The Washington times., 1901-09-26
new SCHOOLS DEDICATED.
Commissioner Macfarland Assists
at the Formal Ceremonies.
Brief Addresses Sketching Careers
of Josiah Dent and william webb
scholars md Teachers Sing Na-
tiOnal Anthems Luncheon Served


Two new school buildings in the eastern
section of the city were dedicated yester-
day with appropriate ceremonies. The
formal exercises, in which members of the
Board of Education and one of the Com
missioners of the District took part, mark
a departure in the installation of public
school buildings in the District. 1t is pro-
posed hereafter to open each new build
ing as the Dent and Webb schools were
opened. gaB.
The Dent school is on the corner of
Second Street and South Carolina Avenue
and the exercises there began at II
o'clock. There were present DR.. Kings
man, Mrs. Gordon, and Mrs. Francis, of
the Board of Education, and Commission
er Henry B. f. Macfarland. Music was
furnished by the pupils and teachers, who
sang 'Americarnat the beginning of the
exercises DR.. Kingsman presided and
made a short address, SIX etching the ca
reer of Josiah Dent, in whose honor the
building has been named. Mr.. Dent,
ne said, was born in Charles County,
Md, In 1917, and educated at Charlotte
Hall, famous academy. He studied law
and went to st. Louis to practice his pro-
fession. At the outbreak of the civil war
he returned east and made his residence
in the District. Eventually he became
President of Linthicum Institute. which
is designed for the advanced education of
youths who are unable to pursue a col
legiate course. When the present form
of government for the District of Column
bia was established in 1878 Mr.. Dent was
appointed a member of the Board of Com
missioners and as it's President. He
olt fvra hfo
retirement from public life he continued
his residence here for several years and
then removed to Berkeley Springs. w. |
Va, where he died in October. 1899, at |
the ripe old age of eighty-two.'r-
Commissioner Macfarland followed DIR. |
and said
"The opening of the Dent School, named |
for an eminent citizen of Georgetown, Jo-
siah Dent. who was one of my henored |
predecessors in office. is an occasion for
On behalf of the Gov
of the District of Columbia /
the people of this neighbor-
hood upon having such a fine building for
the education of the children, and the
teachers and pupils upon beginning their
labors in 1t.
II am very sure that the work that will /
be done here will be in the spirit of the |
man whose name the building bears.
high-minded gentleman. 1t is
a great pleasure to know that our public |
school system is now in better condition I
than ever before. 1t is the most import
ant interest in the District, for 1t compre-
nends not only the present, but the future.
About one-sixth of the entire popula-
lion of the District is in the public
and it is the seed Of the citizen
ship of the century.
'''rhe Commissioners, selicitous for all
he interests of the District. are nat
rally most solicitous for this. They are
yratified with the good work of the
he supervising principals, the teachers,
md with the steady Improvement In all
,arts of the city. They are glad that
congress has made 1t possible. upon their
for them to furnish
,etter buildings and better facilities of
very sort for the work that is to be done,
md confidently expect larger appropria-
ions for these purposes.
After the exercises the chief partici-
,ants were entertained at luncheon in one
f the rooms of the building by Supervis-
ng Principal Freeman and Miss Billings.
The opening exercises of the Webb
school building. corner of Gales and Fiji
eenth Streets northeast, were of SINH
ar character, including sketch of the
areer of the late William Webb, in MEM
ry of whom the building is named.
Commissioner Macfarland also made a
'rief address, in the course OF which he he
poke with considerable emotion OF his
riend and preceptor. He said:
William Benning Webb was one of the
aading lawyers of Washington and Pres
dent of the Board of Commissioners of
he District of Columbia. He was my
riend and my preceptor in law, as well
s my predecessor in office. 1t is there
ore a peculiar pleasure for me to be here
t the opening of the public school which
to honor his memory.
Remembering his love for children and
lis deep interest in the cause of educa-
ion, and especially in our own public
chool system. feel sure that it was es-
ecially appropriate for the Commission
rs to place his name on this building !
lay it be an inspiration to the teachers
nd pupils through all the years to come.
he Commissioners desire to congratulate (
ou all upon the opening of this new
chool building and the limitless oppor-
unity for which il stands.
I'VE are glad to believe that under the
.eady progress of our public school sys-
I'm every year will see an improvement
buildings and other facilities. The
commissioners. encouraged by the re-
)onse which Congress has already made
their recommendations, will ask more I
rgely and more confidently for all that {
the school will come from the spirit of
udy and the devotion to duty under the
aspiration of unselfish teachers. which
ave made high attainments possible in | {
lie past, even in the poorest buildings and
ith the most inadequate means. a noble
acher and willing pupil are essential,
nd all the rest is simply accessory. We
alieve however. that we shall have in
le better buildings and with the better
,ols the same high character of teachers ;
nd pupils as we have always had in our