The Washington times., 1904-07-10
To MARX CENTURY
OF PUBLIC SCHOOL
Free Institutions EStab-
lished 1904.
TWO BUILDINGS PROVIDED
Thomas Jefferson Was the First Presi-
dent Of the Board Of
Trustees.

Public schools in the District of Co
lumbia viii make elaborate arrange
ments to celebrate on December 3. 1904.
the centennial of the institution in
Washington of the public school sys-
tenn.
On this date. just 100 years ago. an
act Of Congress prescribed. in accord
ance with an amended charter of the
municipal government of the city of
Washington. Ito establish and endow
permanent institution for the education
OF youth in the city of Washington"
To Join in Celebration.
Thus was practically begun the public
school system Of the District. now re-
garded as one OF the finest in the world
In commemoration OF This event. every
school within the limits OF the city Of
Washington viii join In observing the
anniversary next December.
Just what form these celebrations viii
take has not as yet been determined.
That is a matter within the province
of the Board of Education. and which
the board win take up at its first meet
ing in the fall
Jefferson's Letter.
The first board OF trustees elected had
President Thomas Jefferson as presi-
dent. In accepting. President Jefferson
sent the following letter 10 Robert
Brent, chairman Of the board:
Monticello. August Il. 1875
Sir: 4 considerable journey south
wardly from this has prevented my
sooner acknowledging letters from your
self. from Mr. Gardiner, and from ). II.
Smith, announcing that had been elect
ed. by the CITY council a trustee Of the
public schools TO be established al wash
logton. and. by the trustees. to pre-
side ~ their board
Il receive. with due sensibility. these
proofs Of confidence from the city coun-
ell and from the board of trustees. and
ask the favor OF you TO tender them my
acknowledgements
Sincerely believing rnat knowledge
promotes the happiness Of man / shall
ever be disposed 10 contribute nv en-
deavoTs toward its extension and in the
instance under consideration, Will will
lngiy undertake the duties proposed to
me, so far as others OF paramount OBJ
lgation VIII permit my attention TO
them
Il pray you TO accept my friendly
salutations. and my assurances OF great
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
Rooert Brent. Esq, chairman, etc.
Ambitious Plans.
The board OF trustees Immediately got
to work Is prescribe a plan BY which
the schools should be governed. That
tas value Of this plan was in theory
tar IN excess Of what II proved in
feet. is shown by school records Of that
time
Ams2g the resolutions adopted in the
report Or the board was one for the es-
. IA is Nrs-fl
every species Of knowledge essential 10
the liberal education Of youth might
eventually be acquired TX was intended
that such an Institution should embrace
three great departments. These were
70 be schools for teaching the rudiments
or knowledge necessary 10 the common
purposes Of life; a college IN which the
higher branches could be taught. and
lastly university in which the .'blgh-
est and most splendid attafnments-
might be acquired.
such great plan has not been as vet
carried out. even though the founders
Of a fine public school system looked ~
It's early contamination. That they
planned such ultimate and wonderful
things for the education OF voutb.
was a testimonial. at least. Of tieir
patriotism
Benefits for Residents.
It was, however. understood that the
Deneiits or the public schools was to be
oeIlFed ny local students and the ex-
pehses borne by the District. on tbe
other hand it was the purpose OF the
BOARD 10 found in the college and uni
FeIslly national institutions which
could be patronized by people rrom
All parts Of The United states This
latter bears out. 10 a great degree. tbe
mitch discussed plan Of George Waeb-
inston for national university. which
ne hoped would one day be estab-
Ished.
That the board was feeling its way
toward the permanent establishment Of
what was termed an "aeadenvY fe
manifest IA the cautious tone ia which
rs plan was framed It's members CALI
90 attention % many similar scheues;
FFi-icH had fallen through because uro-
Jsctors had always started in 10 90
things without looking ahead and maxi
Ing sure Of adequate funds.
Poor Children Free
IN addition 70 subscriptions whicl had
already been made. pay pupils wer, adj
mitted. Poor children were 10 receive
tuition free OF charge
Two schools We're established under a
ruling tnat one should be within a mile I
east OF the Capitol and anotler witl.in I
a mile Of the Presidents house The
first was called the Eastern School ana
the other was named the WestetN
school Though IL seems impossible 10 (
learn the exact location Of the Western 4
School IL IS known that the Eastern
was situated at Third and j. Streets /
southeast. where the Brent School now 4
Glands
Public school pupils OF today think
they have a hard time attending school /
from o'clock Ia the morning until 3 4
O'Clock in the afternoon Under pr0vis- /
Sons made for early District schools it /
was ruled that schools be open every /
day in she week except Sunday. eight \
hours IN summer time and SIX hours ia 4
winter and that vacations must be Jim
ited ~ the lime between august 1 and /
september To-
School Studies.
The class studies IN these schools IN
Guided reading writing. grammar. arith-
metic, and such branches ~ mathema-
4"