The Washington times., 1901-12-22
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
OF WASHINGTON.
BUILDINGS WELL EQUIPPED.
Thirteen Hundred Teachers Direct
ing Juvenile Minds-NntionaI
Capital Promising to Become
the Worlds Centre.

Although its teachers are by no means
among the best-paid public instructors in
the United States. the city of Washing
ton can today boast as complete and ef-
fective system OF education perhaps as
is to be found in any city on earth. Omit
ting the numerous private schopls. many
of which are doing excellent work. there
is system Of primary public schools
with force of about 800 teachers.
This local educational army will soon
be re-enforced by an addition OF at least
100 teachers. who will form the STATS of
number of additional schools recon-
mendcd by the board.
An Excellent Equipment.
To one who has seen public schools
elsewhere. many OF them evincing but
stepmotherly care on the part Of the
powers that be-" the school buildings
OF Washington in their furniture and ap-
pointments appear to be treated with al
most lavish generosity. This is fea-
ture TO be highly commended. The facili-
ties SO afforded for obtaining for the pu-
pills the best results of the teachers la
bors should always be remembered; and
the experienced in the councils of sue
cessful communities will be found to en-
dorse the statement that the money in
vested in the public education invariably
proves one OF the wisest and most econo-
mic OF a nations investments.
On this score no fault can be found with
the authorities OF the District OF Column
bia. in so far. at least. as school build
ings, furniture, and apparatus are con-
cerned. But it may be incidentally men
toned that with a view to attract the
hest availabfe fhlent 10 the teaching pro-
~ ssion fc could hardly be regarded as i'm
prudent or extravagant TO increase the
present rates OF salary in all grades of
the system.
systems of Teaching.
For initiating children into the mys-
teries of reading. different systems find
favor in different countries. Some adopt
what is known as the alphabetic method
that is to say. the children are first taught
TO recognize all the letters Of the alpha
bet BY name and by shape. and then they
are taught to spell and read small words.
gradually acquiring n knowledge of the
powers or sounds OF the letters In com
bination. In British and Irish schools
modification OF this system has been
adopted group Of. say, half dozen let
ters being learned at a time and short
words containing only those letters then
introduced.
The method adopted here is entirely DIFF
ferent; II is what is known among educa-
tionalists as the look and say method.
BY this is meant that the Juveniles are
taught TO read little words right away:
to recognize each word as n whole and
pronounce it. leaving for future consider
3 hn N.Ff ha al. 81 IT,,
the words are composed.
By this method reading takes prece-
dcnce over spelling. and. judging by the
results as seen in the higher grades, there
seems to be no reason for supposing the
method TO be in any way inferior to that
which has long obtained in transatlantic
primary schools.
To the High Schools.
After passing through the various
grades OF the primary schools, those
whose parents desire for them a more ex-
tended course of education pass on to
the high schools. where a more ad-
vanced course of literary, scientific. and
mechanical education is provided for.
Here the style of work is more akin to
that OF the colleges.
There are special teachers for particu-
aptitude for any particular department OF
science. art. or literature opportunities
are afforded for developing it. The num-
Der OF high schools in the city is COM
paratively small, as only a small propor-
tion OF the primary school children is
sent to graduate in the high schools.
University Education.
Even with its present equipment OF
h, nit al fe oil oh Of
the times. Complete museums libraries.
and scientific apparatus for experiments
and demonstrations in connection with
the physical sciences afford facilities for
higher education which are rivaled in
few Of the worlds greatest cities.
But in addition to all this there is an
immediate prospect, owing to the munin-
cence OF Mr. Carnegie. OF the establish
meat here under Government patronage
and management. OF great National
University for the American nation. Here
will be afforded such liberal opportunities
for the advancement OF science by in
dependent investigation as are certain to
attract to our city the coming leaders of
scientific progress. the cultured and the
ambitious. not Only OF the western hemis-
phcre. but ot ali the civilized nations OF
the world.
The United States has already disturb
ed the old order OF things by transferring
The capital OF the kingdom OF commerce
to the western side OF the Atlantic. Pres
ept Indications point to the probability OF
the National Capital becoming. in the
near future. the intellectual centre of
gravity OF the world.
A CbiId'- Presence of Mind.
with smoke filling the room and with