The Washington herald., 1911-02-17

Determined efforts to standardize the
curriculums in private schools are being
made by principals and teachers connect
ed with these institutions in the Dis
trict.
Following the appointment Of COM
mittee, composed Of Thomas w. Sid
well. Arthur T. Ramsey, and Court
Wood, by the private school committee
cf the Board of Trade, work has been
begun on the draft of a bill providing
that the United States commissioner of
education shall prescribe a uniform
course of instruction for private schools
OF the city, shall inspect and classify
them, and publish a list of approved in
stitutions.
Just what action will be recommended
by this committee is not known, but
its object will be to raise the standard
Of education in all branches. President
Taft will be approached on the matter
and efforts will be made to introduce
DILL providing for standardization of pri-
vate schools at the next session of
Congress-
In speaking of the movement its scope,
and possible results. Mr.. Ramsey. who is
principal Of the Fairmont Seminary, said
yesterday:
Resources Nearly S,5OO,OO0.
There are more than thirty private
schools in the District, with an enroll
ment of about 1000 pupils. The revenues
thus brought into Washington will
amount to nearly S1.5OOOOO yearly. which,
] believe. is a greater sum than any other
city gains from a similar source.
Washington has reached that point in
its development as a private school center
when it is highly important that we do
all in our power to make our schools
models for other cities and second to
none in any land. as they are now. II
this is done. l predict that within dec
ade the private schools of Washington,
instead of attracting 1000 pupils annual
", there will come at least 5000, and
minimum cash sum of about $4,OoO.OOO.
''Washington should become Americas
center of culture, and each private school,
as it develops, become a potent influence
for culture
Years ago Germany, France, and Eng
lard saw the necessity of supervising
their private schools, and passed laws
accordingly. England, going a little fur
ther, offers a subsidy TO private schools
that reach a certain standard of excel
lenCe."
Mr. Ramsey said that during the last
twenty-five years a number OF associa-
tions have been organized in the United
States for the purpose of establishing an
educational standard. Among them are
the New England Association of Col
leges and Preparatory Schools, the AS
sociation of Colleges and Preparatory
Schools Of the Middle States and Mary
land, the North Central Association of
Colleges and Preparatory Schools of the
Southern States, and several others. The
National Association of State Cniversi-
ties, which held its annual convention in
Washington in November last, unani-
mously requested Federal inspection of
private schools.
Center of Country.
Other prominent teachers yesterday
said that Washington is the private
school center of the United States. and
is destined to be the center for the Amer
icas Girls are attending the Washing
ton private schools from every State in
the Union. Canada, Mexico, and from
South America.
Federal SChoolmens Club, covering the
subject:
BE it resolved, That the Federal School
mems Club heartily indorses the effort
being made to obtain the enactment by
Congress of laws giving to the United
States Commissioner of Education au-
thOrity to establish for the District of
Columbia private school standards, which
authorization will carry with It the right
TO inspect and classify private schools
which apply for inspection and classif-
cation"