The evening times., 1901-09-25
B. FLORENCE WILKINSON
HARPER & BROTHERS
FRANKLIN SQUARE, NEW YORK
SCHOOL HOUSES DEDICATED.
Official Opening of the webb and
Dent Buildings.


The Webb and Dent school buildings.
which have just been completed and put
IL readiness for occupancy, were today
formally dedicated There We're appro-
PIRATE exercises at both buildings Hon
II. B. F. Macfarland. President OF the
Board OF District Commissioners. deIiv-
cred brief addresses. At the Dent School
he said.
The opening OF the Dent School, named
for an eminent citizen Of Georgetown JO-
Aah Dent who was one Of my hOnOTed
predecessors IN office. is an occasion for
cOngTatUla tiOn. on behalf Of the Gov
eminent Of the District Of Columbia !
congratulate the people Of this ueighbOr-
hood upon having such a fine building for
the education of the children. and the
teachers and pupils upon beginning their
labors in il.
Il am very sure that the work that viii
De done here VIII De IN the spirit Of the
man whose name the building bears. a
patriotic. high-minded gentleman. II is
a great pleasure TO know that our public
school system is now In better condition
than ever before II is the most import
ant interest in the District for il c0mure-
hends not only the present. but the future
About onc-siNth Of the entire popula-
tion Of the District is IN the public
schools. and II is the seed Of the citizen
ship of the century
The Commissioners. solicitous for all
the interests OF the District. are nat
urally most solicit0us for this. They are
gratihed with the good work Of the
Board Of Education, the superintendent,
the supervising principals. the teachers
and with the steady Improvement in all
parts Of the city They are glad that
Congress has made IL possible, upon their
recommendation, for them 70 furnish
better buildings and better facilities Of
every sort fnr the work that is 10 be- done
and confidently expect larger apprOpria-
tions for these purposes
During the course of his remarks at the
Webb School Commissioner Macfarland
said:
William Benning Webb was one Of the
leading lawyers of Washington and Pres
idtHJ of the Board OF Commissioners Of
the District Of Columbia He was my
friend and my preCeptOr in law. as well
as my predecessor I'm office IL is there
fore "a peculiar pleasure for me TO be- here
al the opening OF the public school which
Is 60 honor mis- memory.
'keiurmb ring his love for children and
his deep interest in the cause Of educa-
ton. and especially In our own public
school system. ] feel sure that II was es-
pecialy appropriate for the Commission
ers 10 place his name on this building
Nav il be- an inspiration 10 the teachers
and pupils through all the years to come.
The Commissioners desire 70 congratulate
YOU all upon the opening OF this new
school building. and the limitless OppOr-
tunity for which IL stands
We are glad To believe that under the
steady progress Of our public school syS-
tenn every year VIII see an Improvement
in buildings and other facilities The
Commissioners. encouraged by the ra-
SnouSe Waich Congress has already made
10 their recommendations, VIII ask more
largely and more confidently for an that
IS needed. But. after all. the best results
OF the school will come from the spirit Of
study and the devotion 70 duty under the
inspiration of uuselfish teachers. which
have made high atJainmeuts possible in
the past. even in the poorest buildings and
with the most Inadequate means. = uubI.
teacher and a willing pupil are essential.
and all the rest is simply accessory We
believe. however. that We shall have in
the better buildings and with the better
tools the same high character Of teachers
and pupils as We have always had IN our
schools"