Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-18

has an enrolment of over 500 pupils. while
the class rooms will seat only $50. The
shops afford ample accommodations at
present and are well equipped for it's work.
ers in iron and wood designers decorators,
steam engineering and electrical develop
n'ent and various other practical subjects.
For the needed class rooms the unoccu-
pied portion of the lot is sufficiently large
enough for a building. Congress should
make provision this year for its erection.
The Armstrong Manual Training School
No. . needs enlargement to accommodate
| its pupils.
There has been much delay in commence
| ing the new Business High School building.
| L is greatly needed. II should be ready for
occupancy at the beginning of the next
school year The extension of several of
our urban streets ana avenues Gin many
cases to the Maryland ine) and new rail
road facilities have rapidly increased our
suburban population. There is now greater
demand fer new school buildings there than
in the urban.
We have the Central, Western and East
ern High Schools. A large and well located
site north of Florida avenue should at once
be obtained for the Northern High School.
Buildings for both the white and colored
Normal Schools are needed.
The population of the District of Column
bia is rapidly increasing and extending in
every direction from the "old city limits"
Increase in Attendance
The increase in public school attendance
is about 21a per cent per year, which, in five
years will add at least 5000 more scholars
to graded schools, requiring within this
period at least for the graded schools alone
about twelve eight-room buildings.
Our efficient board of education can now
designate the localities where the schools
will be needed. The sites should be pur-
chased at an early date. Congress should
ma, special appropriation of at least
$2JU.itO for this purpose. These sites can
now be obtained in the suburban at cost
of one-half of the value a few years hence.
Appropria tons as heretofore made for the
purchase of a site and the erection of a
building" have very frequently been in
sufficient for the purposes, with the alterna-
tive of awaiting future action of Congress
for larger appropriation or obtaining a
lot of insufficient size and an unsuitable
building.
Under the auspices of the Board of Trade,
and conducted by your committee the COM
memoraton of Washngtons birthday has
been held for several years in all the public
schools of the District.
Tie selection and designation of over one
hundred speakers and like number of pre-
siding officers are made by the chairman
of your committee. Weeks of time and Ia
Dor required for this work. Several
hundred requests Invitations pre-
pared and mailed in order to obtain the
number required. Your committee requests
the cordial cooperation and assistance in
zenshp in the minds of the $4,000 pupils in
our public schools. There is no more i'm
portant municipal duty than the educa ton
of children. The compulsory education law
enacted by Congress some years ago Is
practically imperative. An effective law
should be passed in order that every child
shall receive some education at least in a
private or public school, Notwithstanding
the protest neglect of the parent or
guardian or the whim or will of the child.
nr Fardop,c Co,,,,o,opf
DIR. Pardon, after presenting his report,
said the great increase in the number of
school children showed very plainly that
there is no tendency toward race suicide
here.
He called attention to the fact that in
the case of nine out of every ten appropra-
tions for public school buildings and sites
prove to be too small for the purpose in
tended. He proposed that the appropria-
ton be asked first for the site and that
having been secured, building be planned
and estimates secured before an appropria-
ton is asked. The school houses in many
cases lack light and air. and new schools
should be provided with larger sites.
DR. Pardon also spoke of the difficulty
that has been experienced by him in pro-
viding public speakers in the public schools
on Washington's birthday anniversary. He
suggested that speakers who address schol-
ars on such occasions do not tell them the
that taught them in the schools as
they are already familiar with them.
Rather. he said tell them stories of
Washington that have a human interest.
and that perhaps are not known to them
already"
He said the great desire was on the occa-
sion of Washington's birthday anniversary
to teach the children patriotism.
Mr.. Thomas w. Sdwel urged upon the
board the need of providing play grounds
FOR school children.
The report was adopted.
The Public Library.
The second report was on the Public L.
brary. and was made by Mr.. j. w. Babson
chairman of that committee. Mr.. Bahson's
report follows:
Wednesday, January Z. 1903 at O'Clock
pm. the new Public Library building on
Mt Vernon square was turned over by the