Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1878-04-10
OUR SCHOOLS.
A Visit to the Schools Throughout the County.

EDITOR HERALD: l spent several
days last week among the schools.
The first visit was to the Ranchita
school, situated in the famous corn
region known as the Pico ranch.
This school is at present taught by
brother of the writer, in dilapi-
dated house that served the pur-
pose we'll enough years ago. The
people, recognizing their wants,
have voted tax and rs soon rs the
money can be collected they will
build good house. The scholars
were all busy, some studying and
others reciting, while one little six
year-old busted himself with maxi
ing what might have easily been
mistaken for Chinese characters.
This he called copying his lesson"
After speaking few words of en-
enlargement to the school, and
promising them a longer visit at
an early day, l departed.
l next called at La Puente school.
The teacher, Mr.. d. A. Reed, was
at his post. His school-house is
good enough, but too small for so
many scholars. He took pleasure in
explaining to me the Trustees
plans for enlarging and improv-
ing their school accommodations.
These are to be made during the
Summer vacation. The grounds
are enclosed will, Il neat white
fence, and shade trees are set out.
Among other things, the trustees
contemplate erecting II tower and
procuring bell to place in it. They
think this will answer II good pur-
pose by reminding parents when it
is time to send their children to
school.
Thence | went TO the AZusa dis
trict. Being several miles in ex-
tent there are three schools in this.
They are known as "Iower,u "mid-
die" and upper" schools, and are
taught respectively by Miss Holt,
Mr.. John Hayes and Miss Stock
ton. While | cannot say that
their schools are faultless, l can
say that nothing of that dull, rou.
tine machine work is observable in
any of them. The walls of the
school rooms were inscribed with
"Omit no opportunity to improve
the mind;o "God will help those
that help themselves" "Modesty
has more charms than beauty"
AMI $50 teach us to number our
days. etc. These were written in
front and on each side of the schol-
ars, so that whichever way an idle
scholar might look his eyes would
rest upon some of them, On
my way to the upper school early
in the morning, two little girls,
who rode with me, entertained me
with narratives of their school life.
Among other things, they told me
that their teacher laid down the
law the first day of school that no
scholar should climb tree so high
that his feet could not touch the
ground" The temptation was too
great. saw several urehins clam
boring among the branches of the
oaks that surround the school
house. 70 describe tic beautiful
surroundings of the upper school
would require more superlatives
than n young lady just returned
from boarding school is mistress of.
| can not undertake the task. Suf-
flee it to say that the house is n
neat and substantial Que, ensconced
amid "a grove of oaks, with u profu-
sion of wild flowers of all colors on
every side.
Before closing it is pleasant to
note that al Of of the above men,
TONED schools are supplied with the
latest improved furniture, and that
the school property in every case is
shortly to become more comfort
able. w. p. MCDONALD,
County Sup't. Of Schools.
DoWney, April 8, 1878.