under
the old system and yet she believed the
new system was an improvement.
Learned Letters by Association.
Gen. Ellis Spear said they do teach the
alphabet, but not in the old way. r.
They did not teach 1t by merely having
them memorize the letters in order but
they learn the letters by association with
words. He did not think there was any
desirable end secured by teaching the al
phabet in any particular order. He had
been particularly pleased at the interest the
little children show in their studies.
Gen Spear said he regarded the present
as a good one So far as the method of
teaching was concerned he regarded it as
an admirable one and far better than the
system when he was in the schools.
Senator Gaflinger asked if the children
were thoroughly drilled In spelling.
Thinks Spelling Has Improved.
General Spear said so far as he had OBJ
served they had spelled well. They are
taught to spell words that come within
their own comprehension, as words that
represent things that they come in contact
with or ideas they can entertain. He
thought they spell better than when he was
in schools as scholar.
Mr.. Gallinger asked If he thought 1t was
desirable to have the children taught some
of the subjects that are taken up.
Gen. Spear said he did not think there
was anything premature in it. They are
a Inl hot how to-
tact with. The idea was to teach the child
about things that excite his interest and
hold his attention
The children are as greatly interested in
those matters as II they were at play. There
was none of the inattention that was ex-
perienced when children were required to
keep their eyes on book.
Mr.. Gallinger asked what method was
used in the low grades of the schools here.
Gen. Spear said it was the modern method
used in the schools Of the country general
iy.
Mr. Gallinger asked whether in the sys-
ten in vogue in the schools here there is
any effort to fit the tasks of the children
to their capacity, SO that slow scholars are
not required to try to keep UP with those
who are more alert.
Gen. Spear said that was provided for by
the division of the school in classes.
Regarding Arithmetic.
In regard to the teaching of arithmetic
he said the scholar is not required to learn
the multiplication tables by rote, but they
are taught by object lessons.
He said the teachers in the schools are
faithful and capable, and he considered
that they underpaid. He spoke highly
of the ability of Superintendent Powell.
Among the teachers as among scholars
there We're different grades of ability.
He said they do have oral spelling in the
schools They also have the children read
aloud.
The hearing was in progress when The
Stars report of the proceeding was closed