Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-20
Educators Interested in the
Plan Now Being Tried
in the District.
INSTRUCTION IS'AIMED
TO MAKE GOOD WORKERS
For Benefit of Children Who Are Un-
able to Profit by Full
Academic Courses.

Apropos of the opening of the public
schools Monday, considerable interest Is
being taken in the three trade schools
which have been established here for
the purpose of teaching trades to boys
who feel that they will not be able to
continue their education through college
or high school
1t was stated at the headquarters OF
the schools today that 1t is not probable
that any additional schools of this sort
will be opened this year as it is believed
the three now established will be enough
to accommodate the number who wish
to take trade courses this year. These
schools are beyond the experimental
stage In the District. but school officials
believe that it will take a longer time
than they have already been open to
find out in just what manner and just
how far they should be developed
Other Cities Feel Need.
The trade or vocational schools were
opened to fill a need which had been 4
cause of considerable discussion in edu-
cational circles not only in this city, but
also in other cities. A certain number
of pupils each year, either because they
had been retarded or because they were
of such temperament that they could
not or would not stand the desk work in
the regular schools. dropped out of
school and sought employment. In many
cases they dropped out because, having
been retarded-possibly through sickness
or similar cause-they were much larger
and older than their classmates.
Sometimes the pupils dropped out be-
cause the death OF some supporting
member of the family compelled them
to earn a livelihood. The result was that
they found positions which. while they
the age of the boy or girl, offered
practically no chance for advancement
or opportunity to learn anything which
would bring a living wage at a later
age.
1t was to catch these pupils and give
them instruction which would start them
on the way at least to living wage
that the trade schools were opened.
These schools take in pupils who have
completed the work of the sixth grade.
although they are not limited entirely
to this class.
Time Divided Evenly.
Half the time in the trade schools is
| devoted to the study of academic sub
jects, while the other half is devoted to
the teaching of the trade Academic
studies. however, are connected with
those Of the trades. The pupils are taught
to design the things which they wish to
make, and then figure out by the arith-
metic which they have learned how
much material will be needed.
The three trade schools at present are
the Wisconsin Avenue Manual Training
School, which Is for white pupils, and is
situated at Wisconsin avenue and High
street northwest; the o Street Industrial
Center on o street between North Capt.
tol and 1st streets, and the CardOZO VO-
cational School, at 1st and l streets
southwest. both Of which are for cOlored
children.
In the white school only cabinet max
ing and general woodwork are taught.
At the o street school courses are pro-
vided in printing, carpentry, chair cam
ing. basketry and rug weaving for the
boys, while courses in millinery, plain
sewing, dressmaking, rug weaving,
basketry, chair Gaming and cooking are
available for the girls.
Courses at the Cardozo School consist
of carpentry. machine shop work, auto
mobile construction blacksmithing,
bricklaying plastering. cement work,
rug weaving sewing and cooking.
The teachers engaged for the work of
instructing In the courses named are
specially trained for it. and a practical
knowledge of the trade is one of the
chief requisites necessary for these
teachers