Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-03
STEVENS VACATION SCHOOL
SIX WEEKS TERM FOR COLORED
CHILDREN ENDS.
over One Thousand Pupils Enrolled
Volunteer Corps of 81 Teachers.

The first vacation school established Tor
the colored children of the District of Co
lumbia closed yesterday. after six weeks
session. Five hundred and seventy-two
pupils were in attendance at the close, the
whole enrolment having been over 1000
The last week proved the most interest
ing and important of the session. Com
missioner mcfarland paid a visit Tuesday.
closely inspected the work in all the classes
and was very encouraging in his express
sions Of approval, as were also J. Holds
worth Gordon, esq. and Mrs b. u. fran
els, members of the board of education, and
Superintendent Stuart, who came later. The
two assistant superintendents, Mrs. Myers
among the visitors, the latter several
times Parents and citizens generally. and
many others connected with the schools,
have shown their active interest by their
presence, among whom were: DR.. j. II. N.
Warning supervising principal tenth di-
vision; DR.. Lucy E. Moten, principal Nor
NAL School No. 9: DR.. w. b. Evans. prin-
cipal Manual Training School No =;
Judge Arson S. Taylor, Prof VIM. ii,
Richards, Mr.. Henry Johnson and Revs.
J. Anderson Taylor and Alex. Garner.
When the school opened for the enroll
ment of pupils June 81 nearly eoO
children applied for admission Some
of these had come from schools as
far distant as the Logan and RAN
dali, and from various other points
in the suburbs-one girl, in fact, living In
Anacostia. She attended regularly since
the opening. Another came from Brook.
land, another from Brightwood and still
another from Rosslyn. All could not pc
entered because of the small force OF
teachers. only eight having volunteered at
the opening. Owing to this eagerneSS for
odp increase
the teaching force The fact that WASH
ington teachers could be relied upon to
serve when and where duty called was
again demonstrated, for since that time
thirty-two teachers have assisted In this
splendid work.
The board of education accepted the
proposition submitted to establish such
school to be conducted by an entirely vol
unteer corps Of teachers, selected solely
because of their efficiency and experience
The Corps of Teachers.
The vacation school has been most for
tunate In the personnel OF it's teaching
corps To their efforts more than those
of any one else is due the success, which
Commissioner Macfarland and other school
officials consider achieved
The following is a complete list of those
who have taught at the school a part or all
of the time: Emma F. G. Merritt, Katie
U. Alexander. Rosetta Boston, Martha
B. Fisher. Charity Heathman, Anna
bella Kinner. Mary v. Dickerson, Anna
Bell, Ursuline Barker, Fannie Bell, Lottie
Crusor, Ella Cusberd. Benz. Washington
Marie Wright, Musette Brooks, Mary Ma
SON Emma " Beckwith Kindergarten;
Jennie l. Henderson, assistant kindergart-
ner Normal graduates: Herndon Jones,
Essie Jackson, Mary Johnson and Charlotte
Onley. Special teachers and their branches
of work: Sewing, Mile G. Lewis; drawing,
Helen John
son; music (adv), II. Wythe Lewis;
music (prim.). Marie James; playtime.
Anita Turner; talks on The Body. Dr.
VIM H Hughes. The carpentry teacher
did not report.
In the establishment Of a vacation
school," said Principal Cardozo to a Star
reporter, ''it was felt that real success
would be achieved only In so far as skill,
discretion and consideration were exercised
In the handling of children during such an
unfavorable season as the summer. All
children were admitted without much If any
regard for age. sex or previous condition,
or for the various localities In which they
resided. So far as possible, however, pref
erence has been given to the financially
and mentally poor children, the original
idea In the establishment Of this school
having been to arrange a program that
would materially aid deficient children, and
yet strengthen efficient ones. The former
plan was changed somewhat, and the work
during the last five weeks has been con-
In some respects resembling the one that
has been established by that genius, Rior-
dan, and his happy and earnest corps of
teachers, who have done far more than any
others to create a strong sentiment on the
part Of the public for vacation schools.
ut has been our aim, then,to refrain from
going too far below the surface in the
thirst for knowledge, to emphasize and
make attractive the lighter lines Of special
and industrial work. and to bring the child
within proper environment. 1t would be
interesting to know If the records of the
Police Court show any decrease in crime as
proximate daily average Of 400 children.
Were nothing else accomplished in a vaca-
ton school this would make it Of great
civic value.
1--WE have tried several Innovations. such
as teaching both boys and girls to sew and
cook. 1t Is interesting to know In this con-
nection that women are teaching sloyd and
light carpentry in many of the classes Of
regular and summer schools Of other cities.
For Next Year.
I'VE would like to be permitted to con-
tinue sewing. drawing music, cooking and
the short talks we have been having on
the body by a regular physician. and to
attempt the following innovations next
year, which would stamp this school as
unique: First. a series Of lessons In physics
WHOLLY experimentaD suitable for the first
" eiSuti Sidu iuSttdu VI nature WOTk,
so largely prevailing in the vacation schools
of other cities; second, some local history
as fundamental to a larger understanding
of the subject in the regular schools; third,
manual training, cardboard sloyd, bench
work, Florentine iron work, whiting, chip
carving, toy making, paper flowers, raphia
work, millinery, crocheting, embroidery
bead work, Stat and rattan weaving, cord,
rope and hammock making. housekeeping
and nursing In strict correlation with cook
ing; fourth, art drawing with pen. pencil
and charcoal, painting, modelling.
ITO the thoughtful mind 1t can be readily
seen that all of this vacation work can be
50 taught after proper arrangement as to
correlate directly with the regular school
work. and thus benefit the child materially
as well as broadening him. One of the
great, II not crying. needs of vacation
schools is bath tubs or swimming pools:
but I suppose shower baths should be
placed in first as being less expensive
Course Must Attract Children.
Children attended vacation school vol
unfairly. 80 that 1t was happy, II not a
necessary, combination to make the course
of instruction of popular as well as Of a