Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-08-01
MORNING LEADER
SATURDAY 1I0RNINJ5. AUGUST l, 1888



youth enumerated in Cleveland, between
the ages Of five and tweniy-One, of whom
1904 were males, and s,075 females
These yOuthare the coming men and WO-
men, and it is a matter Of public interest
70 know what is being done for their edu-
cation and elevation. The Twenty-sixth
Annual Report Of the Board Of Education,
for the school year 1872, which lies be-
fore US, gives us much valuable informa-
tion upon this point. The statistical por-
tion Of the report informs US that there are
1--WE speak in the present tense Of the
school year treated Of by the repOrt,) 5s
schools, in which 6,924 Of these enrolled
youth are taught by 81 teachers, the aver
age daily attendance being but 3.921.-
And yet we are not, SIS might be thought at
first glance, less spprecistive Of our school
blessings than other places. On the con-
trary, lhe actual registration of pupils in
the Cleveland schools being but 5000, (the
924 being theamount Of double and triple
enrOllments,) the attendance is 65 per
cent, the same as in Cincinnati, while in
Brooklyn, The City Of Churches, it is but
81 per sent. in Rochester 46 per cent. in
Chicago 49 per cent. in Louisville sc per
cent, and in Toledo and Newburyport Sc
per cent. We are thus ahead Of sister ei-
ties East and West, and may compliment
ourselves accordingly. There are near
eight hundred more pupils than there were
two years since, and yet Superintendent
Oviatt by some skillful manipulation 1--WE
suspect those five hundred visits to the
schools to ascertain their conditions and
wants" have had something to do with it,
has managed with one school less.
The growth of our schools may be judged
from the fact thst in 1s48 there were but
1900 scholars in the city, IS schools and
% teachers.
The salary Of the teachers for the year
1852, including that of Superintendent
amounted to S32, 2,678.95.
So much for statistics, Of which there
are many more that might prove interest
ing. We notice that the Secretary
Of the Board, the Superintendent Of In
struction and the Committee Of Visitors
to the High Schools speak Of the course of
study now pursued in those schools, and
all feel that it might be improved by de-
voting portion of the time now given to
the classics to the English studies After
an examination Of the small number who
20 through with the entire High School
course, and thus avail themselves Of the
higher classics, one must concur in the
opinion Of the High School Committee, as
quoted by the superintendent that at
would be cheaper for the city 70 pay spe-
cial teachers, outside of the schools, for
the instructions Of those few scholars, and
let the time of the regular teachers be de-
voted to larger classes" The Visiting Com
mittee, Messrs. C. Bradburn, W.. Board
man and 7. Il. Hawks-gentlemen sbund-
sntly capable of just observation-disclosures
Commend in their report revision Of the
course Of study, so as to give more promi-
nence to the original design Of the school,
instruction in the higher branches Of
an English Education The superiu-
tendent agrees with these views, and says
that the English studies should receive es-
pecial prominence, even in the highest de-
partments of our common schools. The
public will agree with these gentlemen that
while all due attention should be paid to the
languages, the great object of the High
School should be a thorough and practical
English Education, to ft one for the active
duties Of life.
While referring to the High Schools, one
other point must not be omitted. We sre
surprised to find by this report that while
all other schools of the city are subjected
to close yearly examination, the High
Schools are not examined at all. There are
annual commandments and gradua-
ton; but no examination Of the scholar.
ship of the graduates. The Secretary Of
the Board says in his report
"Between !, 200 and 400 sholars have
been admitted to the High School since
1S48, Of whom 108 have graduated and
yet our Boards Of Education, to this date
have taken the merits or demerits of these
students on trust, with an all. confident re
lance that everything was right"
In our opinion, the fault is here laid a
the proper source-the Boards Of Educa
ton. The professional reputation of th,
teachers of the High Schools is too high t,
suppose that they would desire or counte
nance any such ruling. It is due to them
as we'll as to the pupils and parents, tina
this practice should be remedied.
1t is gratifying to find that the long neg
l,cted study of physical culture is nov
being assigned prominent place in on
schools, the teachers of the High School
having been especially persevering an,
successful in making it an established in
stitutiOn. The result cannot be otherwis
than beneficial in the highest degree.
The present Superintendent fully agree
with the former one-AIr. Freese--in the ne
cessity for securing the very highest al
tainable qualifications for the teachers
the lower grades, partly because there tn
foundation is laid for the whole futur
4Ourse Of instruction, and partly becaus
the records show that four-ffths Of sll tb
scholars belong to the three lower grades