Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-21

problem OF relieving the crowded condi-
ton of the then high school, 1t was de-
cided that one way relief could be anordeo'
and at the same time the public school sys-
tenn extended. was to amend the business
course and have instruction for the pu-
pills given outside of the high school build
ing. Therefore the Thompson building, on
18th street, just north of K street, was Sc
cured for the commercial high school. The
business course. as amended, was trans
ferred there. AT the outset, owing to the
large number OF pupils, halliday plan
had to be inaugurated till an annex was
provided. The assembly hall Of the Frank
lin building was assigned. and 1t became
the quarters for large section of the girls.
It was considered that the segregation of
the business pupils resulted advantageously
to them. AS stated, the Business Hign
School, which name took the place of Com
mercfal High School, has moved from build
ing to building, and after fourteen years
is about to have suitable home built
specially for it.
Start of Manual Training.
Manual training, as 1t now exists in the
school, system. had very small and I'M
certain beginning. During the school year
1SS4-'S5, Prof koyl, then head of the
physics department, wrote to Commissioner
Webb advising the establishment of shop
for woodwork. After years delay few
tools were procured. together with two
benches, circular saw and a large wood
lathe. The equipment was set up In the
southwest room of the basement of the Cen
trail High School, the power being obtained
from fan engine. Prof. Koyl himself was
the first instructor, and his constant COM
panion was said to be little red book,
which the boys insisted contained the sum
totalaof his knowledge and experience. The
| first lesson on the lathe was given by the
| professor by putting in piece of oak tim
| Der. exc inches, and starting the cutting
with cfisel.
| In 1886 a larger room, ten new benches
| and $500 equipment of tools were secured.
| The growth of interest in the course de-
| manded enlarged shops and those We're
found across the street, where 'the techni-
| cal boys" they came to be called, began
| In earnest the workN which divided them
| from their united academic and scientlhc
| fellows on the other side. 1t was not until
| three years ago that the technical branch
I left its Central home, but the year before
| while still half-housed in the old academic
| halls. it severed its official connection.
| 1t lis one of the ever-arising enigm2s OF
| the Washington school system that the
| secondary or high schools are not under
| one head. When the manual training
| courses left the Central they did not rs
do the Eastern, Western and Business
| schools continue under the direction of the
| Central authorities, but broke loose COM
| pletely. There are therefore two systems
| Of secondary instruction, with dupEca-
| ton of directors, heads of departments
and special teachers. The separation is a
| complete divorce
| %, A Peculiar Condition.
Whe nthe Mckinley building was cccu-
| pied three years ago those colored chill
| dren at the NJ street high school-the
| parent negro high school-who had elected
| the technical and the business courses,
| went over to the new Armstrong Manual
| Training School, That building. under the
| management of DR.. Bruce Evans, still in
cludes the business course. and thus the
curious circumstance arises that Mr.. Percy
| M Hughes, now director of high schools,
! controls the white business school, while
| Mr. John A. Chamberlain. director of man
| ual training, supervises the negro business
| course in conjunction with manual train
| ing.
| From 1876, or 1880, more properly, there
| has been a steady growth in secondary
schools The business and technical courses
have naturally drawn many students from