Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-11-13
ALEXANDRIA,, VA.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1873.
SCHOOL REPORT.

L
nual Report. 1t is contained in neatly print
ed pamphlet Of sixteen pages, SIX OF which are
occupied by lists of certificates awarded IN the
schools last July, the graded course OF study,
&C., &c. The statistics he gives are mainly
those which we published on Tuesday, but 10 es-
timating the cost of educating, he bases his Cal
culation on the average number OF pupils on
the rolls, instead of the total number enrolled
for the year, as required by the regulations OF
the Board of Education. This average was SIX
hundred and twelve, and the cost of educating
each was about sixteen dollars and forty-slx
cents against twenty four dollars aud six cents,
in the schools of the District of Columbia,
where, however, there are some schools OF
higher grade than ours.
The report concludes as follows: mo census
of private schools has been authorized by the
SUPERINTENDENT of Public Instruction this year,
and am, consequently unable to give any sta:
tistics; from personal observation, however, L
am prepared to say that those schools were
somewhat more numerous and better attended
than during the previous year, and that we
need not fear, therefore, that the decreased at
tendance in the schools under our charge To-
dictates the loss OF an education by any conslde-
rable number Of children. am convinced that
very large proportion of the white children OF
the city attend school, either public or private;
with regard to the colored children l am not
so certain If those of that class who do not
attend were prevented from doing SO by some
regular and constant employment, our regret at
their loss of the opportunities presented to them
might be less buttbe number who hang around
the depots to black boots and carry baggage,
90 around the market house to carry baskets,
or who may be found about the marshes, or on
the shores of the creek and river, cunning and
fishing, gives US cause to fear that they will
grow up with no better qualifications for the
exercise of the elective franchise than is pos
sessed by the present generation to whom no
such opportunities were afforded. There are
few private schools for colored children and the
numbers given as attending our schools, repre-
sent almost all who are being educated, IN any
manner, except for the chain gang, the penlten-
tiary, and the jail The increased attendance
at coored public schools mentioned 10 this re-
port is due solely to the ABSORPTION by those
schools of the pupils formerly educated by
teachers employed by benevolent societies at
the North, and does not, | fear give the slight
est evidence of an increased desire for education
on the part of our colored population. There
ought to be, at least, twice as many colored
children at school as there are.
with reference to the improvement of our
schools, [ can only say that until We can bring
them together and subject them to better SUI
pervision and control than is possible in their
present scattered condition, much improvement
is impossible. I had hoped that by this time
the old courthouse would have been In our
possession, and that by the opening OF the year
1874, we would have seen all the white boys,
at least, under one roof; but it would appear
that the city has no proper receptacle to offer
the county for its records, and execution OF our
plans is, therefore, of necessity, postponed. |
would suggest IN this connection, that the bal
ance in our treasury, derived as it has been
from the levy of 1870, be invested as part OF
the building fund, that we may be ready to
seize the first favorable opportunity to go on
with our work. We have now about thirty
eight hundred dollars invested, which has been
obtained from the Peabody Fund, and with
the addition of the fifteen hundred 10 the treas
ury we would be in condition to reft and fur
nish the building in substantial and satisfac-
tory manner could we induce the county to
transact its business in the new courthouse.
with the opening of the next session,
new grade will become necessary, and the
advancement of the boys, white and col
ored, in arithmetic is such, that the teach
ing of algebra will soon become Desirable
The introduction of drawing into such
schools as can conveniently add it to their
regular studies has been already decided upon,
and have no hesitation in recommending the
early introduction of the teaching Of vocal mu
Sic 1t would epliven the exercises refine the
pupils, and be of much benefit to our commu
nifty in the future. Our arrangements for the
coming year having all been made, it would,
perhaps, be impracticable to employ teacher
of music now, but earnestly recommend the
election Of such teacher at the earliest oppor-
tunity. Some assurance should also be given
the teachers, that their salaries will be gradual
ly increased If this is not done, we will be
constantly exposed to the danger of losing our
best teachers as the salaries paid here are
much less than those given in other cities.
II would, also, urge the purchase OF wall
maps for all the higher grades of the schools;
the expense would be small, and the proper
teaching of geography would be greatly pro-
NOTED.
Having thus Informed you of the present
condition of the schools under our charge, and
made such suggestions for their improvement
as seem to me practicable, it but remains for
me, 10 closing this report, to return you my
sincere thanks for the uniform courtesy with
which yov have treated me, both as an officer
OF the Commonwealth, and as an advisory
member Of your Board and for the cordial CO.
operation you have always given IN every effort
have made for the welfare of the schools
Since the report was written, the School Board
has decided to build school house for girls,
the promise of an additional donation of s., 900
from the Peabody Fund, having rendered this
practicable. In year or so, the difficulties
which now prevent the use Of the old court
house for school purposes will probably have
been overcome, and by fitting that up tor
male school we shall have ample and excellent
accommodations for all our schools
The first general snow storm of the year was
reported from the North and East yesterday.
Snow fell during the day at Chatham, Ciucin-
natl, Cleveland, Detroit, Grand Haven Pitts
burg, Quebec, Saugeen and Father Point,