The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-11-15

- NE OF the most complete and in
terestins of the public schools
~ OF Washington is the Dennison
School. which is in the First
division and IS situated in S Street,
between Thirteenth and Fourteenth
Streets northwest. The supervising
prin-ipll OF the First division is C s.
Clare. and the Dennison School itself
IS IL charge Of Miss X. E. Rawlings,
the principal
With the execution of a manual train
ing department Dennison has the COM
piete equipment necessary to prepare
pupils FOR the High School beginning
with the kindergarten and going
straight through the eighth grade. In
has the model first and second grades
Of the public school system Of the city
The roll OF the school for the session
NJ 1eos-1s04 contains 40 pupils. and the
varied nature OF the work they do is
shown in the accompanying photo
graphs, taken especially for The Sunday
Times The mere classroom routine OF
the school is ~ no means the only
educational feature Of the work at Den
nlson. While the closest attention is
gwen by the teachers to this regular
classroom work. they teach their pupils
many other things that viii be Of prac-
teal use 70 them in after life
A Practical System.
The girls are taught cooking and sew
ing, the boys practical manual train
ing, drawing receives proper attention,
and ali are given an idea OF physical
culture. and are taught the value OF
strong. healthy bodies for the harbor-
ing Of clear. vigorous minds. In the
higher grades. especially in the eighth.
a part OF each day is devoted to the dis
cussion OF current topics bearing on the
progress OF the country. The daily pa
pers are read ard the pupils are asked
questions which test their knowledge Of
what is happening around them. Dur
ing the recent elections politics were
the absorbing topic. and az the ques-
tons and answers few back and forth
the amount ana the accuracy OF the in
formation displayed by pupils. both
boys and girls. Of fifteen, sixteen. and
seventeen years of age, was striking
The questions asked related 10 the cam
paigns IN the different States. and were
comprehensive in their scope. calling for
a knowledge Of ire political parties con
cerned. the candidates OF each. the main
issues Of the econtests. and the effects
their results would have upon national
affairs.
Visits to the Capitol.
At the close Of the hour. a line OF
study was mapped out for the next day.
each pupil being required 10 come to
school prepared to answer any question
relating to the topics set apart for
discussion. on the opening day OF Con-
gress number OF pupils from the eighth
grade were sent to the Capitol. part to
attend the opening OF the Senate and
others TO attend the opening OF the
House. They were expected to return 10
The class room and give an account
OF what took place at the Capitol. and
tel what the proceedings OF the ma
ti0nal legislative bodies meant.
The same practical system Of teaching
IS followed in the other special courses
and pupils are required to have an IN
derstapdins OF the relation each subject
bears 10 the afHtirs OF daily life.
Few public school buildings In Wash
ington equal DeD1ison in equipment II
IS rated in the report OF the Board Of
Education as excellent" IN point Of
heat. light ventilation. playrooms and
yards. II is exceedingly roomy and