The Washington herald., 1917-09-18
Thurston Expects Increase.


Thurston Expects Increase.
It will be impossit' to tell before
October 1 just how many pupils will
attend the schools this year, accord
ing to q statement issued last night
by superintendent Thurston. Mr..
Thurston declared. however. that he
would be greatly surprised IL there
were not an increase of 5000 over
the enrolment of last year.
In the high schools yesterday the
enrolment was below normal. A con-
siderable increase in the grammar
schools made up, partially, for the de-
crease in the upper institutions.
Central High School is the only
high school which shows an increase
in the number Of students over last
year. The enrolment yesterday at
Central was 800 pupils. Last year
the entrants numbered less than
2.OU0.
Enrolment Decreases.
Mckinley High SchC oil and Business
show a decrease in the number of
entrants on the opening day. A large
number of students from these schools
have entered the service of the gov
ernment for the summer and will
return to school before October /.
Many students of Business are now
employed in private plants and in
government deoartments Throughout
Washington as stenosraphers. Amcng
the missing scholars of Central the
same condition prevails with the ex-
ception that scholars from this school
are working as machinists.
In Business High School, according
to Assistant Superintendent of Schools
Kramer, who has charge of the sta
tistical work relative to the attend
ances at schools, the number of girls
decreased.
Western Is the only one OF the local
high schools, with the exception OF
Central, which is holding its own.
Five hundred pupils. the same num-
ber as last year, we're listed.
Eastern registered n slight decrease
in the boy students. but held ground
in the number of girls.
More than 1,5OO children of the jew
ish faith failed to make an appear
ance at the grammar schools yester-
day because of the fact that yester-
day was the Jewish New Year. Many
OF the Hebrew children are expected
to start into school tomorrow when
the season of festivity in their church
comes to an end. Several thousand
Jewish pupils are also absent from
the high schools for the same reason.
Expect $1,000 Pupils.
The estimated population of the
school children of the District last
year on the opening day of school
which was October WAS $4,000
On the first day OF October this
year authorities expect to find
65, 900 children in front of the desks
of the Washington school teachers
The High School Cadets have
gained greatly in numbers this
year owing to the military spirit
which peryades every section of the
United States. The latest innova-
tion in connection with the High
School Cadets is a booklet contain
ing history of the District cadet
organization and a manual which
gives the entrant the tradition oi
the corps.
Nineteen hundred teachers are
employed here. The salaries re-
quested by the authorities from
congress Is DdSeu on tHe per CtHl
increase in the enrolment 1t is
thought that no further increase
than this will be made in the
schools throughout Washington
during the year.
New war aims for the District
educational force were outlined tC
l 800 teachers of District schools
yesterday afternoon in the audito-
rum of Central High School by
Supt. of Schools Thurston. He de-
scribed the methods to be followed
during the first full war year OF
the schools of Washington and laid
down principles, practically all OF
which have been re-created by the
entrance of the United States into
the world war. which are to be in
stilled into the hearts of the pu-
pills.
Features OF Curriculum.
The papers and messages to Con
gress which President Wilson COM
piled since the entrance of the Unit.
ed States into hostilities. are to be
used in the grammer schools and
high schools.
Editorials from current issues ol
newspapers are also to be taken ul
in the schools during the coming
year, as articles for study and a:
items of contemporaneous history.
Perfection in the methods of educa-