Evening star., 1932-11-06

The first teacher Of the Lancaster Seh0qf
was George Dashiel and according to the ye-
ports. he was quite successful. However. prob
ably on account Of the early engagement Of
Robert Ould, who was sent out by Mr.. Lam
caster to take charge Of this school, Mr.. Dashiel
was soon relieved. Evidently the system taught
was very popular, for. in few months after
the school opened $50 children were attend
ing its classes.
The following year after Robert Ould came
here from England, his brother, Henry. ac-
cepted an offer to teach a similar school In
Washington for $500 . year, and this is prob
ably also the amount paid to Robert Ould for
his services.
lust what Robert Ould taught his pupils In
- Georgetown may be judged by what Henry
taught his classes in Washington, for they
both used the same system. In 1915 Henry
Ould says
"Fifty-fve have learned to read In the Old
and New Testaments 26 are now learning to
read DR.. Watts Hymns. and 10 are learning
words of four and five letters. Out of So Of
the whole number admitted who did not know
a single letter, 20 read in the Bible, 20 in
Watts Hymns. and 10 spell words OF four and
five letters. Fffty-fve scholars are able to
write on paper. many Of them, also in German
text. who never attempted to form such char
acters before entering the school, 26 write words
OF two or three sylables on states. and ten are
writing words OF two to five letters. All the
scholars who left the school could write .
tolerable and many Of them a capital hand.
Twenty-six scholars are in reduction, single
and double rule Of three direct and practice.
and % are rapidly progressing through the first
four rules Of arithmetic both simple and COM
pound"
Writing paper in those days was not Is
cheap and plentiful as it Is today, and what
were known as sand desks were generally used.
These were made in rows long enough to ac-
commodate q number of children. They had
slanting tops which were separated lengthwise
by q thin strip running about one-third the
way up. The base bottom of the upper or
sand portion, was painted black and upon this
was spread thin layer Of dry white sand in
which the scholars formed with their fingers
individual characters and short words
Robert Ould, teacher of the first LAncasterian
School in Georgetown was born in London.
England, March H. 17s8 and married in Rock
ville Md. December a. 1914. Pauline Gather.
He died in Georgetown, July %, 1910.
Henry Ould, the brother, who taught the
first Lancastrian School in Washington. died
in his eightieth year (September IS. 1s7D and
his funeral took place from the residence Of
A c. P. Shoemaker, in Brightwood He left
one son, Marion Hall Ould.
There would surely be riot at the Stoddert
School II some cold day this Winter the boys
were told to go out In the backyard and split
some wood to help keep the fire going. and yet
such was the practice with the schools hun
dred years ago No doubt trouble would also
be created today If little Johnny were given
q sound thrashing by some strong discipinar-
ian like Billy Wallace Strong John Thomson
or "Corky' Vaughan, for not knowing his les
sons or for splitting tobacco juice in the nkweli.
In this modern school. which cost the Dis
trict 100 times what the first public school
in Washington cost, there will be no woodpile
in the backyard to attend to- and corporal pun
ishment has long since been done away with.
There is every reason to believe that Prof.
Diapers troubles in the West End will be few
and far hefweep