Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-05
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Board of Education Submits
Annual Report.
INDUSTRIAL FEATURE
MANUAL TRAINING BUILDINGS
WORTHY OF NOTE.
Total of One Hundred and Forty-Seven
Buildings Occupied by
Graded Schools.

The board of education today forwarded
its annual report for the fiscal year ended
June 80 last to the District Commissioners.
The board also forwards copy of the re-
mort of Superintendent A. T. Stuart of the
schools and elaborate statements from the
various committees of the school board.
These, 1t is stated. leave little for the gen
eral report beyond calling attention to the
various recommendations made and urging
that they may receive the approval of the
Commissioners. The board says the work
Of the schools in all their branches has been
carried forward energetically and with sue
cess by the ever-enthusiastic and efficient
body of teachers. That the teachers main
tain this high standard of interest in view
of the low pay which large proportion of
them receive is greatly to their credit The
board gives interesting resumes of the Vari-
Gus committee reports, saying:
THE reports of the committees on indus
trial education and special instruction and
on teachers and janitors present In clear
outlines the work of the manual training
and the graded schools In these, in con-
nection with the report Of the business
High School, it will be seen that the de-
mands of this practical age for practical
education are met on a scale which does
honor to the capital of the nation. The two
new manual training schools architecture
ally notable even IN this city Of celebrated
buildings, and complete in their modern
equipment, are among the most interesting
points for visitors that can be found in
Washington. Here are workers in iron,
workers in wood, decorators, designers,
students of steam engineering, of electrical
development, of cabinet work, and varie-
t. of practical subjects related to these.
Throughout the grade schools, also, there is
much practical education. There are spe-
cial instructions in cooking, sewing, phy-
steal training. drawing and music
The Night Schools.
1.-The night schools are increasing each
year in Importance and improving in the
character of the attendance. The credit
due those pupils who work all day and de-
vote their nights to study cannot be over
estimated. The business department of the
night school Is becoming valuable adjunct
to this work.
1.-The report Of the commit tee on teachers
and janitors reveals the magnitude of our
school organization. The grade schools
alone occupy 147 buildings. There are
thirty kindergartens. The teachers, exclu-
sive of those in the high and manual train
ing schools, number 1,031. The corps of
janitors form an organization scarcely less
important than the teachers. They are
skilled in steam and furnace heating and
give expert attention to ventilation and
sanitation. 1t Is the expectation of the
committee that at early day the manual
training schools will furnish our janitors.
The recommendations of this committee for
assistants to principals for every building
of eight rooms or more should receive
prompt approval.
THE committee on rules has performed
much excellent work, in which it has had
the approval of the board. The competi-
tive principle has been so extended to
apply to original appointment and promo
ton In the special departments and kinder
gartens, thus placing all departments of the
schools, both regular and special, firmly
upon a civil service basis. This committee
has also framed and the board has approx
ed compulsory school law for the District,
which it is hoped Congress may adopt.
Careful Attention to Text Books.
1.-THE committee on text books has given
careful attention to the important work in
it's hands. There is no department of board
work which requires greater discrimination
and care than this. The well nigh infinite
number of school books with which the
great publishing houses literally food the
country, and through their active and zeal
Gus agents pour in on superintendent and
committees, requires just the tact and care
which our text book committee, acting in
full accord with our superintendent, has eX-
ercised.
There can be more important work
In connection with the schools than that
performed by the committee on buildings,
repairs and sanitation. This is especially
true in the attention given to the subjects |
of protection from fire. ventilation and
sanitation and the efforts to deal with the |
question of contagious diseases and to pro-
mote medical Inspections. Its latest work |
il in securing cooperation with the health |
department of the District in efforts to ap
ply a system of prevention in the spread |
of consumption. The guiding idea of this |
committee has been that there can be no |
perfect school system which does not rec
ognize the necessity of a sound body to the |
full use Of the powers of sound mind.
Pride in Higher Departments.
.'The committee on normal and high
schools can point to an organization of |
which Washington may we'll be proud. The |
development of high school work through |
out the country within a few years past |
has been little short of marvellous. These |
are the peoples colleges. The board be- |
lieves that these high-grade Washington |
schools, including the Business High |
School and the high school course Of the |
manual training schools, will take rank |
with the best in the land. The recommen- |
dations of the director for sucn increases |
in salaries as will hold the present corps of |
excellent teachers meet with the approval |
of the board and are most earnestly pre- |
sented to the Commissioners of the Dis |
trict The board cannot too emphattcally |
direct attention to the fact that, owing to |
the higher salaries paid in nearly all parts |
of the country the Washington schools in |
all their departments. from high schools to |
kindergartens, are losing some of our best |
teachers.
Superintendent's Report.
1.-The report of Superintendent Stuart de-
serves special attention and it's various rec
concentrations merit special approval. He
especially recommends that the contingent
fund be increased so as to provide lectures
for teachers institutes. These are fea-
ture of prominence in most of the large
cities. The expense is not great. and such
series Of lectures. aside from the practical
value to the teachers. have become exceed
ingly popular with the public in the cities