The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-08-02
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& REPoRTpr h EAST HIsH SCHOOL VnIroRs.
Having been requested to publish the re-
port of the gentlemen appointed to visit
and repOrtOn the condition, &c, &c, of the
East High School, we give place for the
same this morning:
The Visitors TO the East High School sub
mitted the following report, which was or
dered to be printed with the proceedings OF
To the Hon. City Council of the city of
Cleveland
The undersigned having been appointed
by your Hon. Body, "YisitOrs OF the East
High School," for the school year closing
on the 27th of June last, regard il as not
only respectful, but ss q part of their duty,
TO report to your Hon. Body the impress
sions which they recsived from visiting the
school, in reference to its success and pres
ent system Of instruction.
So far ss relates to the teachers your
Committee deem it sufficient to say that
thew appear 10 be faithful in the discharge
of their respective duties. But in relation
to the system of instruction, your Commit
tee are deeply impressed with the belief
that such radical notifications ought to be
made as will better comport with the origi-
Isl design of the High School, which was
intended to be OF such a character as to Sc
| cure to its pupils the facilities of procuring
a good practical Eoglish education in the
shortest possible time.
The Central High School, now called the
Fest Bigh School, was first established In
1916, and the course of studies, then wholly
Eoglish, limited 70 two years. In 1851 the
course was extended TO three years. me
West High School was organized in 1855,
and might have been made, in the judg-
ment Of your Committee, much more use
full than il is now, had it been organized IS
a Central Grammar School. If this school
were now changed to g Central Grammar
| School for the West Side, and one Of a like
| character was organized for the East Side,
with q two years English course, 1t Is be-
lisved by YOUR Committee, that the educa-
tioual interests of the city would be greatly
promoted, as this arrangement would have
the effect TO relieve the Central High School
ofits crowded condition, and furnish many
more youths of the city with an oppOrtu-
nifty Of receiving Q much higher order of
education in the English branches than can
now be had in the District Grammar Schools.
In 1856, the rtndies of Latin and Greek
were introduced into both our High Schools.
In 1858, the courseo of studies was extended
to four years. Ia 1859, the study of the
German Language was introduced. In this
WY u Au0A y 1FoH " AA1A S@ACA "1e
been expanded, and now consists Of what
is called the English course, and the Eng
lish and Latin course, subject 10 modiica-
ton at the option of the pupils. For in
9 auce, if the pupil be admitted to the Eng
Iish course, he may drop part Of his Eng
fish studies the last two years, and Bubsti-
tute the study of German. If he be admit
ted to the English and Latin course, he may
drop the Eoglish the last two years, and
study Latin and Greek exclusively.
Hence it appears thst there 10 now no
definite course of studies established in
either of our High Schools. In effect, the
| course Of studies is left to be selected &C.
cording 70 the within or fancy of the pupil,
who cannot be supposed capable of making
a judicious choice and the consequence is,
that nearly half the pupils who enter the
High Schools commence the study Of Latin,
Greek, or German, and soon afterwards drop
out of school without occurring, ordinarily,
any available knowledge of either of these
languages, and thus, by this waste of time
on the lsngusges, lose the golden opportun-
ity afforded them Of securing, at the proper
time, a thorough English education, the
need Of which they SO often feel in after
life.
The whole number of pupils admitted to
our High Schools since their Organization,
is ], 500. orthereabJut. More than one half
the whole number admitted drop out the
6rst year ; thrse-fOurths drop out in two
years and less than One-seVenth remain
10 graduate at the end of four years. From
this surprising stale of facts, TO say nothing
ofthe cost Of sustaining two High Schools,
it is manifest that these schools are not as
effective as they should be, and that a rem
edy for this want of a higher success should
be sought and applied by the proper su-
thOrities.
Your Committee are inclined to think
that there should be but one prescribed
course of study in our High Schools, and
that this one course should conaist entirely
of the English studies, and be limited 70
three years ; and that the study of the Ian
guages should be made a special depart
ment, to which all pupils, who desire TO ft
for college, or to acquire a practical knOWl-
edge of the modern languages, should be
restricted.
Though our public schools msy be re-
garded es the prlde OF the city, IL does1Ot
follow that our school system has ben
made perfect. There are no public inter-
ests of the city more important than her
educational interests, and for this reason it
is difficult to estimate the responsibilities
which devolTe upon those who have our
public schools II charge. The jIrisdic-
ton Of our schoels appears to he of q
mixed character, partly confded to your
Hon. Body, and partly to a Board of Edu-
cation, and among the powers with which
your Hon, Body is clothed, is the power to
pass such ordinances as may be requisite,
in order to carry into full effect, the inten-
ton and spirit Of the school Act relating to
the Cleveland schools. AL Of which is re-
pectfully submitted.
HARVEY RICE,
G.. BRADBURE,
GEO. WILEY,