The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-09-28
course. they would have The means of sup,

course. they would have the means of sup
plying the future demands for qualified
teachers of the lower grades.
In 1872 the Board of Education length
ened the school year one month Ever
since the pupils of Rock Island have en-
joyed nine months school each year.
The cost of tuition for each pupil en-
rolled last year was $l0.88; the cost per
pupil on average number belonging. $l3
98; the cost per pupil on average daily
attendance, $l4.85.
The High School has a piano. school
apparatus and valuable reference lib
tarY. The First Ward school building
has two fine organs, cyclopedias and re-
ference books
A careful review of the tables here
after submitted showing the attendance.
enrollmens. punctuality, etc., of the diff
ferent school, and also their running ex
penses for the last eight years, will
develop many valuable facts. The public
are earnestly invited to give these tables q
careful study. Il will be found that the
gain on the average daily attendance
during the last eight years has been 60
per cent, That the gain on the number
enrolled has been little less than SO per
cent, while that on The average number
belonging has been over 81 per cent, and
that.the decrease in hardness has been IS
per cent That the increase in running
expenses has been 34t per cent. while
the increase in the number of teachers
employed has been 81 per cent While
the increase of the per cent of lumber
enrolled has kept pace with that of the
city, the Increase sof the average attendl
aBce has far outstripped it, and the in~
crease of the per cent OF expenses has
fallen below the per cent of she increase of
the city. Many other facts showing the
economy and prosperity of our schools
might be mentioned. which a careful
study of these tables will unfold.
| There are several questions in regard to
education, bearing upon the prosperity OF
this community and of the state, which
| must be considered ia the near future.
| How can our Board of Education supply
| the increasing demand for experienced
teachers which contiDually arises from the
resignation of old and tried ones? We
have limited to the remedy. viz; to estab-
lish normal department in connection
with the High School. where post gradu-
ates desiring to fit themselves for tho pro.
fession, can receive a course OF thorough
training in the science of school govern
ment and theory spd practice of teaching
| They should also consider carefully wheth.
| CT IL Noui1 not De money wen spent &c
reestablish the old night school Gould
not macy be drawn away from the haunts
of vice aud encouraged and aided in
obtaining q better education and seeking
higher life? Would not many hard
working young men-those who are com
PEELED TO labor by day to support theil
tamilies-avail themselves of the opportu
nifty to increase their knowledge?
The question OF a separate High Schoo
building will also come up for considera.
ton some time 10 the future, There is
strong and growing feeling in the minds o
many. that pupils. especially girls, shouic
not be required to GO up so many fight
of stairs to reach their school rooms; tha
their health is injured thereby. Many ais
believe that the light of our present High
School room is injurious to the eyes of tn,
pupils, and still others think that th,
High School should not be connected will
lower grades in the eame building. N,
doubt seperate High School would be
great advantage to our school system, bu
the time has not yet arrived for its estab
lishment. although it should be discussed
thought over. and plans devised for tn,
future. Could Township High School b.
established somewhere in the central par,
OF the city. as has been done in Ottawa
Princeton and several other places in tn,
state. it would prove a great blessing no
only to the city of Rock Island but also Il
the surrounding country.