Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-26

lnRlOn. he SdlO THIS morning lnat ne
had it all to learn. He hadn't even
head of the ever-present colloquy con-
cerning how much it costs to run Wash
ington schools.
But he said, II know this much
are fine. They are splendid. They are
known the country over. I am not
spreading taffy, either. I mean what
say"
Impression of Earnestness.
When DR.. Davidson talks he gives one
the impression that he means what he is
saying. He makes gestures that seem
to grip the idea and hand it straight
over to you. plain and unvarnished. He
has pleasant eyes, and children who feel
that the greatest creature alive is the
school superintendent will take this new
school head to be a pleasant gentleman
who always smiles when he talks.
You know" suggested The Star re-
porter. as the two walked from the
Oyster. president OF the board of edu-
cation, you know we are having a
little furry here in Washington over
high school fraternities Have you had
experience with them?"
Yes. 1 have. And let me tell you
that every community has to handle
the matter according to local condi-
tions. There are state laws in the west
which control the situation in some
places"
Are you opposed to high school
fraternities?"
Now you are asking me a question
l cannot answer. do not know whether
I am opposed to Washington frater-
In Nebraska state law has abolished
fraternities. The matter was agitated
while l was superintendent at Omaha.
We had fraternities but the state legis-
lature found 1t best to close them up"
From which the fraternity brothers
and sorority sisters of the Washington
high schools may or may not receive
crumbs of comfort.
Sees Supt. Stuart.
DR.. Davidson says he is not going to
talk about policies until he sees the
things that the schools now are doing.
He and Supt. Stuart had a long talk this
morning. The whole conformation of the
schools will be laid before DR.. Davidson.
If he suggests any change. the likeli-
hood is he will get it," was remark
made by Capt. oyster today. He is
certainly going to get the nba best we a have, -
come to Washington in the face of big
offers in the west?" DIR. Davidson was
asked.
Years ago. in 1894 to be exact, I Wis
tied schools all over the country. l spent
five weeks in finding out what other city
public school systems were doing. l came
to Washington then. I can remember the
intangible almost indefnable something
/ realized was present when l stepped
into the school rooms. There was feel
ing which I understood Immediately.
There was the love of work. the passion
for work which every teacher seemed to
have, and it resulted in heart-feellng
between the children and the teachers.
They were nearer together than in any
other city anywhere In the Uaited States.
What He Stands For.
That was what had always stood for.
I always wanted to have the teacher
know and feel the child's heart, for 1t is
the child around which the world Of edu-
cation revolves. do not know whether
you will understand what l mean. but
that atmosphere of a Washington school
room is the finest l have ever known any
where I have always remembered II. /
have worked toward it, and that is why l
came to Washington. | will hnd here
something toward which have the great
est sympathy l met Mr.. Stuart In that
visit and I can well see how and why
he is called the best loved man In Wash
ington. The children of his schools have
learned with their hearts as well as with
their heads"
DR.. Davidson says that he is not going
10 hold up the three RS rigidly to the
detriment OF more modern methods.
whereby the reading. 'ritin and 'rithmetic
are mingled with broader training.
Rather let us have the three HIS" he
said, head. hand and heart Train them
all, make the children broad and not
narrow or finicky. But that would take
hours to talk about
Anyhow, DR. Davidson says he expects
a lot from Washington school boys and
girls. because they have fine reputation
in the west, where he came from only
this morning.
He will be present at the board OF ed
ucation meeting this afternoon. when the
board will probably re-elect its officers
for the year to come After that he
will have interviews with Mr.. Stuart for
a day or two. and will 90 back to Omaha
to finish up there. He will be back again,
though, this summer.