The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-04-23
COMMUNICATIONS.

COMMUNICATIONS.
C1sy Public Schools.
ksssrs Editors -" Siekening Contrast No 9"
contains the following:
"Total number Of pupils attending the schools
during the year ending March 1, 1865. 2,163
"TOtal number Of pupils attending the schools
during the year ending March, 1870. 1871"
These figures were taken from the Annual
Statements Of the Board of Education for the
years 1856 and 1870. They ought. therefore, to
be reliable, and, NO doubt. the author of the
"Contrsst" believed them toO be 70. Those for
the first year. however, very far from correct
They were obtained in this way.
The Clerk of the Board sent each principal
instructions to report
1. No. of different pupils who have attended
your school during the year.
2. No. of males.
3. No. of females.
4. Average attendance.
There were seven schools then as now The
figures OF the seven reports were footed and the
results given in the Annual Statement. By
this method it may be readily seen how honest
figures were made "to lie" We all know how
much changing of residence there is in our city
during year. Hundreds of children, doubt.
less, are enrolled in two schools, many in three,
and have known some to be enrolled in four,
in the same year. Under the system C) in vogue
in 1854 and 1865 these migratory pupils were
counted in every school in which they were en-.
rolled and thus swelled the aggregate number
attending the schools. Besides this source of
error, in many instances, pupils promoted from
one room to. another, inssthe same building, were
counted in both rooms
During the year ending March "a, 1870, pu-
pills changed schools under system of transfers,
and, in getting the number of different pu.
pills for the last annual statement, these trans
ferred pupils were counted only in the school in
which they were first enrolled. Care was taken,
also, that pupilIhaving changed rooms in the
same building by promotion, should be counted
but once. Hence, the figures given in the state
ment of 1870 are believed to be correct. Had
like care been observed in preparing the annual
statement of 1866, the number of pupils, in all
probability, would not have exceeded 1900. In.
deed, the number of additional teachers it has
been found necessary to employ since 1866
seven, in all, one.fourth the entire number
now employed-would indicate but about 400
pupils in 1865.
But the number of pupils enrolled in our
schools in year is not the best evidence of the
condition of the schools. The average attend
ance furnishes testimony much more trust
worthy. This is probably given correctly in the
statement of 1865, as it would not be affected by
the same causes that led to the Other errors
above explained.
Consulting tho same two Annual Statements
of the Board of Education from which the fig.
ures in "Sickening Contrast No. 9" were taken,
we find the following:
Average attendance during the year ending
March 1, 1865, $685." Average attendance
during the year ending March "a, 1870, 1924"
Quite contrast" surely. Not "sckening,"
it is to be hoped, to anyone; certainly not to
those who are friends of the schools and rejoice
in every evidence of their prosperity.
In the annual statement for the year ending
March l., 1865, the average attendance is but
S79,-a loss of on the attendance of the previ-
Gus year. Why was thisp Were our schools in
languishing condition under the generous an.
nual expenditure of $10,S1767, or thereabouts
Why has the average attendance increased in
four years from $40 to 1924? Has the popula-
ton of the city increased in the same ratio
No one will claim this. Is not the answer to be
found in the improved character of the schools,
and the consequent enhanced confidence of the
people in them9 What has brought about this
improved character of the schools, and SO in.
creased their popularity Better teaching
nothing else-and the better teaching has been
secured by paying more money for it.
In 1864, and for several years before and after,
our public schools, as class, were disgrace to
the city. Every little city and village in the
state that had any public spirit in regard to
their schools were pointing their fingers and
"roking fun" at u.s. Ottawa was the butt for
tho ridicule of school men the state over, and
deservedly so. Without, our school houses and
grounds were kept unsightly and repulsive.
Window and cornioe knew paint only as
bright memory Of their youth. Within, floors
were unwashed from years end to years end.
That floor was peculiarly favored that received
even an annual ablution. Mats were wanting at
the doors, curtains at the windows walls and
ceilings were in weeds of deepest mourning and
all for what? Why, that economy might be