The Washington herald., 1912-09-24
THOUSANDS ENTER
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Teacher" Greeted by Swarms Of
Youngsters on Opening Day.
Rain Holds Down Number.
SUCCESSFUL YEAR PREDICTED

Undaunted by the steady downpour Of
rain. more than 5000 rain-coated. UNI.
brella-ar youngsters. long before the
time for the opening Of the doors. be-
sieged the public schools yesterday
morning. and eagerly awaited the bell to
peal forth its summons. When at a
quarter to nine the doors were opened
| there was a mad stampede to be the first
| to enter the buildings.
Many OF the tiny mites, who were
| leaving mother" for the first time. and
had been intrusted to the care of some
older brother or sister, were timid and
afraid to enter the formidable looking
buildings. and in many instances 1t took
| the assuring smile and few endearing
words from teacher before they
could be pursuaded to leave brother or
! sister and go into the big room full OF
strange faces.
Excitement was not confined to the
children. for there were many graduates
from the Normal School last year, who
yesterday morning were getting their
first experience in their chosen profess
sion.
Mothers There, Too.
The usual army of mothers to be found
in the first grade and kindergartens was
on hand. More than one young teacher
felt the critical gaze of a loving mother
fastened on her while the fond parent
was turning over in her mind If that
young miss was qualified to become the
niolder Of the destiny of her precious
child.
For nine months this army of young
sters. possibly REINFORCED by 1000 more
during the next week, will combat with
the elusive three RS whose conquest they
hope to accomplish under the general
ship of the l,sO0 teachers who greeted
them in the ninety-seven schools opened
yesterday morning.
Despite the bad weather, everything
pertaining to the opening of the schools
went of without a hitch except in a few
isolated cases. A few difficulties were
encountered. The roads were In such a
bad condition in the vicinity OF the Ran
die Highlands School that It was impos-
sible to place any furniture in the build
ing. necessitating the organization OF the
pupils in the Twining City portable
school.
In almost every room above the first
grade and the kindergarten the pupils
turned to their work, with remarkable
swiftness. In many rooms Rotations
were going on as early as 10 O'Clock. and
a stranger visiting the schools would not
have dreamed that they had been open
less than an hour.
DccFedSc IN NOnrcslucns
Much interest was displayed by super
vising principals in the number of nom
resident pupils enrolled. There were
nearly 1900 OF them last year. The new
law passed at the last session OF Con-
gress will affect nearly all Of this num-
Der. Owing to the greatly increased tut
ton. a marked falling off in the number
OF nonresident pupils was anticipated.
The enrolment at the high schools was
considerably larger than on the opening
day Of last year. Complete figures of
the enrolment will not be known until
to-day.
Eighty-two new pupils were enrolled in
Normal School No. !. or this number
seventy are taking the regular course
and twelve are taking the kindergarten
course.
DIR. William NJ. Davidson. Superinten-
dent of Schools, yesterday prophesied a
very successful year. He said that both
the teaching force and the organization
are excellent