The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-03-17
Public sshseIs Of LsussvfIIe.


Feeling deep interest in the cause Of popu
lar education, we have taken some pains to as
certain the condition Of the Public Schools o
our city at the present time. and offer the fol
lowing statements a. the result Of our inyesti
CATION.
The number Of schools is twenty-three.-
These are divided into Two classes, grammar anC
primary schools. OF the former, we have FIVE
three male and two female. or the latter
eighteen. The number Of teachers employed
10 forty, twenty-three Is principals, seventeen
as assistants, twenty-five being males and sigh.
teen females.
The salaries Of teachers are, for principals oil
the male grammar schools $500 per annum; OF
the female grammar schools $500 per annum;
Of the male primary schools $500. and of the
female primary schools $3.50. The salary Of an
assistant teacher 10 $500.
OF the whole number of teachers employed,
twelve were educated in the public schools 1t
bs good sign that 90 large proportion of the
teachers should have been prepared for their
work on the spot. II shows that the schools
are doing good work, not only sffording in
structiOn. but also preparing instructors for the
young.
are registered, 10 2,0le; the number In daily at
tendance I, $50. The difference, as will be per-
eeived, between the number enrolled and the
number In attendance Is very great, but we be-
lisvs Il is not nearly great as 1t once was
Still II is far greater than it ought to be. either
for the good progress Of the pupils or the salts
faction and success Of the teachers.
There are several causes Of this irregulsrty:
the poverty Of some of the parents compelling
them TO avail themselves Of the services Of their
children In various occupations; the indifference
Of others Of the parents to the value Of educs-
ton. and other causes which are active In Lou
isville and every where. The difference in the
svsrags attendance is very great in different
schools. In one school, numbering on its re-
gistsr seventy-eight pupils, there Is an average
ty-sir on It's register there Is an average atten-
dance Of sirty-six; while In another, In which
seventy-fve names are enrolled, seventy-one
pupils regularly attend. These differences by
no means afford fair index Of the capacity or
fidelity Of the different teachers, for the causes
Of irregulsrity, to which we have alluded above,
are much more active In some, than In other
sections Of the city.
The schools, generally, are in good condition.
Some Of them are admirably conducted. In
comparing the schools they now are with the
schools a. they were some years ago, improve
msnt 10 very manifest. A larger number OF
pupils 10 connected with the schools; there is
more regularity Of attendance; the instruction
10 les superficial; the discipline, while milder, s
more sfbcisnt, and the interest Of the scholars
In their respective schools greater. OF course
there 10 yet great room for improvement. Many
suggestions might be offered In regard to appa-
rent or real defects, but such suggestions would
be out Of place In the columns Of public pa
per. General suggestions are of little use
Advice, TO be Of service. must be specific, and
such advice can only be given in private and to
individuals.
But while we feel that suggestions upon the
discipline and management Of the public schools
would be inappropriate to our columns, we also |
fssl that there are ssggestions which we are not
only permitted to make, but which IL 10 our duty
TO make.
And, fnt, ir our humble opinion the great |
majority Of parents are strangely, unaccounts-
bly, Indifferent to the character and welfare of
the schools with which their children are con-
nsctsd.
We cannot understand how fathers or moth
en-, who have Intelligence enough to perceive
the value Of education, and love enough for
thsir children to desire that they may enjoy the
privilege Of education, can permit themselves
70 b unseqnaintsd with the teachers to whom