Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-30
.Washington'5'
Youth Gained
Fine Training
Among Those
.Who Shared
in Inspiration
of old Teahery
NJ h D NJ D II
Fame rs Lead
eys in Educa-
Honfor Chief
City 9fNaHon.
BY John Clagetf Proctor.

THERE is probably nothing we
love to recall and talk about
more than our school days,
L and the older we grow the
more fascinating becomes the sub
ject. We remember the schools we
attended. the teachers who taught
there, and, OF course, our school chums
who shared their apples and Wash
ington pie with us and helped us fight
our battles. Conditions have greatly
changed since many of our older resi-
dents went to school, but the friend
ships the children of today are making
cannot be more lasting. as time goes
on, nor recalled with greater pleasure,
than the ones made by many Of us
more than half century ago.
Today, thousands of children are
leaving school for the last time; a
short vacation may ensue, and then
comes practical citizenship, including
lots of hard knocks, obstacles and
disappointments. but with the right
sort of boy or girl. imbued with de-
termination, grit, will power, person.
atty and thrift. and with a DISPOSE
ton toward sobriety and the better
things Of life, success is bound to come.
Many changes have occurred in the
last so years In the methods OF in
struction; we have better school
houses, sanitary conditions have been
greatly improved, and the introduction
of athletics and healthful exercises
has considerably improved the school
system. But the oldtimer still feels
that the doing away with the custom
Of many years ago, of giving diplomas
and medals to deserving children of all
grades, once q year, for their attend
ance, department and scholarship, was
not step forward. 1t was substan-
tial way Of encouraging the scholar
to do his best, and the benefits re-
sulting were surely greater than the
cost Of printing the certificates and
the purchasing Of few medals. In
deed, many a Washingtonian who at
tended school when j. Ormond Will
son was superintendent. and even be-
fore that time, still proudly preserves
his diploma or medal presented to him
% many years ago.
NOR was anything gained by doing
away with the old-time spelling
matches. which were much enjoyed
and proved of the greatest value in
subsequent years. They were, indeed,
great events in our young lives, when
the parents of the children would at
tend the spelling bees just to see how
long little Johnny or Willie or Jennie
or Mary would stand up. and then
bemoan the fact when the pride of
the household would stumble on a
simple word like label" or more
difficult one like assassination" or
maybe, reflect the greater credit upon
the family by outspelling the whole
class.
And then, when the school closed
for the season, there was always some-
thing extra on hand, such as recita-
lions and singing, when perhaps the
same little Johnny, or some other boy.
detained, to the entire satisfaction
Of all, THE Boy Stood on the Burning
Deck" and little Mary had her fling
in singing MARY Had Little Lamb"
Throughout the year that popular
Instructor Of music In the public
schools, Joseph H. Daniel, gave his
pupils an opportunity to show their
talents at the concerts held at the
Smithsonian Institution. the public
schools and at various churches
throughout the city. which were al
ways successful affairs and well at
tended. Cantatas were also held at
the theaters and at other public
places In the city. and Prot. Daniel
led . very busy life from the time he