The Washington times., 1902-02-09
PUBLIGt SCHOOL
=, FOR PARENTS
New Idea Developed and
Carried to Success.
FlREMEN GIVEN A CHANGE
Quarters Established in the Home of
Truck D-WOrk in the Two Is
Steady and PrncticaI-New system

| A SCHOOL for parents ie the newest
| II feature of the public school sys-
! L n TEN of the District of Columbia.
| With the present school year
this new idea has been developed and al
ready carried to such success that it is
| time to tell the world about it in detail
Education for the older heads-first, be-
| cause so many lacked advantages in their
youth, and now though eager to learn,
can't join class of children; and, second,
because the intelligent sympathy of the
greatest aid the teacher can have, is the
| germ of the idea.
Impressed with the importance of this
| need one of the younger teachers studied
| and planned, and worked, and has won
1t is of his success, not of his trials. this
story has to tell
The parents school was opened last
October at the Greenleaf Building, on
Four and "a half Street southwest. be-
tween NJ and N Streets.
Schools for Firemen.
Another new idea was embodied in two
firemen's schools-one at the quarters OF
Truck D, on M STREET. near New Jersey
Avenue; the other at the house of Engine
Company No. II, on Eighth Street, be-
tween D and E Streets northwest.
Both ideas originated with the prin-
cipal of the city's night schools, Mr.. Ray
mond Riordon. The three schools are now
running smoothly and are largely at
tended.
A visit to the parents school is most
interesting.
They meet every Tuesday and Thurs
day night at the Greenleaf company OF
nearly 100 men and women, earnest oil
eye and bright of face, for each has
fixed purpose and finds pleasure in this
work Among them are not "a few gray
heads. for the pupils ages run from TWEEN
ty-two to fifty-seven. but there is not a
dull eye nor an unwilling hand among
them. Here is picture that stirs the
educators heart to gladness-a great
room full of earnest men and women max
ing up for lost opportunities. Though the
school was opened for parents-its main
object being to make perfect the rela-
tions between the parent and the teacher
that the parent might lend both teacher
and little one aid by example and by
intelligent sympathy-it is open to others,
and many come there to prepare for ex-
aminations.
Pleasure Follows Work.
The parents school is divided into two
parts. Those who before entering had
a fair knowledge of arithmetic up to
fractions make up the first; those who
had not, the second Hr. Riordon. Miss
May Brcen, and Miss Margaret Beatty
are the teachers in the usual courses,
while course in chair and basket weav-
ing is conducted by Mr.. Maurice Metz,
who is often assisted by his father, moth
er. and sister, There is no idling.
Three sooms are brilliantly illuminated,
or rather tvs rooms and a large hall,
and the parents bend over their tasks
with a will At first those desks must
have seemed bit small and the chairs
snug fit to the mothers and fathers. but
they have long ago accommodated them
selves to their children's daytime places
and tasks. so that they may speed those
boys and girls up the path that no more
may be called '.thorny."
1t seems a fowery path to those at the
PARENTS schools. Not only are the les
sons made enjoyable to them by the
quick sympathy of teachers and fellow
pupils, but each evening at the school
takes on, at the time for closing, de-
lightfully social aspect. There are the