The Washington times., 1902-02-09

people who understand and sympathize
with one another. A consciousness Of the
high meaning of life. ambition, and love
for their children knit them together in
a class that is sure to promote their
pleasure and their noble purpose. In
short. they keep the fire of parental
ambition alight in each others breast.
Practical Work Done.
from essays and novels. The work in the
classes is steady and practical. The
teacher gives each as much personal at
tention as possible, and brings the class
forward an appreciable distance every
lesson. 1t is at the close of the work
period. which extends or fits away, as
the parents would say, from 7:30 to $50,
that the social enjoyment reaches its eli
max. The men and women-some of them
more than fifty years old. remember
cheerily put their tasks and the imple-
ments of these tasks away, set thing ship
shape for the youngsters who viii troop
in on the morrow, and gather in the large
hall.
1t is then that sounds of revelry are
heard in South Washington. Revelry Of
the softest nature. be il said, such as can
not annoy anyone. No groups gather on
widely advertised that all who wish may
come in, stay just as long as they please.
and have their own way generally. so long
as they do not interfere with the work in
hand.
After school closes there is music in
the hall on the piano. and there are many
good books. and. best, of all, there is
CHEEKY talk among men and women of like
tastes and ambitions.
Tots Brought Along.
This great hall during the work hours
has presented very pretty picture. Many
of the parents who avail themselves of
the schools advantages have children
they cannot leave at home 1t has proven
a good scheme to allow them to bring the
little ones along, and place for them
has been made in the hall. Here a dozen
or more typewriting machines were
placed. and most of the children sit
plunkiug away. learning in these hours
of fascination a useful accomplishment.
Miss Margaret Beatty finds most of her
work here presiding over the children.
Among other pupils are few from the
nCighborhood who come alone. These are
sent home early, while the others wait
for their parents.
Speaking of the good work done at the
parents school. Mr.. Riordon said:
THE beautiful part of it is to see the
gOod-fellowship that exists among our
pupils and between them and the teach
ers. There is no conventionality in the
school, and its ease, freedom, and COM
radeship make the nights very delightful
to us all. Sometimes a subject is too
hard fo' the pupils at first. but the pro-
cess known as pulling teeth is seldom
necessary with the parents school.
Teachers as Pupils.
I'm these classes the teacher is as much
a pupil as the one who comes for in
struction. These pupils of ours have
rubbed up against life good deal, and
the practical lessons thus acquired go to
fill up those chinks in teachers wis
dom caused by lack of touch with the
world. To teach a certain Iowan | know
how to measure lumber is task in which
you must be careful, for he has grown
up in that sort Of exercise. Watch out
when you suggest punctuation to your
printer pupil. or he will tell you some
thing you don't know. Then. you may
teach short method of addition to a
man of business. and find he has bet
ter one UP his sleeve. To catch the
teacher is the delight of the class, and
both pupils and teacher enjoy it,
Speaking of the close bonds of sym
pathy the school has forged, Mr.. Riordon
said:
THE close touch of all these co-workers
has naturally brought about more CT less
visiting to and fro at the homes of the
pupils. 1t is not unusual for Miss Breen
to meet three or four at one house, who.
unable to master a certain subject at the
last recitation period, have gathered to
work it out together. Every now and
then the pupils are gathered for a little
dance or social among themselves at
the school. and the great good brought
about by this social intercourse and
amusement more than repays the teach
ers for the work they do in arranging
them. Our school has been a brilliant
success. No one who knows South
Washington could have said that there
was ro field for such school, and those
who know the earnest. high aims and big
hearts of the people down here can un
derstand our success and our pleasure in
the work.
The firemens school is nearly as in
teresting as the school for parents. 1t
has proved an unqualified success, and