The Washington times., 1901-09-24
THE SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS.
A Noticeable Increase in the At
tendance of Pupils.
Day Devoted to the Formation of
CInsses-Opening of New buildings
Relieves OyercrOwding-Popu
itx Of the Kindergartens Shown.

A large proportion of the population Of
| the District of Columbia between the
ages of five and nineteen became busier
yesterday than it has been for the past
three months, when the public schools re-
| opened for the work OF the new year.
| Children who have been enjoying the long
vacation again reported ready for study
and teachers once again began the usual
course of instruction. Most of the day
| was devoted to the formation of classes.
and to other preparations for the real
study, which will begin today and tomor-
row.
Superintendent A t Stuart. OF the Dis
| trict schools. yesterday expressed himself
as highly pleased with the outlook for
| the school year. The executive force of
the Superintendent Office has been busy
during the past summer months in max
| ing preparations for the opening of the
schools. and everything has, in accord
ance with their expectations moved along
smoothly.
The doors of a number of new school
buildings have been thrown open this
| fall. relieving the crowded districts, and
removing the necessity for half day"
schools in some of the lower grades.
1t is yet too early to accurately
| estimate the enrolment of the first day.
| From the statements of supervising prin-
| cipals and the principals of the various
| high schools however, it is evident that
| the attendance is a slight increase over
! that of last year. when the total enroll
ment was AG519. That was an increase
| of $50 over the preceding year. Those
| who make conservative estimates say that
there is not such large increase this
| year as there was last Forty-seven
thousand, it is thought. will approximate
| the total.
The opening of the schools was attended
| with no exercises whatever. Ihe entire
executive and instructive force from the
| Superintendent, y. I. Stuart, down 10
| teachers in the lowest grades ioSI no
time in getting down to business. There
was practically no study, and a NUMBER
| of the schools were dismissed at noon
Most of the attention of teachers was
given to the new pupils. Their names
were enrolled and they were examined
| as TO the studies they had pursued at 9TH
| er places. Old pupils generally knew just
| where they were to go and fell into their
respective grooves quickly and naturally.
At the office of Superintendent stuart
| everything was business. Although dur
| ing all the summer months. when pupils
| and teachers have been enjoying vacation,
| preparations have been busily going on IN
| this Office for the opening of the schools,
| there still remained great deal to be
done.
In the grade schools there will be pur
| sued this year practically the same course
| of study in effect last year. number OF
new textbooks will be introduced. 5. u
| Simmons custodian of free textbooks, is
| barricaded in his supply room at the
| Franklin School behind stacks of large
I volumes all ready to be sent out to teacn-
| ers throughout the District There Will
! be between 10000 and $4,000 books sent out
| to replace those which have been worn
| out or lost during the past year and to
| provide for new pupils entering the
10 h
| ers or through their supervising principals
| and the books are sent out by the wagon
load to the different buildings and in turn
| distributed to the pupils who return them
| at the end of the year or when they have
| finished that particular branch OF STUDY.
| At the Central High School 1t was re-
| ported yesterday that the enrolment
| was about the same as that of last year.
| with a possible increase on account of
J The opening of the course in manual train
| ing. Heretofore the instruction IN manual
| training has been afforded In the
| share OF a technical course and connected
| intimately with the curriculum of the
| High School. Hereafter the two Will be
| distinct The present quarters of the
| Manual Training School in small build
| ing opposite the Central High School on
| q Street are ridicuiously inadequate.
| Both teachers and pupils are looking for
ward eagerly to the opening OF the Man
| nal Training School No. l, about January
| More fortunate in this respect are the
| coIored pupils. Manual Training Schooi
| No 2 where they Will be afforued instr
| ;ion. will be opened some time in NoVem-
| Der. c,., w.
| arn Eastern, BUSINESS. and Colored. the
| ;irst day was devoted to the enrcllment
of new pupils and their assignment, to,
| -ether with old pupils to courses and
| Classes Today this Work will continue
and tomorrow the routine of class work
| will be taken up.
| The small building in which students
| of the Business High School are quarter
| ed promises TO be as overcro@ded this
| wear as il has been heretofore. The open,
1 ing of a special one-year course resulted
l in {. largely increased attendance ii II