Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1867-05-08

Fourth ........ ... 81
Fifth . 90
Sixth % INSTRUMENTATION. -............. III
Seventh Observation-Disclosures. .......,.. l2b
Outside the city and paying tuition fee :. 8
The preceding table if compared with the
sta istics ofthe last fall term, shows very favor
able progress Of our schools with regard to
regul arity of attendance. Hardness has de-
creased more than 100 per cent. and the regis
ters how that absences are confined to fewer
Individuals, and in most cases have been caused
by sickness.
These important improvements are chiefly
owing to the new school registers introduced
since last year. and to the system # monthly
reports to the Superintendent on the part of he
teachers by which they are subject to a regular
control and Of scholar reports to the parents.
at the end Of every term by which the latter
are informed of and interested in the attend
ance, department and progress Of their children
The more and more crowded condition of
Union School No. I, 1.-THE number Of pupils to
this date being considerable over s00,) to
which the attendance in all other schools e,-
cept sixth wari school, bears no comparison,
shows that our citizens begin to appreciate the
advantages of the graded school system, which
no zeal and no efforts Of the ward school teach
ers, however skilful they may be, can coun-
terbalance.
The unity and continuity of the general de-
sign, the coherency Of the several programmes,
the number of the grades, make the pupils con-
scious Of their progress and stimulate their zeal
and ambition, while the well suppIied teaching
apparatus renders instruction comparatively
easy, and very often creates in the scholars
lively interest. which aids the teacher most
materially. Add Il these important advanta-
ges the in Auence upon the mind of the scholars
which proceeds from the easy and quiet work
.ng of the whole mechanism Of the school, the
arge room, fl lied with light AMI healthy air.
the amusements of 3 well supplied and we'll
watched play ground, and il will easily bs I'M
derstood why the pupils low. their school, and
why those Of the other schools so ardently wish
to be promoted to Union School No. l.
Very glad am l. therefore TO be able to re-
port the favorable progress of the building of
Union School House No 2, viii oh will I'M
douhtedlJ be ready for use by the Begin
ming of the next Fall Term, when the benefits
of he graded system may be conferred upon
the whole population OF the city, by abolshing
all the Ward Schools, and uniting all the pu
pills into the two Union Schools. Though am
aware that the division Of the city into two
School Districts Will Cause some complaints,
especially by parents living at some distance
from the two school houses. Still | trust that
he advantages enumerated above, as also the
arge saving in expenses will be apparent to the
great majority Of our citizecs.
The time has arrived for your honorable
Body to consider what shall he done with the
old school houses and sch )ol lots, as also schoo
furniture that will become super fuousafter the
completion Of the new school house, or rather
at The close oftbe present term Iwou1 respect
fully recommend you to investigate the title of
the several school houses and lots belonging to
the school estate and to report the property
not wanted for school purposes hereafter to the
Common Council, to be sold in accordance with
the provisions of the School Law of this city
and to dispose of the old school furniture by
public sale, as soon rs the schools shall be
closed for the present term.
The evening school, established py this Board
has been in successful operation for three
months, the number of scholars attending the
same varied from 60 to rs. The school was
without doubt. very BENEFICIAL to all scholars
who regularly attended the same ana with the
desire Of spending their time while there use
fully.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
WIN. BIEBER,
Supt of Public Schools.
Dated Watertown, April Goth, 1867.