Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-07-21

Ief C0Ot8Ro OI ~ OuVouCes
Average number OF teachers. -. ........ p
:" number Of pupils to each teacher
intermediate school .................... 80
Grammar ~
District ................ %
EXPENDITURES POR TIT SUPPORT Or SCHOOLS.
The expenses of supporting the schools for
the year ending June Goth, 1860, may be averaged
under three general heads:
lst. Salaries Of teachers and supf fintend-
3D. emf Fuel, i.n;tor. salaries. iakd.a..i
repairs rent Of sihse, salaries Of q1eretary
and treasurer, insurance and int(gsst.... 5000
I'd. Rent, estimating the interest on3hs val
uation Of school houses. 5000
! $4,000
Yor will observe that we have the pleasure
of announcing . larger number Of pupils en-
rolled this year than last. Notwithstanding that
our city has decreased ia population.
l. We should also be encouraged by the redue-
ton of the expsnses-s2.OOO, This makes the
cost of tuition per pupil this year s7.7s, > re-
duetion of 81 22 per pupil over the year pre-
vions. But whilst it is exceedingly gratifying
to record these improvements. I regret that
OUT per centage Of attendance 10 far below
many other similar schools. Chicago is 50 and
St. Louis % per cent 1t is greatly to be de.
sired that some step be taken to remove tAis
evil of absemteeism and tsrdiness. which now
20 seriously affects our real progress. The
money appropriated to our schools will never
attain the high object for which it wss intend
ed unless the pupils are punctual In their at
tendance.
APPARATUS, ETC.
Our schools would be greatly benefited by
an addition Of apparatus. maps. etc. Each
District School should be Supplied with set Of
Philbrick's Urinary Cards and Pelton's Outline
Maps and Hemisphere Globe. The Grammar
Schools should each have Teilurion. Celestial
Sphere, Geometrical Solids, Orrsry. Gyroscope,
Lippincott's Gazetteer and the Grammar OF
English Grammars. The last five articles
should s!eo be added to the apparatus already
belonging to the Intermediate school,
The efficiency Of the teachers would be
greatly augmented by . library If schoo. re-
porte and select trsatises upon their profes.
sion. There are many invaluable works, for
eigu and American, which are beyond the
rsseh Of those receiving 90 Low salaries a
most Of cur teachers, yet if owned by the Die.
trict and accessible to the tsachers. would be
one Of the most remunerativs investments
that could be made for the schoole.
co opRr ALTON or pARRHra
Any evil existing in the schools should be
reported to the teacher o. superintendent. OBJ
ieetions have been urged and private CON-
plants made, which, had they been promptly
reported. might have been adjusted to the sat.
isiaetion Of al partiea In order 70 meet and
correct this error at the sommencement Of the
preset school year. the board established my
regular Office hours. and all persons feeling
thensslvss in any vey sggritved. were invi.
ted to present their cause either to the board
or mysslf for redress. This opportunity for
reconciling differences has been comparatively
neglected. But unlsss some plan Of like nature
be adopted. We shall look in vain for hearty
co operation on the part Of those who ignor.
antly o. wilfully misinterprst both the letter
and the spirit OF the Common School system
It 10 to Be hoped that in the future every indi
vidusl viii avail himself Of such fair cpportun.
ity for adjusting his difisulties; and may an,
other school year 6ad the number Of thee,
greatly reduced, who are disposed to eensurs
lrcn The love oft
Respectfully subnisted.
A. A.J.KnsxI1,
City Superintendent Of Common Schools.
Davenport, July 14th, 1850.