Evening star., 1924-09-05

alma mater conferred upon him the
| honorary A. NJ degree in 1904.
For 54 years Mr.. Stuart has been
connected with the schools OF this
city, first as a teacher and afterward
for many years as supervising
principal Of the schools in east
Washington. He began teaching in
1870. and becamse a supervisor in
1851
Served as Superintendent.
Mr.. Stuart served two terms as
superintendent of schools. AS the
successor of William B. Powell he
was superintendent from July 1, 1900
TO July l, 1906. Then at his own
request he was appointed director of
intermediate instruction. On Janu-
AIRY 4, 1908, after the brief term of
DIR. w. E. Chancellor he was called
again to the superintendency and
served in that capacity until July
], 1911. At his own request the
Board of Education relieved him of
the burdens of the superintendency
, and again appointed Mr.. Stuart as
director of intermediate instruction.
Mr.. Stuart continued in this position
up to the time of his death.
AS an ambitious boy during the
years Immediately following the
Civil War. Mr.. Stuart attended one of
the historic free schools" of the Dis
trict in an old building that stood at
the southeast corner of Fourteenth
and G streets, now the heart of
Washington's business district This
building was known in those days
as 'JefferSonS stable" because up to
the year 1921 this structure had been
in use as the White House stable. On
July 80 of that year the building was
formally occupied with an impressive
ceremony, including an address by the
president of the board, who congrat
nlated the assembly on the immense
benefits promised particularly to the
poorer classes Of the city" 1t was
in this schoolhouse many years later
that the boy Alexander Stuart with
many others of Washington's citizens
now past the meridian Of life sat at
the feet of that stalwart Scotch mas
ter, Strong John Thomson, whose
methods of enforcing study, using Mr.
Stuarts own language, were not al
ways cordially approved by them, but
whose stern insistence on high stan
dards Of achievement never failed to
bear a worthy harvest in after life"
The Thomson School at Twelfth and
l. streets is named after this well
known teacher of bygone days.
Saw Start of Building.
In the 10s as young teacher Mr..
Stuart was closely identified with an
outstanding period of organization
and reconstruction in the city schools.
1t was then for the first time that d
superintendent of public instruction
was appointed. During this decade
the public schools. which as free
schools" had been looked upon as
pauper schools. gained favor rapidly
with the people. The graded system
was introduced during this period.
Our first normal school was organ
ized in 1873. three years after Mr..
Stuart began to teach.
During this decade the Importance
of providing suitable school buildings
was recognized. The Wallach School
had been built in East Washington,
and the Franklin School. said to have
been one Of the finest in the country
at that time, was erected in 1863 at
cost of 100000. Soon after these
the following were erected in turn:
The Seaton and the Sumner, the JEFF
ferson. the Curtis in Georgetown, the
Peabody in the Northeast and the
Garnet for colored pupils All of
these buildings stand out today as
fine examples of school architecture.
In 1876 the first high school in the
city came into being. first as the "Ad-
vanced Grammar School" for the boys.
and one for girls. which later. in 1880.
were merged into the Central High
School.
Began Teaching in 1870.
1t was during this period of rapid
school advancement that Mr.. Stuart
began his work as a teacher, his
first assignment being as ''acting
teacher of the Male intermediate
School, First Division, Franklin
Building" on September I, 1870. HIS
superior ability as an instructor was
recognized in his appointment as the
supervising principal OF the third
division on September 1. 1873. There
were then only four school divisions.
For many years as division supervisor
Mr.. Stuart had his Office in the Wal
ZACH School in East Washington,
where his name was known in every
household. A recognized leader
among the school officers, it was in
evitable that he should be honored
with the superintendency, a position
he filled efficiently for nine years
When Mr.. Stuart voluntarily relin-
Quished this position in 1911 after
Nhe had been elected for three more
years. the Board of Education adopted
the following resolution:
BE it resolved, That in complying
with the request of Mr.. A. T. Stuart,
superintendent of schools, to be re-
lieved of the duties Of the superin-
tendency, the Board of Education
acknowledges with grateful apprecia-
tion the faithful and valuable service
rendered by him to the cause of pub
lie education during the three and
one-half years of his incumbency;
Praises Scholarship.
'uThat the Board of Education rec
ognizes that by the scholarship, cul-
ture, untiring industry, rare tactful-
ness, his self-sacrificing and loyal
l. ID e~<y
stronger the many evidences Of Off
.cial esteem and personal regard
whereby he has endeared himself
not only to the teachers and pupils
of the District school system and to
the educational public, but to all who
have been benefited in the ever
widening scope of his wholesome in
f1uence;
"That the board takes pleasure in
honoring his wish to assume duties
of a supervisory position for which
he has expressed preference, and in
which office the public schools will
continue to enjoy the benefits Of his
wise counsels and ripe experience;
That this resolution be placed on
record and a copy be handed to Mr..
, Stuart"
When tho teachers retirement bill
was passed in 1920, though he was of
retirement age, the school board, by
special resolution, retained him for
the good Of the service.
Mr.. Stuart was a member OF the
Geographical Society, the National
Education Association, the Associa-
tion of Oldest Inhabitants of the Dis
triot- and a charter member of the
University Club. He also was general
secretary Of the Young Mems Christ
ian Association from 1875 to 1877 and
at one time was a trustee of George