Evening star., 1923-08-05

branch of the National congress u
Mothers and Parent-Teacher Assocla-
tions.
Tt was stated in this column last
week that our first school was helo
in a very inconvenient building on
street and that the first building
that was given to the trustees for
school use was the building oR tne
corner of 14th and G streets, when
had been President Jefferson's stable.
The schools took formal possession
of this small brick building July 80
1921. "At 10 O'clock a procession OF
girls and boys, between 13O ana l4o
in number preceded by their teachers
and followed by the trr.stees' moved
from the old and incommodious
building on F. street to that prepared
for them opposite to the FOUNDRY
Chapel An address was delivered
by the president of the board, who
CONGRATULATED the assembly on the
improvements in the system of learn
ing and on the immense Dement'S
promised" Joseph Lancaster, the
founder of the system OF schools pear
ing his name, was an enthusiastic
but somewhat visionary SChoolmaSter,
who adopted an inexpensive method
of educating. The curriculum of MS
schools included reading. writing
arithmetic and the Bible. In 1919. on
the recommendation of the trustees,
the city council established TWO
boards in place of the one previously
existing-one for the first school dis,
trict, comprising the first and second
wards of the city, and the other Tor
the second school district, comprising
the third and fourth wards. In 1885
Joshua L. Henshaw was appointed
teacher of the Western School. MIS-.
Emma d. L. n. Southworth. an Amer
lean novelist and resident of this city,
was the stepdaughter of Mr.. Henshaw
She was for some years also teach-
er in the public schools OF Washlng-
ton The census of 1870 showed that
the whole number of children in the
city between the ages of four ana
sixteen, inclusive, was $500: NUMBER
in the public schools, 2l3; number IN
private Schools 116, therefore there
we're 44Ol not attending any school.
An interesting statement showing
the growth of our school system from
1876 to 1860 in the following-in 1S45
there were four teachers, 500 pupils
in 1860 there were fifty-four teachers,
4,500 pupils and school property val
ued at $4,000.
Is there a business house in Wash
tngton where the electric lights are
not in use during the winter after
moons? Does the average cltiZen
know that in every school bulldlnS
in the city there is at least one class
of small children who remain until
4:3O o'clock without any lights! II
has been said many times that the
shoots are what the parents want; Is
it not time for the parents to want
we'll lighted buildings? The school
authorities cannot furnish lights and
the other necessary improvements
with the limited funds at their dis
posal If the citizens of Washing
ton will unite for well lighted school
buildings and demand a sufficient ap-
preparation for this purpose they Will
be repaid by the improved eyesight of
our children.
Many adults suffering from neuritis
and other forms Of nervous diseases
could have been saved much distress
if their teeth had received proper care
during their childhood. There are
over $4,000 children attending our
schools and there are only four dental
clinics. 1t is simple problem in
arithmetic to figure out that We must
have more dental clinics.
Recreation is spiritual rather than
physical and is universal need. Tne
regular routine of any kind or work
has tendency to weaken rather than
to strengthen if change OF energy Is
not given. 1t is upon the playground
that is properly supervised where
strength and foundation of character
are laid. The child is taught to rec
ognize the rights of others TO ENJOY
companionShip and to live up to the
ideals taught by his or her teacher.
There is over month of vacation for
the school children, when they must
strengthen their bodies for the WIN
ter's work and still most of our
school Fairgrounds are padlocked.
When the school doors are thrown
open in September the children VIII
be permitted to use the playgroun1.als, nos
SADf a -
municipal playground department
only needs funds to open the school
gates now and the children can use
the playground equipment that has
been purchased by the dlnerent par
ent-teacher associations.
The Morgan School branch of the
Parent-Teacher Association was or
ganized February last. Mrs. Rob-
crt l.. Bailey was elected as tempo
rary chairman of the chapter. A COM
mittee was appointed TO prepare
constitution. March . second meet
ing was held at the home of Mrs. {.
+. Carter, 1641 Harvard street. Mrs.
Frank Edgington spoke on Patriot
ism" bringing out the point that the
three great traits of character in
both George Washington and in Abra-
ham Lincoln were courage, service and
faith in God. Refreshments were
served. Forty-two dollars and two
cents was raised with which to pur-
chase flags for the Schoolrooms of the
school. These flags were purchased
and presented TO the school with suit
able exercises March 27.
April 10 a third meeting was held
at the school. Miss Kent, principal
of the school. presented a draft of
the proposed constitution, which was
read section by section, and voted on
by the members present A nomi-
mating committee was then appointed
to draw up a slate for officers of the
association. The report of the nomi-
mating committee was adopted and
the following officers elected: Presi
dent. Mrs. Robert l.. Bailey; vice
secretary, Miss Cecilia p. Dulin;
treasurer, Mrs. Edward Kohner;
chairman of press, Mrs. c. r. Will
liams; chairman of membership. Mrs.
p. NJ Reifi;in, chairman of entertain
ment, Mrs. y. Rockenderfer; chair
man of health, Mrs Hunt; chairman
of safety, Mrs. Miller; delegates to
the Mothers and Parent-Teacher
Associations, Mrs. Carter and Mrs.
Sheriff..
1t was moved and seconded that a
committee be appointed to select some
suitable picture to offer as a prize
to be hung in the Schoolroom next
year from whi~S the greatest number
of parents attended the meetings of
the association. Mrs. Gridley, Mrs.
c. d. Swope and Mrs. H. w. Wiley
were appointed to form the committee.
1t was decided that the picture is to
be presented to the school at the
meeting OF the association May %.