The Washington times., 1901-12-12
THE PROGRESS OF
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
REPORT OF BOARD OF EDUCATION
The Teachers Receive High Praise
Urgent Request for Incrcnsc of
snIaries-Thc Cadets and
the kinderEnrtcns.

The Board Of Education yesterday sub
mitted to the District Commissioners
its annual report for the fiscal year ended
June 30. 1901.
The report opens with reference to the
reorganization of the public school system
last year, and the results growing out Of
that movement
The board doe not judge its work. bu,
claims the credit of placing the public
schools of the District on higher level
Superintendent Stuart and his supervis-
cry force are complimented upon the sue
cess Of their work for the year. and the
| Commissioners are asked to give special
| consideration to the recommendations
made by the Superintendent for the good
OF public education.
The Teachers Enthusinstfc
The report describes the whole body of
| teachers as an enthusiastic force. and
| states that the pupils take rank with the
! best to be found in the schools of any
| State. II is matter OF pride, thinks the
| Board of Education, that the schools of
| the District arc patronized by the chill
dren of the President and of members of
both houses OF Congress. as well as by
those of every rank OF public officials Of
our owr country and OF foreign lands
This high class OF pupils. 1t is believed
requires ability of the highest order. as
well as earnest application on the part of
the teachers.
The board regards it duty. as it is a
| pleasure. to urge that provision be made
for an increase OF salaries both in the
lower and intermediate grades. Some
recommendations with regard to the
higher salaries have been incorpora led in
the annual estimates. and the board ex-
presses its earnest desire that an advance
for the lower grades. also, may receive
the approval OF Congress
Manual Training school
The report refers to the new buildings
OF the white and colored manual training
schools, which are now nearly completed
1t is the opinion that with the facilities
which these buildings will afford this de-
partment Of education will advance ma
terially in the District
While that which is denominated prac-
tical, says the report, is thus receiving
prominent recognition in the schools of
the District, all subjects embraced in
what are now included in modern com
mon school education are receiving FULL
attention. Careful physical culture gees
hand in hand in every grade with mental
development. Music is made one of the
delights Of school life Every schoolrooua
In the District and the halls of the build
ings are made cheerful and attractive bv
growing plants and pictures, provided in
the main from the small salaries OF the
teachers. There should be a special fund
from which such Important auxiliaries
could be purchased within reasonable lin
itations
Ola Glory Ftnnts.
Not only does the flag float over every
school building. but flags are prominent
in the decorations OF each schoolroom.
and daily receive patriotic attention. No
one can witness the tots Of the kinder
gartens receiving their flags for a march
with infantile salutes or the more formal
ceremonies OF the upper grades in rever-
ence OF the flag, without feeling assured
that those thus taught will grow Up pa
triots
On Physical Culture
The efforts made in physical culture are
referred to and the purpose stated to sd
vance this kind OF training as rapidly as
possible
The compliments OF the board are paid
to the High School Cadets, and their or
ganization is commended as aiding direct
ly in patriotic and physical education.
The board also refers 10 the prellmi- |
nary military instruction impaired to he |
cadets. and Congress is urged to give en-
couragement to the organization in sew !
eral ways suggested In this and former |
reports.
The board reviews the various depart
ments Of the schools, remarking upon the |
efficiency of each from the kindersartens
to the high schools. The night schools
come in for word OF praise.
Alpha and Omega.
The kindersartens are designated as the
alpha and the high schools as the omega
of public education in the District. The
one is called the nursery where the seeds
of education are planted. and the other
the beautiful and rich fruit resulting from /
all intermediate cultivation The cook
ing schools are SAID to FIJI an important
gap in the system OF education
After brief reference TO the instruction
in music furnished by the public schools
the board closes its report as follows:
Message TO the People.
The message OF the Board Of Edu-
cation to the citizens OF the District is
Visit the schools Taey are open to the
public during every daily session. and the
board invites the most searching scrutiny
The organization is not known as it
should be by the parents Of this great
army Of children. The beard feels conf
dent that the closer and more general
such inspection of the schools should be-
come. the higher they would rank in the
est iruafiOu Of the public 80