Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-17

break from 1916 to 1874. and contain much
that Is OF value to those interested In the
development OF the schools of Capitol Hill.
Edward d. Tfppett taught school from
1916 to 1925. being succeeded by Hugh Nc
Cormick. There Is no name more thor
oughiy identified with the early history
OF public education In this section OF the
city in the quarter century following the
year 1925 than that Of Mccormick. Rev.
Andrew T. Mccormick was a member of
the school board during the most of that
period. and was elected president Of the
hoard for nineteen successive years. hold
ing the Office from 1872 to 1S41. To his
fostering care more than to that of any
other man Is due the survival of the
Eastern Free School during period when
the public school was known as free
''pauper" school. Among McCormick's
associates. during his long incumbency.
may be found the names of John Davis
of Able, Daniel Rapine, Daniel Carroll.
George Watterston James Carbery, George
Biagden. John Coyle. jr., William A. Small
wood and John P. Ingle, whose names are
household words in the early history of
the Capitol.
Education and Cleanliness.
ION April 5. 1924. 1t is stated that the
board so1emnly resolved that every scholar
before he enters school each morning shall
have his head combed and his face washed
and that it shall be the duty of the teacher
to cause the said rule to be regularly en-
forced
Having thus disposed of the question of
cleanliness, the twin virtue, goodness, was
next aimed at by an order of July 16 OF
the same year, which resolved that the
president of the board be requested to at
tend the school every Sabbath morning
and lecture the pupils of said school
their moral and religious duties, and that
it be the duty of the teacher to cause
the children to assemble for that purpose
every Sunday morning before O'Clock;
and that in of absence sickness
the president shall be authorized to assign
the said duty to any other trustee
"A report made by the teacher to the
board In 1896 complaining of the truancy
and absence of pupils. makes it evident
that the teachers vexations were much the
same as now. He says that Jeremiah and
James P are so much in the habit OF
playing ,truant to be incorrigible. An
other complaint is that Mr.. M detains his
son at home for the purpose, the teacher
believes, of driving a cart. Juliana F does
not attend more than three or four days in
a month. She has a swelling on the knee.
Among the supplies ordered to be
bought at the meeting March Z, 1927, were
100 quilts for the pupils and one pine
table for the use of the board
Board superintends Wedding.
"The most unique record of all Is this:
" July H. 1888. A quorum noe being pres
ent the only business transacted was by the
Rev Mr.. Mccormick, who united in the
bonds of holy wedlock a Mr.. Swallow to
a blooming Miss Lloyd of TT. Washington!
The ceremony was brief the fee small the
parties mutually satisfied and the board ad-
Journed. Attest: John CoyIe. ir., the sec
rotary of the board of trustees Of the East
ern Free School
"a rule made In 1881 affords an illustra-
ton Of the tendency to exclude from the
public schools of that day those children
rl,rx-r
educatio thus perpetuating the idea which
later boards found it so hard to uproot that
the free schools were pauper schools. This
rule provided that no scholar should be
continued in the school, the income of
whose parents exceeded one dollar and fifty
cents a day, excepting where there were
more than four children in the family, and
If the parent were occupying a house rent
free his children were excluded if he got
much one dollar per day.
The progressive spirit of earlier board,
that of 1923 Is shown in striking contrast
TO the one just mentioned by their action
in asking the council to authorize the en-
ployment of a female teacher in the East
ern School to instruct the girls in knitting
and sewing. 1t was more than sixty years
later that this practical idea was realized
in the Introduction Of manual training
Western Free School
Though no minutes of the meetings of
trustees of the Western School have been
found the building itself Is remembered by
many Washing tonians and an interesting
photograph of it is preserved.
The following account of this old build