Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-09-11
Bygone School Days
By John CIoqett Proctor

By John CIoeett Proctor
When the doors of the Districts
public schools open tomorrow
morning. perhaps some will COM
plain, without reasonable justifi-
cation. of their school accommoda-
lions, which are today superior in
every respect than ever before.
The writer wonders, sometimes,
if it would not be a good idea to
instruct the children of the higher
grades regarding the history OF
the public schools Of the District
of Columbia, and how they have
progressed since the first public
school, know mas the Eastern Free
School, came into existence in 1900.
It's first teacher was Mr.. Conroy,
who received the appointment aft
er the Rev. William Bentley de-
clined the position as principal
teacher, and who preceded the
election of Richard White of the
Western School by 10 days. On
October 81, 1906, committee was
instructed to obtain leave to occu-
by sites for school buildings in the
eastern and western parts of the
city, the cost of each not to exceed
81 200. However. on November IL,
1911, the board revoked previous
laws concerning the eastern and
western schools.
On March IA, 1921, the Mayor
was authorized to rent for use as a
school the Western Academy in
square between Seventeenth and
Eighteenth, H and streets. and
this action was carried out. Thus,
in a very brief way, the free
schools of Washington were start
ed. Congress. the same year, turned
over to the District for school pur-
poses the so-called Jefferson Stab
Ter Building.
Oldest in Georgetown
In this connection, however,
Georgetown can boast of the old
est schoolhouse in the District,
erected in 1911 as result of the
introduction in New York, in 1906,
of the Lancasterian system of edu-
cation, which had its inception
with DR.. Andrew Bell. Scotsman.
in 1887, and perfected by Joseph
Lancaster at q later date.
This early schoolhouse. for
many years past private resi-
, dence, at 1926 o street, was built
as result of a memorial to the
Corporation of Georgetown. dated
october %. 1910. 1t is Of further
historic interest since on Novem-
Der 10. 1917. meeting was held
here for the purpose of organizing
a new Episcopal church, which be-
came Christ Church Parish,
Georgetown. The meeting was at
tended. among others. by Francis
Scott Key, author of THE Star
Spangled Banner: Thomas Hen
aerson, a distinguished naval sur
geon, and Gen. McComb, then the
commanding general of the Army.
Here George Dashiell became
the first teacher and, as shown in
a report published October 8, 1871,
proved very successful and COM
petent instructor. He suggested
a similar school in Washington.
For some obscure reason. Mr..
Dashiell was succeeded by Robert
Ould. who was sent out by Mr..
Lancaster to take charge of this
school, and it was not long before
he had as many as $50 pupils, all
in a single room. In a report
dated November 8, 1915, it was
stated that Georgetown has built
commodious and comfortable
| house for the LancaSterian
School, in which more than 500
children are taught, and from
which instructors have been sent
forth and are now disseminating
education from this alma mater
throughout the United States"
Teacher Pulled Teeth
Teaching school in the District
in the past sometimes had its un-
usual requirements without its
just compensation, and many OF
the schoolmasters had to perform
other duties on the side to make
ends meet. Edward Tippett tried
his hand at inventing. and carried
on as a farmer. q shoemaker, a
huckster, a hirer Of hacks and
preacher, while serving as prin-
cipal teacher at the Eastern Acad-
envy.
Georgetown had unique and
ingenious man who believed in
making the punishment At the
crime and who was not to be
bluffed by children feigning tooth
ache in order to be excused from
attending school, and so. in Sep
TENDER. 1858, according to Jack
sons Chronicles Of Georgetown"
we find this principal, q Mr.. Craig,
who taught boys, being allowed