Evening star., 1901-08-01
VACATION SCHOOL
Novel Closing Exercises ola Success
full Institution.
THE GREENLEAF BOYS AND GIRLS
Practical Illustrations of What
They Were Taught. =.
OVATION TO MR.. RIORDAN

A score of youngsters occupied the CEN
ter of the platform in the commodious hall
of the jefferson School building last night
and alternately puffed out their cheeks and
blew sweet sounds from bright brass
horns. They composed the zoba band of
the vacation school. The performers did
not occupy chairs like Sousas or Santel-
mann's musicians do, nor did they stand
while footing their tunes. They occupied
a see-saw that tilted up, first one end and
then the other in rhythm with the mel
ody. This unique performance was only
one incident in the altogether novel enter
tainment that was embraced in the eXer-
ciseS with which a novel institution-the
vacation school-cuminated It's successful
session of 1901.
There was a large and appreciative as
semblage to witness the exercises The
scholars and their parents, school officials
and friends crowded the hall, which was
tastefully decorated with profusion of
American flags and pretty flowers. Moth
ing of the sort in the way of school COM
mencements was ever before given in this
vicinity. When the gathering had been
seated several of the boy pupils fitted up
telephone and telegraph lines at the rear
of the platform and MESA ges were sent
back and forth by girls and deftly type
written by recipients before being deliv-
cred. A CHEEKY little girl talked the even
lng's program into phonograph, and this
instrument in turn told the audience what
was coming next at the proper time. The
instrument was made to sing, too, by the
pupils, who accentuated this by singing
themselves. and singing well. They per-
formed calisthenic and military drills with
the precision that illustrated the effects of
perfect discipline, and to an observer the
exercises We're as impressive as they were
interesting, for they denoted that the chill
dren had been practically taught in every
respect.
Another striking thing was the affection
that was shown to exist between the chill
dren and their teachers, whose relations
have been cordial and sympathetic.
This was manifest every time Principal
Raymond Riordan's name was mentioned,
and was as emphatic whenever one of his
devoted corps of assistants was prominent
during the evening.
1t was fitting that the close of the exer-
cises should have been made a sponta-
neous ovation to Principal Riordan, the
originator of the vacation school. who in
augurated 1t In spite of obstacles that
would have thwarted less determined
or devoted man. He gave it his time ard
his substance. and with the loyal support
of a noble little band of women secured for
it the recognition it deserved and made 1t
of the most valuable adjuncts of the
public school system of the District of Co
lumbia. All present joined in the tribute,
and all knew it was deserved The scene
was most affecting school officials, Iar-
ents of scholars and guests alike pressed
around the young man and told him how
much appreciated were his devotion his
enthusiasm and his self-sacrifice.
Approval of the Community.
Previous to this outburst however one
of the three men who direct the municipal
destinies of the nations capital had voiced
in no uncertain sentences the official COM
mendation of Mr.. Riordan and the vaca-
ton school. 1t was Commissioner Macfar-
land who did this He said:
AT the close of this third season Princi-
pal Riordan knows that he has the APP
proval of the community for his vacation
school. 1t passed the experimental stage
two years ago, and having become recog-
nized as successful by the Commissioners
and the board of education, received the
substantial recognition of Congress in an
appropriation made at the last session.
1t has therefore become a well established
part of the public school system of the
District of Columbia, and we may expect
to see it increase and improve steadily.
Already the example set has been followed
by an enterprising principal and a staff Of
teachers In the colOred schools. and with
good success in this their first season. 1t
may well be that other experiments Of
cipal Riordan and his staff have not only
done much themselves, but they have
stirred others to do likewise.
''They certainly merit the appreciative
support which they have received. 1t Is
small thing for these teachers, after
doing their full duty throughout the long
school year. to work for six weeks more
in the heat of summer; but we can well
believe them when they tell us that they
feel repaid by the success of their en-
deayor and the appreciation of their fellow
citizens. The happy faces of these chill
dren and their parents, rejecting the af-
fecton of the teachers, tell the story of
the vacation school better than any words.
A Suirit to Re Stfmulated
Learning has been made lovely by a
simple ways. Shakespeare's picture Of the
pupil going toward school with heavy
looks Is too true, unfortunately, for the
great majority of school children the world
over: but here. If the principal and teach
ers could do without vacation altogether,
the pupils would come eagerly all summer
long. .And / believe that while we must
have more drill and more discipline per-
haps, in the winter schools the spirit Of
these teachers. which is, after ALL the
spirit of the Great Teacher. ought to be
manifested by all the teachers in the regu-
lar schools. as it is by very many of them,
and it ought to draw the pupils In with
irresistible attraction. To stimulate this
spirit may be the larger service of the va
cation school,
Other Features.
The Commissioner was introduced by Mr..
George III. Harries of the board OF educa-
tion as ''the man who was the true friend
OF all; the man who trod the bad,
pointed out the good, and who stood for
what was best and good, and In that stood
for the vacation school,"
Previous to the Commissioners remarks
there were other interesting exercises.
showing how the children had been train
ed to do and what they did, and present
ing some of the teachers who guided them
to this envied plane. Herman Boyer led the
boys In fixing up the telegraph and tele-
phone equipment, and Beulah Jones'
'Dimples'' is her appropriat nickname
was at the head OF the girls, all Of whom
were bright, too, in everything they did.
Mr.. George O'Conner gave some of his
refined funnyisms. Mr.. De Moll manipulate
I'd the Apollo In assistiug = piano Ia