The Washington times., 1901-12-29
Beginning Of the System Of
Public Instruction.
BATTLING WITH MANY DIFFICULTIES
Two Modest Buildings Erected in
1906 - Salaries of Teachers and
Expenses Derived From Odd
Taxes and Contributions.


erected on the corner of Seventh and
Streets is another evidence of the magni-
tude TO which education for the masses
has attained in the National Capital.
The development of the public school
system in Washington is. indeed, an in
teresting story. the tellirg of which Is
best put in the words Of Mr.. j. Ormond
Wilson, who has been prominently con-
nected herewith from 1851 TO 1855. first as
member of the board OF trustees and later
as superintendent
Congress provided said Mr.. Wilson,
I'm 1904, by an amendment to the charter
granted the municipal government OF the
District. for the establishment and sn-
perintendence Of schools On December
of the same year the city council passed
an act to establish and endow a perra-
nent institution for the education of
youth in the city OF Washington which
provided for q board of thirteen trus-
tees. seven to be elected by the joint bal
lots of the two chambers of the council
and six to be chosen by individuals con-
tributing 10 the promotion of the schools
as determined by that act.
1tIhe First Appropriation.
For the support OF the schools the act
appropriated so much Of the net proceeds
of the taxes on slaves and dogs and OF
licenses for carriages and hacks, ordina-
ries and taverns retailing wines and spir-
itucus liquors. billiard tables. theatrical,
and ether amusements, hawkers and ped
dlars. as the trustees might decide TO be
necessary for the education OF the poor OF
the city. not TO exceed the sum OF l,500
per annun. The act also provided for
the appointment OF a select committee
Ct three counciimen, whose duty it should
be to solicit or provide for soliciting both
ct home and abroad, contributions in
money or lots for the benefit OF the
schools One OF the largest cong-ibutions
was that OF $500, made by Thomas Jeifer-
son.
1T may be stated at the outset that
the colored children of the District were
not included among the benehciaries Of
the public schools in any legislation,
either by the Congress or the city coun-
ell, prior TO the abolition OF slavery In
1862.
..The FIRST Board OF Trustees consisted
OF Ihcmas Jefferson, Thomas Monroe,
Gabriel Duyall. Thomas Tingey. Joseph
Bromley, John Taylor, Robert Brent
William Brent, Samuel II. Smith, William
Cranch. George Blagden, John Dempsie.
and Nicholas King.
jefferson the First President.
They met in the chamber then occu-
pied by the Supreme Court, in the Capitol.
August 5, 1855. Thomas jefferson. then
President of the United States, was elect
president Of the board, and accepted the
office in letter dated Monticello, August
IL 1906; lie was prevented, however. from
ever discharging its duties by others of
paramount obligation. At a little later
date the Rev William Matthews. better
known as Father Matthews. became n
member of the board. and was most zeal
Gus and active in the cause OF the public
schools FIR many years.
"A notably comprehensive report. set
ting forth in detail the plan OF the en-
tire educational system from an academy
10 q university. was prepared by a select
committee and adopted September 10,
1906. The following passage from cir
culsr letter. issued with view of OBJ
tanning contributions for the erection Of
a college, gives a refreshing glimpse of
the typical COngressI1an at the dawn OF
the last century:
There is another consideration which
cannot fail TO entitle such an institution
10 the decided preference OF large por-
ION Of citizens. The parent who sends
his son TO Washington viii find for him,
in bis Representative TO Congress q guar
dian and friend who, during a large part
Of the year will be his associate. will
observe his progress in his studies, super
intend his morals. and perceive the real
condition and character Of the seminary.
and thus be able. from time to time. TO
satisfy parental enquiry and solicitude.
Like Soab's Ark.
ION October p. 1906, the board author
ized the erection Of the first two school
houses. to be located on lots owned by
tire United States, the use Of which for
this purpose had been granted by Presi-
dent jefferson. These structures might
have been modelled after Noah's Ark, for
VIC are told they were built Of wood, one
story high. fifty feet long twenty five
wide. and cost together Si.5S9.4L
IN the ccGc OF rules for the government
Of these schools one reads the following:
Every scholar on entering the school
shall take of his hat and bow to the pre-
cepsor.' Girls DO not appear 10 have been
in the minds Of the rule makers. and. IN
fact, the education Of the girls. especially
OF the humble classes. was then consid-
cred of srnal account.
'The first teacher 10 commence work
January. 1906. was Richard White. prin-
cipal teacher OF the Western school
whose salary was 500 per annufn. 1ot
see, even at that early DAY, the West EnS
was taking the lead. Poor Richard White
prototype OF many a successor! We IN,
him October J. 1907. rendering his resig
nation, accompanied by a prayer in yaii
FOR pecuniary assistance to enable him L,
remove himself and family from Washing
ton.
Class Distinctions.
The two original schools, supplomente'
for several years by a Lancasterian schoo
and fer short period by two subsidize,
Presbyterian schools, ran an intermitten
course, without any considerable growtl
or Improvement. The public school sys
ten was handicapped al the start by clas
distinctions introduced In the provision
for poor and pay pupils. by being estab
llsbed in slave territory. and by lac
Of funds. Thus, for forty years the sys
tom struggled against r hostile environ
nent without substantial progress. TIL
epithets in such phrases as 'charit
schools, poor children and 'pauper pu
pills are found freely scattered througl
the early record.
at last the school system became g
odicus that II was OF little value to an
class OF children, and q more enllghtene
and liberal public sentiment successful
protested against its longer continuanc
on its original basis. radical chang
came about IN the year is45, when fou
echool districts were established, and th
fec for tuition Of pay scholars reduce
20 the small sum Of 10 cents montl
This tuition fee was shortly afterwar