Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-28
&C nights. and 45 nights in the ninth, tenth
and eleventh divisions.
Plea for InanectiOn.

Plea for Inspection.
Mr. Powell makes an earnest plea for an
inspection of the schools and children at
stated intervals by medical experts APP
pointed for the purpose, with reasonable
compensation for their services. He be-
lieves that by medical inspection the teach
ers would gradually be educated in broad
er seeing and understanding of the pupils
natures and conditions, and would thus
earn how better to minister to their neces-
stiles and direct their possibilities.
In this connection Mr.. Powell urges an
increased appropriation for free text books
remarking that one of the first demands
of medical direction is that each child
shall be supplied with book. to the end
that two or more children shall not use the
same book. To supply book to each child
in every case where books are used will
require a larger amount of money than
we have ever had at our command The
greatly increased outlay. however, will be
required only for the first supply. There
after the outlay would not be relatively
much larger than it now is. because books
would not wear out so rapidly as they now
do
The Night schools.
Night schools in the District, Mr.. Powell
states, continue to be interesting and
profitable department of education, although
lack of funds has prevented the author
tiles from providing them for every To-
Cd.lly GShlUS LOT tIltIl says
1T Is interesting to know that whereas
in the early history of night schools in the
District of Columbia the lowest class 1--WE
divided the night schools into three classes
"a beginners class, middle class and an
upt,,.SS-aQe y...sssl was by far the largest.
being in many instances greatly G,uw.,.d
this condition changed gradually until it
became desirable to establish an advanced
grade OF school, which was termed :he
night high school. The night nigh 3cnool
hac fro, tie hlei T1yni
1t is large institution, whereas the low
est or primary class in nearly every sec
ton of the city has become very small
1t is interesting to know further this low
est cass in the white schools is compose
chiefly of foreigners. persons who attend
school largely for the purpose of acuulr-
ing the English language. Many Of those
who are not foreigners are persons older
than one expects to find in primary and
intermediate schools, who because of lack
of previous opportunity are now seeking
the beginnings of schO astic educa ton"
Limited Vacation schools.
In Mr.. Powell's judgment it is desirable
for the board to consider the proprety of
asking for appropriations for the purpose
Of sustaining a limited number of vacation
schools in the District. An experiment was
made during the vacation just closed at the
Mccormick school. which, Mr.. Powell be-
lieves, proves conclusively how such schools
when suited to the conditions of the pupils
III attendance may De prOntaDle and deSlr-
able. He thinks that the ''droves of boys
who roam the streets during the morning
hours of hot weather may well be employed
in learning something that will make them
useful citizens and, what is more import
ant. will prevent them from doing many
things that will lead to more fragrant con-
duct"
A truant officer is recommended in this
connection by Mr.. Powell, he believing that
the number Of children not going to school
is not great but that We could provide
accommodations for every person who
should come to school In this connection
he advocates the taking of a school census.
In compliance with law sixteen kinder
gartens were opered, eight of which were
for white children and eight for colored
children These were located where vacant
school rooms were to be had, 1t being neces-
sary to rent but a single room. Speaking
of these schools. Mr.. Powell says:
When II Is considered that there are now
147 first-grade schools in the District and
that most Of the pupils in these schools
tmore than 80 per cent? will be moved for
ward smother year to give place to children
now under six years, the age at which IN
the District pupils are admitted to the
primary schools. 1t Ia easily seen that there
is a field for very large number of kinder
| gartens: but whether the extension Of the
kindergarten privileges will demand as
Continued on Twelfth Page)