Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-03-26
LOCAL NEWS.
Our Public Schools.
REVIEW OF THEIR PRESENT CONDITION.

REVIEW OF THEIR PRESENT CONDITION.
The School Board completed it's labors for the
fiscal year ending April 1st, last evening. Presi
dent Bullock submitted his animal report, of
which the following is concise summary:
The number of schools remain the same as
last year-14-but there is an increase in the
number of seats in the schools of 416, due to the
erection of new No. |. The total number Of
seats is 4268-862 in the grammar, and 3406 in
the primary schools
The average number of pupils in all the schools
is 35O3-566 in the grammar and 1887 in .he pri-
mary. Their ages are as follows from to Ia
years, 2919 from 13 to 15 $50; from 16 to 15,
70.
The largest monthly average of registered
pupils was 3678 in October, and the smallest
1905 in June. The average per cent. Of attend
ance in all the schools was 90-in the grammar
schools "a, and in the primary schools SO.
The need Of more ample accommodation con-
tinues in the southern and southeastern por-
tions Of the city, at the close of the last year
but preparations are making to meet these re-
quirements.
The total cost Of the new building, No. /, was
S28, ,208 10, and the furniture which has been
put into it, o. 409 90 Its seating capacity ia SAG.
The President pays this building just tribute
OF praise for its many advantages and con-
veniences.
The number OF teachers has increased from 90
in last year, to rs at the present time.
In order to successfully prosecute and prop
erly govern the schools, the Board has diligently
applied its II to the work of reform. Graded
schools have been established uniform sys-
tenn of study has been adopted a more com
plete method of surveillance of the schools has
been put in operation, and healthy stimulus
to punctuality been promoted among the pupils.
Nor have the wants and necessities of the teach
ers been overlooked An Institute and Normal
School have been established and are still in
successful operation, the former of which ie
aft bu all tba faan bv
many of them.
A radical change has been made in the ap-
pointment of teachers. " II is plain, says the
President that apart from moral fitness, scholar
ship and aptness in teaching and discipline, are
the proper criteri@ in the selection of teachers.
1t is accordingly ordered that re-appointment
shall be made only after examination, in the
manner prescribed by the rules Thus the stu
dious and energetic may have the opportunity OF
attaining the position to which honest effort and
merit entitle them"
The number of new candidates for the position
of teachers during the past year ID n. or these
81 passed and Is were appointed. OF those ap-
pointed, ~ were Wilmingtonans and 6 from
other places. ut is to be hoped that the time
may soon arrive when our own schools will moi
only supply the home demand for teachers, but
afford surplus Of young ladies capable of as
summing positions elsewhere with credit to them
selves and to the community in which they were
educated. That such is not the case is the result
partly, of the fact that schools are not inca
pable of improvement, and greatly because oul
| young ladies' are anxious to become teachers a.
| an age when the state of development of theil
minds and their progress in study render it es
pecially important that they should continue il
| school"
Satisfaction is expressed with the results at
| tanned in the grammar schools Of No. l and No.
4.
Referring to night schools, the President re-
| views the establishment of them in 1854, and
| their history down to the present winter, wher
through the death, age and intirmity or busines
engagements of their projectors, the school
/ were depreciaeing in interest, and new ones wer
| established by the School Board The regstere
| number of pupils in attendance upon thes
i schools was 275 the total estimated expense
$685. 40 I; cash received from use of books, $3.50,
| 25 cost Por pupil (aprroximation) "a ~.
The removal of the School Board from til
| Council chamber to its own room in Richardson
| q Hopes building, by reason of an enlargement
Of its membership, is also alluded to.
The cost of tuition for each pupil, calculate
upon the actual number Of pupils in our school
at the present time, including cost of book
fuel, ETC., has been, for the past year, $l2.77-
$3.50 for tuition, and $2.97 for miscellaneou
expenses.
The estimated value of the property of tn
Board of Education is; Real Estate, $l6O,032
Furniture, $13, ,Sl4.1O, making total OF $l7S
846.10.
In conclusion, the report expresses the belle
that our public schools, taken as whole, al
as well conducted and as efficient as those in an
other part of the country. Let it be the effo
OF the Board and of the committee to improN
them still further, that they may continue to
| a model for the rest of the State and cause G
| inst pride to our city.