Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12

A MONG the bills in Congress that the
~ old year has bequeathed to 1913 is
one of great interest to the schooi
children and parents Of Washington, FOR
its prospective passage opens a wide ave-
nue. of possibilities to the school boaro
of the city. The present method OF
school government, limiting the use OF
the school buildings, as 1t does, Is VIII
Messing a. growing revolutionary move
ment. for, as have many other cities
Washington is awakening to the unused
practical advantages Of the various pup
lie educational buildings throughout the
city.
The plans. however, proposed and car
ried out in many of the larger cities do
not diyerge from the chief purpose or the
schools. but only serve to widen their
scope. No doubt the most enthusiastic
Of Washington's supporters of this new
plan is DR.. w. NJ. Davidson, superin-
tendent of the public schools Of the city.
perhaps one Of the chief advantages OF
the plan for a wider use Of the school
buildings is the possibility of establish
ing a more enthusiastic school spirit
among the children" said DR.. DaEiosoi,
recently Athletics have accomplished
this to q certain extent, making the
school a Mace where a little something
more is done than hard work. In many
cities q series of illustrated lectures and
other forms of recreation that prove IN
structive as we'll as entertaining nave
without doubt given the children more
enthusiastic interest in their studies:
Night schools of various sorts. schooi
Fairgrounds and other uses that the
school buildings Of many of the cities are
put to have all served to enhance their
value.
.sThese same school buildings. however.
have not only proved to be an ADVANTAGE
to that portion Of the public known as
school children, but also to the men ana
women OF the community and principally
to the parents Rather than let them
stand idle for so many hours each week
thew have been made clubhouses for the
uurblic Literary and sc1enufic CLUBS,
parents and teachers associations ana
any number and varieties OF orsahlna,
lions have found a beginning through
this wider use of the school buildings
Thus they become community centers OF
interest to the citizens who help TO sup
port them as well as to the chiloreh
And to these latter the school building,
instead of appearing, as in so many cases,
a grim fortress Of difficult tasks, becomes
a place where interesting things may be
seen, heard and studied.
ssWashington's law regulating the use
of the school buildings at present limits
the power of the school board toward es-
tablishing organizations similar to those
of other cities. The bill before Congress.
however. ia a plea for more authority
in determining the use OF the school
buildings, and, should this go through,
the school board will be enabled to carry
out those plans which have proved so
successful In other cities. In those To-
calities where the school buildings nave
been brought into use during idle hours
for purposes not only connected directly
with the school proper, but also OF inter-
est and educational value TO the cenlihus
nity. philanthropists have found field OF
Under the present school
huilding law of this city, however,
course of educational or illustrated lee
lures or any other ENDOWMENT OF SIM
liar nature could hardiy De carried Oh III
the school buildings.
'But washington has, however, even
under restrictions, advanced several
stems In the movement toward q WIDER
use Of the buildings" continued Or. "a
wilson. "The parents and teachers as
sociation has brought the school and
home interests together The schools
have become a meeting place and those
specified days when the parents visit the
schools have become a feature OF tne
school calendar Night schools 100
have provided a use for several of wash
ington's school buildings during three
nights a week Some thirty-flve or SIX
hundred pupils are enrolled In the war;
ous manual training and business classes
and in the eight English classes at the
Franklin. These last are composed most
~ Of foreigners. many of whom are puss
during the day and would other"lse nav
little or no opportunity to learn the IAN
guage. The school gardens and play
grounds have also gone far toward 1ur,
thering the interest of the children In
school" ,
Among the many cities where schooi
buildings and equipment are not used
solely for the ordinary day school work
are Chicago. New York. Newark, Provl-
dence, St. Louis and Springfield. Mass;
It is the successful work accomplished
i'm these and a number of the cities that
has fired the enthusiasm Of DR.. Davidson
and other supporters of the movement
here in Washington. Night schools OK
Iectures and entertainments and many
other instructive and educational organ