The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-12-10
NOTES FROM THE SCHOOLS.

DR.. Davidson addressed the Federal
Schoolmen's Club at the Highlands last
Friday evening on "A concrete ex-
ample in child study" This club num-
bers among it's members many of our
keenest thinkers and most, prominent
educators. After dining together at
o'clock, the remainder of the evening
was devoted to the active discussion of
the subject of the evening.
The high school movement and its
meaning will be the subject of Prof.
Claxton's talk before the Eastern High
School Home and School Association, at
its next meeting, December IA, at p. m.
This will be a "two-payment" month
for our public school teachers. Owing
to the construction of the law, teachers
could not be paid full salary for Decem-
Der on December q, their last working
day. A semi-payment will be made
about December 20, and the other half
distributed early in January.
Red Cross seals have been sent to the
Normal High and Manual Training
schools. 1t is hoped the older pupils may
become interested in the philanthropic
work
Night schools of all kinds throughout
the District will be closed for the Christ
mas holidays after next Friday, Decem-
Der Is. Many of the pupils are obliged to
work evenings the week preceding
Christmas.
The Department of Agriculture has
been giving valuable assistance TO the
study of botany in the public schools.
In order to make space for its enlarged
been forced to find new homes for many
beautiful palms and rubber plants.
Through the courtesy Cf DR.. B. T. Gallo
way, these were sent to the schools and
distributed among the lower grades for
decorations and plant study. The de-
partment also allows the Normal School
the use of greenhouse. Here the
seniors are given a garden lesson by the
director of botany each week. During
the present year the young ladies have
planted thirty-fve window boxes con-
tanning 300 plants. Boxes are furnished
by the teachers, but both soil and plants
are donated by the department. DR..
Galloway is also instrumental in keeping
the new TakOma Park library frightened
and beautified with a choice cluster of
cut flowers, a palm, or a window deco
ration.
Prof. Paul Monroe delivered the third
of his series of lectures before the teach
ers on Friday last. His subject was
The development of the American pub
lie school system" Seniors of Normal
School No. !, were guests at the lecture.
At chapel exercises at Central High
Wednesday morning. the coveted "Cs"
were presented to all the eligible men on
the football squad. Coach Thomas was
also honored and Capt. Hamilton was
rrFrv LII
score, the Princeton cup remains with
Central.
Miss Bentley, director of music. is en-
Pertaining Mr.. Wyckiff. of the School of
Ethical Culture, New York City. He was
a visitor at Normal School No l, Thurs
day, and listened to the rehearsal of
Joan OF Arc at Central High Friday
morning He speaks in glowing terms of
the inspiration diffused throughout the
schools by the influence of this enthusi-
astic teacher. A few weeks ago Miss
Bentley went over to New York and
gave a lecture before the Ethical Culture
School. She is now busy in Normal and
high schools, interpreting the gems from
oratorios suitable for the Christmas tide.
Thursday afternoon afforded ideal
weather for Miss Sipe to take her ma
ture class for a cross-cOuntry walk and
observation trip. They returned loaded
down with scrub pine for Christmas deco
ration in classrOms. Miss Sipe is max
ing plea for the holly, which is being
rapidly exterminated from the vicinity
of Washington. So much has been
brought into the market here for deco
ration at the Christmas season that the
trees and bushes are rapidly disappear
ing. The scrub pine has a more pungent
odor, does not drop from the heated air
of a room so readily, is more graceful.
and lends itself for decoration better
than the holly. The girls gathered their
pine from the region around the Zoo.
where buildings will soon supplant pines.
The Mothers Club of the Hayes Blair
Association held its first meeting at the
Blair School on Thursday. They took
FroebeTs motto, Come, let us live with
our children" as the working basis of
their club. Miss Watkins gave an in
teresting half-hour talk on the value Of
kindergarten to the first grade, the mean
of its games and songs. A piano solo
by Mrs. Hall was followed by refresh
ments and a social hour. Mrs. Sake
was appointed librarian for the books
which the Public Library will send for
the use of the mothers.
Mrs. ]. B. Hotchkiss, wife of Prof.
Hotchkiss, of Gallaudet College, and a
former successful teacher in our schools,
is president, and Miss Estelle NJ. Fisher,
vice president of the club.
At the regular quarterly meeting of all
the principals of graded schools next
Tuesday, questions of vital interest to
the principals of buildings will be dis
Cussed. How TO deal with Interruptions
and the best method for simplifying spe-
Cial work will be TWO of the many prob
lens up for the consideration of prin-
Cpals.
Parents day was observed at West
ern High last Thursday. Assembly hail.
Ciassrooms. and corridors were thronged
with visitors.
Two inter-semester basketball games
were played at Business High during the
week Much work is being done by the
sarnnster teams nrena raj n 10 M