Evening star., 1924-02-21
STARS 0RAIoRcA
CONTEST PRAISED
School Principals approve
PIan-Students En-
thusiastic.

. The Stars oratorical contest il sue
cess. So. much may be stated with
confidence. even at this early date. AL
ready it has gone far toward achieving
its object of increasing interest In and
the study of the Constitution among
students in Ihe District high schools.
Moreover. now that the preliminies
of the contest are in full swing, those
most intimately connected with ednca-
tion in the District arc loud in its
praise, as is evidenced by the chorus
of approval received by The Star from
day to day from Washington school
principals. Some of their comments
follow:
THE training in public speaking. in
historical research. in composition and
the estimate of historical and literary
values has been of great value to our
in such contests. Your present sub
jectS. dealing as they do with vital
historical topics. will prove both inter-
estins and profitable.
Seek Forum Herr.
However. l find that 1 appreciate
chiefly the effect of such contests in
that they lead to a critical reading
volume of news which the modern
newspaper presents. We have bee
striving in Washington to arrive at
some kind OF forum wherein public
views can be nodded and Expressed.
Your effort to make the newspaper
helpful in this respect is to me one
of the most worthy efforts of modern
journalism. Allan Davis, principal
Business High School.
interest in the proposed contest. 1
believe that the successful carrying
through of your plans will mean very
much to the pupils in our schools.
THE directing of attention and
deavor which should arouse the in
terest and ready cooperation of the
public schools. In the Central High
School we are undertaking to give
the fullest amount of encouragement
to pupils who are interested in this
been carefully presented to US by
the head of the history department
and one of our history teachers has
been made school manager for the
contest in our high Schools. f..
kraIne-, principal. Central High
School.
Many Will Take Part.
The teachers of Eastern High
School. especially the English and
oratorical contest as a real opportun-
ity to advance the interests of public
speaking in the schools Not only
the teachers but the pupils are show
ing a decided interest in the contest.
as evidenced by two facts: First.
the increased spirit manifest in the
discussions that have taken place in
the classroom. Second. the large
number OF pupils who have an
nounced their intention of taking
part in the contest.
Thus far in this school in the junior
and senior years more than fifty stu
dents have definitely become con-
testants The Debating Society is
giving special attention to this par
ticular subject and is directing its
efforts along lines of public speak
ing and thus furthering the chances
OF our nigh school becoming the win
ner in this contest"-Charles Hart,
principal Eastern High School
Both our teachers and pupils are
very much interested in the proposed
contest. We are taking note Of it
IN our school paper and there Is great
@snthusiasm @ and speculation regard
Mckinley Manual Training school.
We trust that the contest will
realize the hope of its promoters in
encouraging the study of the Consti-
tuition and that interest in public
speaking will be created, which will
result In the adoption of such a course
in the high schools. DIR. f. s. New
ton, principal, Western High School.
Students Eathusiastic.
THE main purpose of the public
schools is to train for efficient citi-
zenship. A thorough knowledge Of,
wholesome respect for and a de-
termination to maintain and defend
the provisions of the Constitution of
the United States are fundamental
principles of American citizenship.
am of the opinion that the ora
torical contest win be a large factor
in the development of these prin-
ciples; the contest has my unqualine ed
ndorscrlent." Capt. Arthur G. New
man, principal, Armstrong Manual
Training High School
THE students are entering into
the work of preparation for the con-
test with overfowing enthusiasm
and high hopes. No less enthusiastic
are the teachers, and the committee
in charge is working early and late.
Irrespective of the outcome, our
young people are actuated by the de-
sire to give a good account of Dun
bar when the test cones."-Walter
c. Smith, principal Of Dunbar High
School