The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-02-01
EVANSVILLE FREE SCHOOLS.

lue lohoWing heport Oh the history
and present fourishing condition of our
Public Schools was made by the Trus-
tees to the meeting Of the Board of
Trade, at the request of the Committee,
who looked upon our Schools as institu
tons having direct and important ef-
feet upon the growth of population-the
value of property, and the advancement
of the material interests Of the city, and
were therefore one Of the proper subjects
Of their enquiries. In this view of the
matter the Committee were correct
There can be no money expended that
adds so large per cent directly to the
value of property as good Public Schools.
The beautiful Seminary, wherein are
congregated the children Of the city
whose cost was but $4,000, and the
expense of maintaining its various de
partments of instruction, is but $1,000
annually,-adds as much to the actual
value of the property of the city as the
establishment Of factory as extensive
as the Cannelton Cotton Mill.
AS the deprivation of Free Schools is
felt in other places, the advantages We
possess under our old charter will at
tract population here. To the laboring
man with a large family, the cost of tut
ton for his children is large per cent
Of his wages. Differences in education
constitute now the only real and perma-
nent distinctions in society. Our Free
Schools by equalizing these advantages
placing the child Of the poorest and
humblest citizen upon a par with
the hlghest-level all distinctions and
equalize all advantages. and are more eff
6cient conservators OF our equal rights
and democracy than our parchment con.
situations. Upon the poor man they
confer the most precious privilege and
greatest advantage he derives from the
government. He should never, under
any circumstances, yield the right Of his
children to equal privileges Of education
with the rich. 1t is the duty Of the
community to give it, and it is Their
right to demand it, for the State canno
justly claim the fulfllment of the duties
of citizens from all its inhabitants till il
has given all an opportunity to become
qualified for their performance, by ,
good education. In our Public School:
one-third Of the scholars are children o
parents who pay only poll tax-for tn,
education Of whose children the city il
paying $40 to $40 annually. These mel
are voters and should be firm supporter.
Of the Schools, and earnest defenders o
the old city charter against every at
tempt Of the large tax payers to ex
change it for new one under the gen
eral law, by the adoption Of which the,
will escape the School tax.
The Public Schools of Evansville were frs
organized in 1858, under the act for establish
ing Common Schools in Indiana, passed Jun
I4th, 1852. Trustees were appointed by tn
Common Council of the city of Evansville
under tho act, in April, 1858. They wer
begun without school house, school room
or any school furniture or apparatus, belong
ing TO the city, except one set of outlin
maps. There were 1,247 children betwee
The ages of five and twenty -one in the fall G
1858 in the city to be educated. The frs
free schools went into operation on the frs
of September, 1858.
The school year was divided into fou
quarters Of eleven weeks each. The School
were arranged into three grades-Gramma,
intermediate and Primary Schools.
Number of children in the city,. 1,2i
No. of scholars registered in Free
Schools for school year of 1851. n
Average daily attendance. A
Twelve Teachers were employed ut
salaries amounting to........... IS, 476
Cost Of Schools that year was...... AS {
ls54-'5.
No. of children in city admissible to
schools. IS.
No. OF children registered in Free
Schools. III
Average attendance. 81
Fourteen teachers employed, salaIiess4,79
Cost of Schools that year. ........ 5,sT5
In the fal; of 1854, block in the Easter
Enlargement of the city, containing ffteC
lots, was purchased by the city, and Il
erection of aspacious three story brick buil'
ing, ifty-eight by seventy feet, exclusive
the towers, and capable of Accommodate
500 pupils, was commenced, and in the ia
of 1856 this building was completed, at
cost to the city for ground, building, fencin
&C., of $4,000.
1855.
No. of children in the city,. Is
No. of children registered in Free
Schools. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 10
Average daily attendance. s.
Thirteen teachers were employed,
salaries Saws
Cost of schools that year. ...-..... 1850
Making the expenses Of the schools, IN
ton, &C., 81, OPS less than the previous yea
This reduction was owing IN thu increas