Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-13
THE SUMMER SCHOOL
The Results Achieved by a Remark
able Institution.
PRACTICAL SYSTEM OF TEACHING
Work Accomplished by Principal
Riordan and Assistants.
HAPPINESS AND DILIGENCE

That education and happiness in attaining
| 1t may go hand in hand can be demonstrate
| ed to the satisfaction Of any one who cares
| to do as Star reporter did yesterday
morning-visit the summer school at the
| Greenleaf building, Az street between
NJ and streets southwest. There may be
found nearly 300 children, representing
every department In the District public
| schools-from the High School to the first
| grade-and several who have not hitherto
attended any school at all. The actual
number of pupils is $50. and their attend
| ance is voluntary. Consequently, when 1t Is
recorded that the average attendance each
| day is 2I5 and that on the two most torrid
| days last week it reached 215, it may be
easily realized how much the little ones
| like it.
The Star reporter had striking evidence
of this yesterday morning He was going
up the stairs inside the boys entrance to the
building, when he met a chubby little fell
low about six years old coming down. and
asked him where Mr. Riordan could be
found. The lad quickly turned and toddled
up the steps to the landing and pointing to
a doorway, said:
"IIe's in there"
How do you like the summer SCHOOL,"
inquired the reporter. his courteous little
guide turned away. The answer could not
nave been more earnest emphatic If the
query had been how he liked candy.
Fine he calculated. with CHEEKY grim
and off he scooted.
Practical Spelling Bee.
Mr.. Ray Riordan. the principal of Green
leaf School, and the pioneer in the summer
school innovation here, a young man of
great energy, a rare knowledge of children
and their temperaments, and with devo-
ton to the cause of their education that Is
Ga1f ri oil in, tie int
In the room pointed out, and around its
walls were fifty children Of both sexes, pu-
pills in grades running from the sixth grade
to the High School.
We are having a spelling match" said
Mr.. Riordan.
Taking a seat the reporter watched the
proceedings. Mr.. Riordan had several slips
of written words In his hand and called
them out. beginning with the head of the
line, a bright-.ooking sixth grade girl at his
left.
She spelled "temerity' correctly.
Druggist" said Mr.. Riordan to the next
scholar.
"D-r-u-g-i-s-t." responded the pupil.
druggist" repeated Mr. Riordan, look
ing at the next one, while the who
failed to insert the requisite took her
seat. And so it went. Those who mispell-
ed a word took their seats and the word
was passed on until some one spelled 1t
correctly. 1t excellent, if old
timey." oral lesson, as all the children
heard the incorrect as well as the correct
/ spelling, ana naturally the latter became
impressed on their memories. Finally the
entire crowd had fallen before difficult
words. until two girls, one High School
pupil and the other sixth grade girl. were
alone. and they seemed well equipped
that they were relieved from further tests
with honors even.
The interest all, these scholars took was
evident. and the chagrin of those who fail
ed was equally so.
Telephone and telegraph.
w.t. IT, ta1n
phone and two telegraph instruments rest
ing on tables some distance from each
other.
THE children installed our telephone sys-
tenn" said Mr.. Riordan. THE other instru-
ment Is the floor above. If the line gets
out of order, as it sometimes does at night.
this with a shrewd infection, which init
mated that Mr.. Riordan knew what dis
turbed it, ''if there Is crossed wire. for
| instance, the children rectify the faut
without assistance. The telegraph line also
gets out of order. and these little ones rem
edy that unassisted also.
The hour between 8 and 10 o'clock in
the main room and there are nine IN all,
Is devoted to spelling one day and arithme-
tic the next. There are about thirty pupls
who are anxious to he advanced IN ar1,h-
metc. and they are given special studies
The study of art was only adopted ror
those who have taste and some ability
that way. There are twenty such pupils.
who make sketches in and around the
arsenal and come | ack and paint their
pictures at the school Some Of ;h's work
Is quite good
Thirty-fve of the children are being in
structed in typewriting. There are but
three machines in the building. so they are
divided by giving each child twenty min
utes' practice and work
II get here at T:3O o'clock each morning."
said Mr. Riordan and invariably l find
some children here working away at the
ty pewriters and there will be tets Of the
third grade scarcely able to reach the tele-
phone receiver, talking over the phones be-
fore I arrive. Our children all XII ow how
to talk into the phone as to be under
stood. and they whisper almost, instead Of
Yelling.
The remarkable neatness Of the building
struck the reporter and he remarked upon
THAT Is due to the children Also" said
Mr.. Rlordan. The janitor has no work 10
building clean. and naturally have n pride
in its appearance because of this RESPONSE
biity. The rooms are swept morning and
night by two of the girl pupils in each.
and they would be very angry If this were
re garded menial.
Specimen Days Course.
Asked for an outline of the course of
study pursued Mr.. Riordan. who had asked
| the reporter to accompany him to his Office,
| picked up two typewriter pages.
We have regular program every day."
| he remarked land here Is the routine of
July II. which will give good idea Of
system"
| The list was as follows:
Room 1-9 to 10. Arithmetic, Mr.. Riordon: