Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1878-12-20
Our Public Schools.
ton.

A little NOR, than three months ago
the public schools of this district were
reopened for the first time the present
year under the immediate supervision
Of Messrs. Reynolds and Maxwell as
teachers. These men were employed
after thorough examination as to their
qualifications and standing by the board
of trustees, and upon satisfactory evi.
dcnce given by each of them that they
were fully competent for their work.
The progress and efficiency of their
labors have been silently observed by
the trustees, who occasionally have Wis
tied the schools when in session, and
also have carefully noticed the interest
manifested by the scholars in their at.
tendance and in their studies, and they
have further noticed the absence of
complaints coming from parents and
guardians Of children, and they are
free to say that the schools have been
we'll ard faithfully conducted, and
neither teachers nor scholars have dis.
appointed the hopes inspired at the
opening. No difficulties have arisen
either between scholars and teachers or
parents and teachers to call for the ad
vice Of the trustees, and, so far as the
trustees can perceive. state Of amity
and genial good will has constantly ex.
listed between them, an element highly
essential to the well being and progress
of school. The scholars exhibit
marked improvement in reading, spell
ing, defining and in the elements of
arithmetic, grammar and geography,
which constitute the fundamentals of
common school education. The schools
have increased in attendance from about
40 in number to 104 since the COM
mencement of the quarter, and while
in all cases there has not been so great
regularity in attendance as is desirable,
vet this has not been so much the fault
of either teachers or scholars as Of pa
rents and guardians, whose duty it is to
see that they leave at seasonable hour
and 60 punctually to the school room,
and are not kept at home only when
sickness or absolute necessity demands.
The trustees regard the present condi-
ton of the schools good, and it is of the
: greatest Importance that it continues SC
through the winter at least. The esti
mated expenses of the last quarter are
. expected to be fully met by the pro
portion Of county school money appor
toned to this district when fully made
! and paid over; but the continuance o
the school must be paid for out of tn
: annual district tax to be voted by tn,
J. electors OF fhe district. To this enc
the trustees have given the legal notic
: OF time and place OF voting to be OF
y the 2Sth inst, at the school house. TIL
g percentage required is five mills upo'
). the dollar of taxable property in tn
= district. The monthly expenses Incl
! dent to keeping the schools in success
e full operation are about $3.50. 1t
} highly important that we have five o
!" six months additional school during tn
n year, so as to give from eight 80 min
&c months schooling in each twelve mouth
20 Of the year. The number aud charat
: ter of the scholars and the interests {
N the whole people of Lewiston deman
ct this much, and no good citizen can 0
r. fer reasonable objection to doing tn
- much for the education Of the childre
of the place. Better do this than a
- low them to run at large subject to a
Il the evil influences that are exerted
rs town, which tend to lit them Tor wi
" tins of the criminal law, entailing e,
penses of prosecution and incarceration
y School money is better expended tina
e. Jail money.