The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-15
OLD -qINH PHDAGQGUBS
Schools in the Capital al the Cen
tury's Opening
Teachers of the G-andfnthers OF thc
Present Generntiun-The ESfnb-
lishmcnts of Preccptors Who He
lieved I'm the Biblical Doctrine.
Spare the Rod and SPOIL the Child.

II Is a matter of frequent comment tina
Washington has the finest public srhoo
system Of any city in the country, and tnt
fact is beyond denial that the educationa
requirements of city are here excellent!
fulfilled, when one takes into consideration
not only the public but private schools; ii
fact, all educational institutions whatso
ever.
Before the establishment of orr publi
school system in this city, the aspiran
to learning depended upon the instruction
of various private precep;ors, who had es
tablished their Headquarters in variou
parts Of the town. The Columbian Acaie
my, of Georgetown, was one of the first O
these private schools. its existence il
traced back to as early q period as th'
year 1903, by means OF an advertisement
in the newspaper, in which the Rev. Da
vid Wiley, the master of the establish
ment set forth the advantages to be derived
from his instruction. One hundred pupils
was the number which DIR. Wiley's school
was capable of accomm oGatiny, although
II was only taxed TO hold seventy-tive
These were instructed in the common
branches Of study and the learned Ian
guages.
A young ladies' academy was opened
July 16, 1906, by Mrs. Reagan. in COM
modioUs house on F Street, between Capt.
James Hoban's and Josiah W Kings -esi-
dences. The branches taught here were
tambouring embroidery, openwork. mark
ing. all kinds of plain sewing. fligree,
painting, waXwork, French, music, dane
ing, reading. and writing. Young ladies
could also be accommodated with board.
Hugh Mcguire, formerly professor in
st. Johns College, Maryland. and teach
er OF twenty-three years experience, cp-
ened an academy near the Seven Buildings
on Pennsylvania Avenue, in August, 1877.
He taught Latin, Greek, mathematics,
geography, bookkeeping. etc, for $40 per
snnum; English grammar. reading, writ
ing. and arithmetic, for s24 per annum. AT
first he had as an assistant, Samuel Can't
well. After. teaching this school a short
time Or. Mcguire was selected as prin-
cipsl Of the public academy, and year
efterward established a school at Bla dens-
burg. which. however, failed of support.
He then returned TO Georgetown, and OPP
ened q school near the Union Tavern, en-
January 6, 1872 Here he taught Latin.
Greek, and the common English branches.
After remaining a short while at this es-
Establishment he removed 10 commodious
rooms in the rear of Congress Hall. where
he established purely elementary school.
Dr. Mcguire had associated with him Mr..
Simon Cantwell. who had taught with
him before. ard whose experience as an
usher ranged over thirty years.
The Rev. A. I. Mccormack ocened a
school on Capitol Hill in 1902. in which
he taught the common branches and the
higher mathematics. Rev. Dr. Mccormack
continued this school until 1919. in the
February of which year he was sue
seeded BY p. Edwards, under whom the
instruction was somewhat modified
Francis Donnelly opened a school OF
Monday. Nay 30, 1893, in a building then
lately occupied by Mr.. Coates, opposite the
Little Hotel. For teaching English gram
mar. writing etc, he charged "a per quar-
ter: for common arithmetic, s. per quarter;
for merchants accounts geography, alge-
bra, mensurstion, surveying, plain naviga-
tion. astronomy and the other branches
Of mathematics. including the principles OF
mechanics IS per quarter
Madam du Cherray. a French lady. then
lately arrived from Moscow. Russia. where
she had been several years employed at the
head OF one of the principal academies in
that city. under the immediate protection
q His Majesty. Alexander the First. EN-
peror of Russia. opened an academy SINH
lar to the one she had taught in Moscow
In the year. 1905. Here she received both
boarders and day pupils She taught Eng
lish, French. history. geography, mythol
ogy. writing arithmetic. embroidery. all
sorts Of neesilework. drawing music. dane
ing, and miniature portrait painting.
The Rules of Teacher Mcleod
John Mcleod was one of the most dill
gent as well as eccentric masters of learn
ing TO enlighten the youth of Washing ON.
He commenced teaching here in 1905 near
the Navy Yard. with four pupils. Soon af-
terward he employed an assistant tea her.
and In four or FIVE years erected an acade.
my building which cost him $4,000 After
the destruction of the Navy Yard by the
British, upon their entry into Washington
during the war of 1872, he removed from
that locality. and erected what was known
IS the Central Academy. in 1916, for this
purpose borrowing large sum of money.
During both winter and summer. McLe cd
and his assistants were al the schoolhouse
by daylight, and spent nine or ten hours
out Of every twenty-four instructing the
youth committed to their care.
Whether this conscienciousness on the
pupils nay be open TO question. unless the
latter were imbued with the philosophy of
that urchin, who. after he had received a
nogglng. comforted himself with the re-
hecIion that lit WAS all for his own good"
Mr.. Mcleod, himself however said that
hts plan was not only good for the minds
Of the pupils, but for their bodies also.
''They enjoyed good health he said. and.
In their early and regular attendance at
school. they acquired good conduct, and
made regular improvement in their studies
They were not exceiled. nor perhaps equal
ed, by any pupils of their age in this coun-
try or any other; and in rewarding th~0
noble conduct, / have been more liberal
than my circumstances warrant"
In 1914. when the British Army APP
preached Washington. Mr.. Mcleod dis
missed 112 students from the Eastern
Academy, near the Navy Yard. AT that
time, IT was said. McLeod's school was the
only notable school in the city. In 1927. al
though il had been occupied since its
abandonment by Mr.. Mcleod by twelve or
fourteen different teachers. II was in a
very bad condition and the Bank of Wash.
tngton took up its quarters there after the
building had been completely renovated.
Mr.. Mcleod erected the Columbian Acad-
envy In 1885, making the third academy
building erected by him. In July, 1899. in
his advertisement, he was very severe up
on the practice OF giving vacations. His
school bell was rung at the dawn of day
at all seasons Of the year. His school was
fn complete order, and his teachers were
At their posts at that early hour to re-
eeive their pupils. and both teachers and
pupils continued the long hours of duty.
Mr.. Mcleod said that his motto when he
commenced teaching was Order is Heay-
Er-f lou In, dot. 90 hi L.
furthur stated '-he was willing to sacrifice
everything, even life itself" He was glad
70 boast that he had under his direction
luring the thirty three wears of his nrn