Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-09

IN its entire existence, this school has had but
three principals. Mrs. Hilton was the first.
she being followed, in 1890, by Miss Mary A.
Awkward, who, when the school was first
opened was assigned to the seventh grade.
Miss Awkward continued to teach until 1920.
when she was retired. being followed by Miss
M Gertrude Young the present administration
principal and q most delightful woman to
meet and converse with
When called upon Miss Young a few days
ago, met an unusually fine woman and eS-
pecially pleasant and obliging It was indeed
a great pleasure to talk with one so greatly
interested in her work. The conception that
some folks have of the average school "marm,"
as being disagreeabe. grouchy and arrogant
person. would surely not fit Miss Young, for she
is just as kind and considerate as one could
be. During the few minutes the writer talked
with her he had the pleasure also of seeing
her attending to some of her school duties
which brought out her great love and kindness
for children One Of the teachers brought be-
fore her a little boy who looked to be about
or years old who was suffering with the
toothache and the sympathetic and affectionate
way she treated the little fellow, when she
permitted him to go home for treatment. no
doubt created everlasting impression upon
the little fellows mind.
Another little boy had very slight but
suspicious rash breaking out on his face, but
after a careful examination this good woman
decided it would not be dangerous to keep the
boy in school and he went back to his studies,
seemingly pleased to do after a pat on the
shoulder and kind word from one who knows
how to get results from children. 1t was in
deed, quite object illustration of the differ
ence of present-day instruction and the knock
down-drag -out methods still employed to an
extent when this old building was first erected.
Indeed the writer reminded of the song
he used to sing when himself attending the
first grade in this city, the lines of which run:
Speak gently, it is better far to rule
by love than fear;
Speak gently, let no harsh word mar
the good we might do here"
From 1890 to 1892 the Peabody School was
the headquarters of the Eastern High School
and it was during this same period that the
visiting Grand Army veterans attending re-
union in this city, of their organization, were
assigned quarters in this building, and only a
little over a decade ago, it was made station
for registration for the draft, when Our own
country entered the World War. The Stuart
Junior High School was organized here, as was
also the Stanton Park Citizens Association, and
today upward of 10000 men and women can
look back with happy memories to the old
Peabody School where they were educated in
whole in part.
MOT only have the pupils of this school been
foremost in educational contests but in
aCnetlc ana OLxeT ACTIVITIES Lney nave always
maintained the prestige of Capitol Hill and
today stiil proudly exhibit the statuary they
won some years ago in voting contest spon-
sored by The Star.
1t Is but natural that the Peabody School
should be one Of the best schools in the Dis
trict, for East Washington-and this particu-
lar vicinity-was one Of the very first educa-
tional centers of the new Capital. having had
in this neighborhood one Of the first two pub
lie schools-the Eastern Academy. which was
erected in accordance with the following reso-
luton:
Resolved, That sum not exceeding
$1,000 be appropriated for building
schoolhouse at the west end Of the city
and q sum not exceeding $1,000 for
building q schoolhouse at the east end
of the city.
The Eastern Academy opened on May
49, 1906, when Rev. Robert Elliot Of Strasburg.
Pa, became its first teacher, Mr.. Conroy hav-
ing declined to accept the position to which
he was elected on February D. 1905. The cost