Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-10
SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS
FORMAL OPENING PRECEDED By
OFFICIAL ACTIVITY.
Novelties In Construction Of Buildings
and Increased Facilities-The
High SchoolA

N0vcitie9 m the construction OF school
buildings and enlarged opportunities In the
courses OF instruction are the topics of In
tersst at the Franklin School building.
where the force 10 busiiy engaged In making
preparations for the opening Of the schools.
Monday. September 10
The returns from the teachers Of the
eighth grade Of pupils to be transferred to
the high schools show q marked increase
all along the line The custom 10 Ia June
to send lists OF pupils from each school to
the supervising principal Of tho division In
dicating the school which the pupil pro-
poses to enter In September. The preiim-
mary programs Of the various high schools
are made out on q basis Of the enrolment
as Indicated by the June returns. The su-
pervisors' estimates of last June show an
increase in all the high schools. the most
interesting Item. 1t Is said. being the in
crease at the Eastern High School OF eight
pupils over the estimate for 1904.
The comparison between the estimates of
1904 and 1905 shows increases. as follows:
Central. 2z9 to BOD; Eastern. 1O3 to 1l3:
Western. 129 to 1871: Business. 312 to 400:
NJ Street. 157 to 1875: Armstrong. 1853 to 1S6.
The Mckinley School alone shows de-
crease from 26S to 1856. The total high
school enrolment for the coming year Is
estimated at 1,462-
The graded schools are also growing and
the increase in building hardly keeps pace
with the needs OF the city. The appropria-
ton for the present year for repairs and
buildings was meager. There were allow
ances made for the replacing of the wooden
stairways by iron structures in the Cook.
Randall. Thompson and the Van Buren, an
mex. Two new eight-room buildings are
provided for to relieve the crowded condt-
ton at the Curtis in Georgetown and the
Randall in South Washington.
Ventilation and Lighting.
Superintendent Stuart says the greatest
improvements in school buildings is along
the line Of ventilation and lighting. Rooms
are so built about the central pavilion and
the windows are placed that the light Is
diffused and always falls from the left
and rear Of the pupils. The desks are never
SD arranged as to cause the children to
face the light. In the matter Of ventilation
the new buildings all have the heat enter
the room from above. near the ceilings. Re-
lief shafts at the bottom carry OF the
heavy vitiated air.
With the assistance of gas engine and
an electric fan a constant circulation Is
kept up. The heat is provided by what
may be called battery of three furnaces.
Three new buildings are to be ready for
occupancy some time In the fall or early
winter.
The Business High School. 1t is supposed
will be finished September II. the Blow
School. Benning road and 10Th street north
east November 80. the Ross School. 18th
and Harvard streets, October Is.
The District building inspector. Mr. Snow
den Ashford. points out a number of new
features in the Blow and the Ross build
ings. Both have eight rooms and are two
stories in height. The most interesting
features are the massng of the furnaces
under the fireproof flooring of the first
story. and the removal of the stair-weh
wall by which an air Of spaciOusness and
an increased light Is given to the corri-
DORIS Noticeable, also. are the interior
walls of brick without plaster,
Sanitary , considerations have recon-
mended the abolition of plaster and the
dressing down of the bricks to a smooth
surface. to be painted.
Light Colors in Painting.
Authorities on school hygiene recon-
mend the use of light colors in painting
school Interiors the reds and yellows be-
ing considered firing to the eyes and to alb
sorb too much light The ceilings of the
new buildings will be of steel. with plas-
ter interlining. The exercises OF pupils in
ing impracticable.
In the matter of courses the innovation
of a kindergarten training school at the
Norma school is the greatest addition.
Great activity is displayed by all school
officials over the exhibit to be made in the
| early part of December to celebrate the
Ger tennial Of the school system. The en-
| tire work of the schools, grade. HIGH kim
| dergarten and normal, is to be displayed
| and the history OF the system and the
| special departments is being prepared by
| the director in charge. 1t is believed the
exhibit will be of great educational value