Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-17
VACATION DAYSOVER
School Bells Toll Tomorrow
for Capital Youngsters.
OVER 10000 TO ATTEND
Annual Enrolment Increase of Two
Per Cent Expected.
TEACHERS FACE CENSUS TASK
Must Collect Information Regarding
Every Pupil Entering-High
School Prospects.
TEACHERS FACE CENSUS TAsK
The last day of vacation


This is the day, and undoubtedly the forty
odd thousand school children of Washing
ton will make the most of it Tomorrow
this populato Of boys and girls. bigger by
far than the entire populatio nof many a
good sized town will fall into line at the
tap of the bell and marshal itself in or
der, mat DR.. William NJ. Davidson, the
new superintendent of schools, may see
why Washington's schools claim to be the
best in the land.
Perhaps it was an example of the irony
of fate that yesterday. the last play day
of vacation. should have been so fine a
day; so good for base ball and automo-
billing, tennis, canoeing and for every
thing good out of doors. Here's hoping
that tomorrow will be Just as good a day
and that the regular per cent increase
in first day school enrolment, which has
been a feature of Washington schools
for years past, again will be apparent
Autumn in the Air.
Any one who has not caught one of
those beastly summer colds could sniff
the fall air any day last wees-except
yesterday. There was a faint suspicion
of the first days of October, when the
warm summer gives way u foot ball
| weather High school boys recognized in
it the weather that marks the first yearn-
ing to get out and boot pigskin all over
the lot 1t was the Kind OF weather that
| they will remember in connection with
the firstpages OF new text books, and dry
leaves unGer foot, and the pungent smell
of burning leaves along about dusk. That
tlnge of rail- last week foretOld another
opening of a new scnool year; but yes
terday, with the warm holiday afternoon
summer came again and laughed at the
thousands of boys and girls who Will
have 10 put aside their brief days of lei
sure and learn all about the boundaries of
Venezuela and other vital topics lead ,nS
up to the grand day at the end of 1t all,
when the president of the board of edu-
cation hands them a nign schooi diploma.
Expect No Hitch in Plans.
School will open without hitch any
where, according to Dr. Davidson AS
far be seen, every single one OF
the million items necessary to be at
tended to has been attended to. The
official guess on the first day enrolment
tomorrow is from 10000 to 1000. The
Old story will repeat itself; thousands Of
children will not enter the schools until
| late in October; the many children who
| do not reach here until Congress con-
venes will come again this year, and
| make lots OF trouble for the supervising
principals. who cannot make two children
| sit where the municipal architect has ar
| ranged for but one. Already many Con-
| Sressmen have written to Dr. Davidson,
asking II it would be safe to delay send
| ing their children to school until some
| time in October, and the reply has been
! that IL would be Sa1er to send them now,
| although everything will be done to in
sure them places when they arrive, no
matter when that time will be.
/ The really fortunate children are those
! whose parents have needed the public
/ prints by obtaining tickets of admission
| from the various school principals. and
| these who will assemble in their old
places tomorrow morning, to be marched
| IN inquisitive columns to the rooms OF
their new teachers. These will be placed.
and Will start the educational year with
out handicap.
Primary Grades Attractive.
There will be a pretty picture tomorrow
If the skies remain clear when the kin
dergartens open for the very little boys
ard girls, who will go to school for the
first time in their lives If it rains, the
kindergartens will probably be empty
looking indeed. But If it is a bright day
these interesting nrst schools will be the
most picturesque OF the entire cityful
of children.
The Washington schools have made es-
pecially attractive the first days Of school
| chli0Ten. ana any one who has not seen
the inside of a kindergarten when the
two teachers get ready TO tell q story to
their little friends, the pupils. has missed
just about the prettiest sight in the
| world.
| When the schools open 1t will be found
that whole carloads of books pens. ink,
chalk. paper and the many items of
supplies have been distributed to the
300 classrooms. This distribution has
been task of no mean size. The list
of supplies occupies large-sized book,
and covers not only the regular pen, ink
and paper stuff, but goes as fra as scis-
sors and colored paper for the little chill
dren up to ill-smelling chemicals for the
wise young owls in the high schools.
Normal Graduates Cared For.
One hundred girls. it is thought. will
enter Normal School No. 1. and half as
many will enter Normal School, No. If
expectations are realized. 1t could be
said. in passing. that the spirit shown
by last years class from Normal School
No. l has attraced much attention
throughout the whole school system.
| So many Of those girls have gone after