Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-22
CAPITALS SCHOOLS
OCCUPY HIGH NICHE
Evidence of City's Growing
Leadership Is Revealed
in c. of C. Survey.


rapidly growing Importance and leader
ship in the fields Of public and private
education is revealed by the preliminary
findings of the survey of WaShtngton'S
educational facilities now being con-
Quoted by the committee on universe
ties, colleges and private schools of the
Washington Chamber of Commerce, &C
cording to a statement issued by Col.
William o. Tufts chairman OF the
committee.
There are now about 200 private
schools of various types and kinds In
the District of Columbia in addition to
Washington's public school system.
These figures do not include the speciaI
training schools maintained by the
War and Navy Departments, the state
Department, the Department OF Agrl,
culture, the Bureau of Standards ana
other Federal departments and agencies
OF the. present existing scnooiS, aG So
cording to the chambers survey. III
were founded from 1900 to 1850, 40 be-
tween 1850 and 1900, and Ill since 1900.
These figures indicate that the National
Capitals educational system grew very
slowly until the beginning OF the
present century. The increase was
rapid during the first is years, or until
about 1915, but since that year the
growth has been at remarkable rate.
"a educational institutions having been
established in Washington from 1916 TO
1925, inclusive.
$4,000 in Private Schools.
Despite the fact that there are ap-
proximately 10000 students enrolled IN
the public schools, the chambers survey,
in its preliminary figures, indicates a
total of $4,000 students in the private
schools reporting. 1t is believed that
the total number for all private schools
must be in excess of $4,000 students.
The number of teachers and school
administrators employed to handle tnls
vast private school population is IN ex-
cess of $500 individuals, according 10
returns received.
The educational service furnished by
Washington's private schools and col
leges caters to every age group from tne
Kindergarten and grammar grades up
through the undergraduate and post
graduate courses. In addition there are
specialized schools for the feeble mind
ed, the blind, the deaf. and Tor otner
special types of students.
THE clirricrla of Washington's private
educational institutions show variety
of subjects and courses. Institutions
devoted to religious training and to the
arts and sciences are predominant
Washington is also well equipped with
snecial schools and colleges for instruc-
ton in the graphic and musical arts; In
business and secretarial science, In law
and medicine, and in host OF otner
subjects from architecture to engineer
inc: from beauty culture to hotel man.
arement: from civil service to horse
nnanship: from dancing to interior
decoration; from dramatics to dental
science. and from public speaking to
poultry raising.
Extent Of U. 8. Activities.
The extent of the edu"ational actlVl-
files carried on by the departments OF
the Federal Government is not general
w. realized Under the War Depart
rnent, for example, there are seven eou-
cational institutions which carry on
their activities in Washington; These
are: The Army War College, the army
Industrial School, the Finance Scnool,
the Army Medical School, the Army
Dental School, the Army Veterinary
school and the Army Music Schooi
The Navy Department has one class A
and four class B schools located IN
Washington. The State Department
maintains a foreign service school 1oI
the instruction Of newly-appointed 1or-
'eign service officers.
The Bureau of Standards mas con
Quoted some particularly effective eau
cational work in the form OF co-opera-
tive study courses in phvsics, mathe-
mates and other technical subjects
THESE courses are conducted outsice
regular hours and are accepted as
credits toward advanced degrees by lead
ing universities. The bureau mas also
developed the research associate pan;
which enables leading industries ano
trade associations to undertake special
technical investigations through trained
representatives who are permitted to
use the bureaus laboratory ana re-
search facilities.
The Department Of Agriculture con-
ducts a graduate school. which has
been in operation since 1921. Last year
this school offered courses on the Ioi-
lowing subjects: Soil Genesis. CLASH
eation and Erosion si plaat Gen nestr
nents and Their Use" Advanced
Statistical Methods" prices and Price
RELATIONSHIPS" History Of American
Agriculture" Poultry Husbandry' and
Languages"
Post Graduate Work.
A great deal of educational work OF
postgraduate grade IS carried on ~
is afforded by the National Academy
Of Sciences and the National Research
Council, which take the initiative In
all efforts for the coordination OF re-
search and investigational activity
Actual investigations are pursued under
grants awarded by these institutions and
others, such as the Smithsonian Insti-
tuition and the Carnegie Corporation OF
washington. Attention should be. called
also to the recently created Bookings
Institution, consolidation of the In
stitute for Government Research. the
Institute of Economics and the Brook
ings Graduate School, which now Is
functioning as a sort Of post post
graduate" institution for scholars OF
proven ability who desire to engage In
special studies and Investigations, for
which Washington is a fertile field.
Washington's aggregation of college;
and universities is Of outstanding i'm
portance. Georgetown University, with
a large faculty and student body. is Its
oldest institution of higher learning
Next in date of establishment come
George Washington University ant
GonZaga College. Howard Universit,
and National University were chartered
. before 1870 and Catholic Universit!
was established in 1887. American
University, with its excellent post
graduate courses, was Of later origin
Mention should also be made OF thu
Washington College of Law, the nearb!
University of Maryland and of Gallaude
College, the first established school o.
higher learning for deaf mutes.