The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-10-07
SCHOOLS
ATTENDANCE big
Number Of Applicants at
Opening Larger Than
In 1912.
FUNDS ARE INADEQUATE
Because of Small Appropriation,
Classes Probably Will Close
About March I.

Despite insufficient appropriation for
the support of the public night schools
OF the District, the growing Importance
of these institutions was shown in the
large attendance at their opening last
night, which represented a substantial
increase over that OF last year. II was
estimated that the total enrolment was
Nabout $500. OF this total. LOO to 1900
enrolled In the white schools and about
1880 in the colored schools
DIR. B. w. Murch, supervising princi-
pal, who has the direction of night
schools, will be hampered in his work
again this year by reason of the made
auate funds at his disposal for the main
tenance OF the schools. Especially in the
night high schools classes will this OBJ
stacle OF the lack of money be felt
The enrolment in the high schools,
Business High, and Mckinley Manual
Training School. and Armstrong, the
colored high school, was relatively the
heaviest. Two hundred and twenty-five
began at Business High last night At
Mckinley Manual Training School SO
pupils enrolled, and more than sixty who
wish to take up millinery and sewing
courses had TO he put upon the waiting
list. At Armstrong the attendance last
night was 2l7.
shut Down Last Year.
In spite of the growing importance OF
the work OF the City's night schools, Con-
gress has steadily refused 10 make them
an allowance large enough to Liable
their work TO he properly carried on.
Last year these schools had to shut
down while in the midst OF the school
season, thus depriving many. who were
anxious to learn and DESTROYS OF better
ing their conditions. of the opportunity.
As far the annrpnriafinnG n
cerned, the same conditions have TO be
faced by the night school authorities this
year II is understood that there are not
sufficient funds for these schools to sup
ply the needed number of teachers to the
high school pupils. one or two more
teachers are needed to take care Of the
pupils already enrolled at Business High.
The authorities would like to institute
course OF commercial law. but find this
impossible.
There are three OF the night schools
that should be kept open at least ninety
nights DR.. Murch said last night. The
Thompson grade school, where we have
eight foreign classes, and the Business
High and Manual Training School. where
the pupils are given vocational work"
Teachers on Half Pay.
As the funds stand. the schools prob
ably cannot be kept open more than
sixty nights. They were open only
ffty-seven night last year. In order
TO keep them open for this length OF
time on the present appropriation. the
teachers have been accepting about
half the regular salaries for the ma
ture of the work done by them. II
has been suggested that the appro-
priation for night school work should
be at least $4,000 a year.
The pupils who attend night schools |
especially the night high schools, are
earnestly seeking to make the most
Of the opportunities offered to them. ,
DR.. Murch said. Many of them come !
to master the technique Of the various !
vocations in which they are engaged |
as crude or apprentice workers. As |
a rule. they are those who are working !
hardest to get along. and ii has long !
been the feeling OF the school authori- |
encouragement and that Congress /
should appropriate enough to make 1t .
possible 10 give them instruction !
the regular school year. I
The night schools will. in all likeli-
hood have to close again this year
about March l.
Night grade classes are held at Thorn
son School, Twelfth and l. Streets
Northwest; jefferson School. Sixth and
- SlTtelS SOUTHWEST NdleS S7'hooi' + iiS'
and Massachusetts Avenue Northwest.
and Wallach School. Seventh and Penn
syIvania Avenue Southeast. Cooking
.lasses are held at Berret School, Four
tenth and Q Streets Northwest: at 6i6
Avenue Northeast at 2l2
4 Street Northwest. and at 1893 II Street
Northeast. On next Wednesday even
ng. a cooking class will open at the Ia
Ioma School There are classes espe-
tally for foreigners at the Thomson and
Jefferson Schools.