The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-20

The present public school system OF
Alexandria city was organized in 1872,
with Mr. II l.. Carne. now reverend, as
superintendent. Prior TO the establish
ment of this system the free schools, as
they were then called, were governed
by a committee OF citizens known as the
guardians of the free school and IN
tended only for children whose parents
were unable 10 send their sons and
daughters to private institutions.
Alexandria had Some noted academies
I'm those days, where the sons Of those
who were able to pay were prepared for
college or university
BENJAMIN Hallowelrs School located
on North Washington street now con
Quoted by Prof. Johnson S. Blackburn.
was one of the few schools in this part
OF the state where young men could 0e
properly prepared for the West Point
Military Academy and Annapolis Naval
Academy
MIR. Ha,loweIl is said to have been one
Of TIE most successful teachers In the
state. Robert f.. Lees mother moved
from Wcstmorelaud County 10 Aexau-
driu in order that her son Robert might
attend this celebrated school. prepare
tory To entering West Point Gen. Lees
record at the Military Academy was
enough to make reputation for the
Halloweu School. When he entered the
Academy he took rank at once one
Of tho ablcst Of the cadets. His scholar
ship was shown by the fact that in a
class noted for the brilliancy OF it's mem
bcrs he graduated second.
St Johns Academy was a later insti-
tuition for the education OF young men,
which received pupils from every state
I'm the Union and many foreign countries.
This school was conducted by Mr.. Rich
ard L. Carne mentioned above. The
great majority of Alexandria's male citi-
zens received their early training i'm this
institution The Rev. Mr.. Carne is still
living at the ripe age OF eighty-four'
highly respected and greatly beloved not
only by his hundreds OF old scholars, but
by every cIUlzen IN this city who has the
pleasure of his acquaintance. In the
latter part OF the seventies to this school
was added the military feature. and IL
was conducted as such for more than
twenty years.
There were quite number OF acad-
emies for young ladies. some OF THESE
are still in existence and doing good
work but most of them closed their doors
as the public school system became more
and more proficient.
The public schools were organized with
boys and girls in separate apartments
and buildings and have so continued to
the present day. Co-education is almost
the universal plan Of the mana cement
OF schools throughout the country, prin'
cipally on account OF the convenience IN
organizing the schools and lessening the
cost OF teaching. This is bound To be the
case in rural districts, but we find thu
separation OF the sexes works well II
our schools, and patrons seem to b'
well satisfied. / do not think they woul'
favor a change under any circumstances
except, possibly, I'm the high schools
where IL is becoming almost a necessity
owing to the fact that our city is no
large enough TO support properly tW'
high schoois-one for boys and one 70
girls.
The high school for boys was organize
several years ago under the able man
agement OF Mr. T. IL. Ficklin, who ha
given the best years OF HIS life to the ed
ucation OF youth. Many OF our best bust
ness men received their early training 1
this school besides quite a number VIII
received the necessary preparation 10
entrace to some college or university, an
we are glad TO note they usually gave
good account OF themselves.
Last year we organized high schoc
department in the girls school. with Nj
Conrad johnson In charge This schoC
die splendid work. and promises to b
much larger the coming year.
The Virginia departrn OF public ir
struction is doing everything in its powe