The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-27
DIRECTOR LANES REPORT
Improvements in the High Schools
of the District.
Nearly 3.iOo PupiIs EnrolIed-The
Class Rooms Croy.dcti-Advantng
Received by Graduates - Designs
for the New Technical School.

Tor the new Iechnicai Schooi.
Director F. r. Lane has issued the fol-
lowing statement concerning conditions
in the District High Schools:
The enrolment in the High Schools at
the end of the first week, including the
Colored High School, which is now an in
tegral part OF the system. was S.076. The
Business High School, which has grown
steadily in the appreciation of parents, is
in a seriously crowded condition. Rooms
have been divided in order to make two
from one; the drawing room has been
forced in the exhibition hail. where the
drawing tables now stand as part of the
stage; furniture, desks and chairs long
since abandoned as unfit for use or not
needed in the grade schools have been put
down upon every available foot of floor
space. Some sections number forty
eight with applications for admission still
being received daily by the principal.
THE report .f the Secretary of the Alum
nj Association of this school made last
spring says that every one of its members
who wish TO be, is employed at the ay-
erage salary for males. $50; for ladies. $35.
resents the market value of business ed
ucation.
"0n Saturday last bids were opened at
the Commissioners Office for the construc
tion of a new Technical High School, which
is TO be located at Seventh and Rhode ISL
and Avenue. Mr.. Cobb. the architect. has
designed the school which has external
beauty combined with most efficient plan
ming for the work which is to be done both
in classroom. laboratory, and shops. The
pupils for this new school are now attend
ing the Central High School. while their
drafting rooms wood turning shops forge
rooms, and machine shop are located across
the street in small rented buildings. When
the new structure is completed in Septem-
ber 1901, these students. the present plant,
and the present corps of manual training
teachers will be transferred TO the new
building. The incoming class at that time.
together with these transfers, will make It,
the opening OF school complete in every
part of its work.
''The work OF the technical school will
probably be conducted on the plan now
followed at the Central. This compr se5
four-year technical course, which
includes six periods week of sh5pwork
and drawing There is also the recently
organized two-year course. in VII CHI by
the omission of foreign languages from
the academic work. ii is possible to in
clude all the shopwork of the longer
course. The four-year course will pre-
pare for admission to institutions of
technology such as the Massachusetts
Institute. the Worcester Polytechnic. or
Stevens Institute or to the engineerin
courses of the universities like Cornell.
1T IS estimated that the enrolment at
the opening of the school which is eX-
pected to take place next fall. will be
about as follows: Ftrst-year stUden s,
100; second-year, 40; third-year, %;
fourth-year, 15.- These figures are tased
on the number now in the technical
courses, but it is not improbable that the
total will be considerably increased,
owing to the attraction furnished By the
new building with its facilities. 50 su-
perior TO those now offered.
During the past week letters have been
sent by teachers and cadets to Lieut.
Harry Leonard, of the Marine Corps. and
Lieut.. Wade jolly. of the Ninth Infantry.
both at one time High School cadets who
were mentioned for gallantry in The at
tack of the allies on Tientsin in July.
Lieutenant Leonard was but q few years
ago lieutenant colonel of the cadet regi-
ment. He was much beloved by his
mates. His conduct makes every cadet
now in school feel proud of his record.
Lieutenant Jolly. of the Central High
School. is another from the long list of
those from this institution who have seen
distinguished service. He will serve as
an example Of courage 10 those who are
to follow.
There is little talk among fourth-year
cadets in the white schools which is not
upon cadet prospects. BY rule OF the
Board of Education fourteen ranking ca
diets. seven from the Central High School.
four from the Eastern three from the
Western. are certified to the .'egimentaI
examination which is conducted by officers
from tina National Guard. By this routine
the standing Of a student in his academic
work is given full weight in the selection
of these officers.
The final determination as to who
shall receive regiTnental positions is made
solely by the test of military fitness Civ
on to the fourteen selected cadets Closely
following the regimental examinations. a
written tactical examination is given to
all cadets for commissions from the grade
Of major to that Of second lieutenant. The
prospect " this examination being held
during tle coming week keeps many boy
on :he qui vive. Reports from the Eastern
Schoo! are bit discouraging TO those who
have hoped to form two companies there
as in previous years; it is stated that for
some unaccOuntable reason but thirty boys
have entered the first-year class If 1t is
necessary. because of this small enrolment
is likely that the crowded condition OF the
business School will warrant the forma-
tion Of two companies in this school. which
will preserve the regiment intact as COM
posed OF two four company battalions. The
Board of Education is still at work upon
the ruirs.
There is little reason to anticipate
any change in the official management OF
the cadets Without doubt General Har-
ries, as heretofore, in the capacity of mil
itary trustee. win have charge OF the
boys. His well-known desire to stimu-
late the cadet idea has heretofore been
a powerful incentive to the effort of the
officers and men in the regiment. During
the, past summer two companies OF the
High School Cadets. under the command
of former Lieutenant Colonel Van Potter,
of the Eastern School. attended the an
nual encampment OF the National Guard.
These men secured the real advantage OF
military camp as no cadets have been
able to do in preceding years. Camp or
ganiZations by the boys themselves have
resulted in little more than iunkets. anI
while without bad features, have nothing
to recommend them from. a serious N l.
itary point of view"
ARRESTED ON SUSPICION.