The Washington herald., 1920-09-26
HOUR A WEEK
GIVEN TO MUSIC
Public Schools Spare Little
Time for Esthetic
Work.
A CHANGE IS DESIRED
Music Director Cannot AL
ways Carry Out His
Ideas.
A CHANGE IS DESIRED

one hour a week is the enormous
amount Of time allotted to the study
Of music in the public schools of the
District of Columbia. This includes
the high schools as well as the
graded schools As this subject is
rated a minor one in local schools
sand is not listed on the pupils per-
centage report cards, which they are
the wonder is that our schools show
such satisfactory results. The sue
cess attained in the study of music
by the pupils speaks volumes for the
capable and painstaking teachers OF
music in our schools.
There is probably no one connect
ed with our institutions who appre-
Ciates the unhappy situation more
than does DR.. Hamlin f.. Cogswell,
director of music in the public
schools of this city. 1t has been his
constant aim since coming to Wash
ingtOn to have this important sub
ject made a major study, for one
soon learns in a conversation with
him that he considers music, next to
reading and writing. the most inn
portant subject in the curriculum of
the schools today.
Course Lengthened.
Through the efforts of Dr. Cogs-
well a manual for teachers. written
by Hollis Damn, professor of music
and head of the department of mu-
sic at Cornell University, was intro
years ago. Owing to the limited
amount of time appropriated for the
study Of music. il is found that two
Years are required to cover a course
that could easily be taught in one
school year
While the music in the graded
schools of Washington is under DR..
OOSsWells supervision, music in the
high schools is another proposition.
IL appears that each of the high
schools is a province all its own.
Dr. COgswell may make all the
suggestions he cares to. but the TAX
ing of his advice seems to be an
other matter
That the director of music in our
public schools is thoroughly up to
date is shown by his desire to place
a phonograph in every school in the
District of Columbia With these
instruments installed, it is his inten-
tiOn TO give greater consideration
to the very important subject of
memory tests which are proving
so successful throughout the States.
Quite a number Of the schools have
these instruments. several of them
being bought by parent organiza-
tiOns connected with the several
in favor Of forming an orchestra
in every school. but unfortunately
for the advancement Of music in
the DistrictH DR. Cogswen cannot
TdO all he would like to do.
ID. c. Music Teachers.
The Herald publishes herewith
what is believed to be a complete
list Of all instructors Of music in
local public schools. They are as
follows: Central High School, H. p.
Hoover and Samuel Wood; Eastern
and Western High Schools: Mrs.
Frank Byram; Technical High
School. Miss Florence Coon: Junior
High School. Miss Edith Athey; di-
rector Of elementary school or
Chestra. Mrs. Laura F Ward. The
special music teachers Of the graded
schools are Misses Edith Athey.
Helen Burkhart, Clara Burroughs,
Ethel Keats. Florence Lee. Jeanette
Love. Lucy Lynch. Rose Sliney.
Belle B. Thompson, Louise Wood and
Mrs J. /. TOrbert
The teachers in the coIored high
schools are Misses Lola johnson
and Mary L. Europe. Henry Grant
and Ernest Amos. Mrs. Charlotte
w Murray is in charge of the
music at the Junior High School.
while the elementary schools are di-
rected by Misses Beatrice Hill B.
l. Howard. Marie c. James. V. L.
Williams. Mrs. c. w. Murray and
J. f. Wormley.