The Washington times., 1902-06-01

WTitiuE. lne FORMER ne IearnS from
script before he is taught to interpret
a single printed word. and he can often
write before he can read from book
Besides the time spent ia open-air
study, the pupils in the elementary. as
in the more advanced grades. go through
course OF calisthenic exercise. which
tends to develop their lung power. and
to obviate the deleterious effects of sit
ting in constrained attitude for long
period of time.
The results Of this solicitude for the
physical well-being of the pupils are
striking, insomuch that when photo
graphs OF the children In the lower
grades OF the schools Of this city were
sent to the last Paris Exposition the
superiority Of the general standard OF
physical development displayed. over
that of French public school children Of
the same age, was noticed and comments
ed on.
Bringing Out a Talent.
The principal studies commenced in
tht AISt sidut tOutia4Cu tllIOubA
all; that is. reading. writing. erithme-
tic, and drawing. In regard to the lat
ter. it may be said that. should pupil
possess any special aptitude this way,
whether in sketching, designing, me-
chanical, architectural. or map drawing,
the talent is pretty certain to be
hhrOmgbt ,,rfp ,- al
aid in geography and history through
out the higher grades. and maps illus
trating military campaigns. political.
and physical. and produce maps are
largely in evidence among the work of
the pupils which can be shown.
Modelling in clay may also be seen.
from the crude and simple efforts OF the
kindergarten pupils to the flowers and
leaves beautifully done by the more
skillful of the seventh and eighth
grade scholars. Nature study is also
largely in evidence throughout all the
common school grades. and every class
room is sure to show this in towering
plants. which add beauty and cheerful
ness, while serving the purposes OF in
struction.
Girls in the Majority.
mentary. as we'll as higher. grades, It
would appear that girls are decidedly in
the majority in washington's public
schools. The classes are all mixed. and
this feminine preponderance Is, in gen.
eral. very noticeable. The girls, too,
according TO the teachers. are more in
dustrious and orderly. Among the boy
element some of the brightest scholars
appear unwilling to work. and are only
to be gotten to do their tasks with the
greatest difficulty.
The study Of music and singing is
quite a feature through the grades of
the common schools. though in this
branch the girls easily carry of the
palm. Through the seventh and eighth
grades. the boys study manual training.
and the girls cooking. while the latter
are enabled to become pretty well ac-
luainted with the art of dressmaking
before they leave the eighth grade for
the high school. or to earn their own
living
Make Their Own Dresses.
The work done by the girls in sewing
appears wonderfully finished. even to
one who is unacquainted with the fine
points of this art. Some of the more
advanced pupils make their own dresses.
and the results mark this as one of the
most useful features in the public school
system.
The cooking school is another boon to
girls. and, II may be presumed. for
their husbands when these latter mate
rialize The manual training work OF
the boys is often excellent. and good
cabinet makers and carpenters have re-
reived the greater part of their educa-
ton at the public school shop.