Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-05
Erected in 1900 at Fourteenth and G
Streets-It Was Used for Many Years as
Public School and Turned Out Many
Able and Conspicuous Graduates.

waited upon him for the same purpose.
and although this appeal did not meet
with immediate favorable results, vet it
evidently led up to a granting of the
request since in 1921 the President au
thorized its use for public school pur-
poses, and on July 80 OF that year the
School Board took possession Of it in a
parade followed by appropriate eXer-
ciSes The Intelligencer of August 2
stated that ~at 10 o'clock a procession
OF girls and boys. between 100 and 140
in number, preceded by their teacher
and followed by the trustees, moved
from the old and incommodious build
ing on F street to that prepared for
them opposite to the Foundry Chapel.
An address was delivered by the nresi-
dent of the board. who congratulated
the assembly on the improvements in
the system Of learning and on the i'm
mense benefits promised, particularly to
the poorer classes
In August, 1921, notice was given that
"the Lancasterian Western Public
School of the first district would be
opened on Monday, September 3, at the
new building. corner of Fourteenth and
G streets, for the admission Of children
of the first. second and third wards
whose parents are unable to educate
them
And so, on this last date, the so-called
Jefferson Stable School opened its doors
to the poor children of Washington, and
the use of this stable building for edu-
cationaf purposes no doubt accounts for
the noticeable amount of real horse
sense" displayed by so large a number
Of men and women who attended here
during the years 1t was used as a public
school.
Here Henry ould became the first
teacher, and probably continued as such
for Is years.
IN the report Of the public schools for
L 1S66-70 a description Of the build
ing and ground is given, as follows:
$4,000: material of building, brick; di-
mension of building, SO feet by 40 feet
3 inches: value of improvements, $500;
erected in 1900; value Of furniture, $3.50;
one-room structure; 14-foot ceiling; 81
seats"
The Lancasterian educational system,
which was taught in this school from
its opening. was probably continued with
Slight notifications until 1874, when
the law Of December IS Of that year put
new system in operation. However,
up until this date the Lancasterian sys-
tenn proved popular. probably because
it was cheap to the taxpayer.
The system took Its name, Lancas-
terian," from Joseph Lancaster, an Eng
lishman who was born in London in
1888. Like President Hoover, he was
in religion a Quaker, and 1t was con-
troversy with members of the Estab-
liShed Church that caused him to come
to this country In 1918. The following
was accorded the high honor Of seat
on the floor Of the House Of Representa-
tives in resolution introduced January
26, 1919. He remained in America and
died in New York in 1888.
The LancaSterian system had its orr
gin with DR.. Andrew Bell, q Scotch
Anglican priest and military chaplain
in India, who was born at st. Andrews
March 81. 1883, and died at Chelten-
ham, England, January ~. 1882. In
1887 he went to India, where he be-
came manager of the institution for the
education of the orphan children of Eu-
ropean soldiers at Madras. His inability
to obtain the services of capable as
sistants compelled him to resort to the
expedient of making teachers of the
scholars themselves by way of mutual
instruction He made them do every
thing themselves, so far as possible, even
to making their own pens, ruling their
own paper, etc.
On his return to Europe. in 1877, DR..
Bell published pamphlet, entitled
AN Experiment in Education Made at
the Male Asylum Of Madras" in which
he gave an account Of his system. The
system was first adopted In the charity
school of st. Botolph's, ALLOCATE, and
gradually, through the influence Of
Joseph Lancaster, it was widely intro
duced in England and in almost every
other civilized country.
Henry Ould, the first instructor at
Fourteenth and G streets, married, in
1921, Elizabeth Cloud PIERCE, descend
ant of the Peirce who erected the mill
Of that name, still standing in Rock
Greek Park. His death as chronicled in
The Star of September Is, 1871, reads:
"Ould-On the 18th instant, at 8
o'clock pm, Henry Guild, aged 80 years.
THE friends Of the family are re-
queSted to attend his funeral tomorrow
| Sunday Afternoon, at o'clock, from