The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-09-28

Under the supervision of Prof. Everett.
O school pamphlet. giving the laws, rules
and regulations of our city schools, also
tables showing the increase. progress and
expenses from 1872 to this time, has just
been printed. It contains vast amount
of school information, and the following,
from Supt. Everett, should be of interest
to all interested in our public schools,
viz
The citizens of Rock Island at an early
day evinced great interest in education.
Through a united effort q law was enacted
and a charter obtained for the establish
nent of the present school system as early
as February Is, 1887. The charter
provides that Board of Education, con-
sis,ing of five members, shall be elected
by the people, and that they shall have
annie power 20 establish and foster free
schools. 1t gives them general supervision
of all the schools aud power to employ q
Superintendent. who, under the rules,
adopted by the Board of Education. shall
be clerk OF the Board aud ex oficio mem
Der; 10 direct what branches shall be
taught, to grade the schools, employ teach
ers. and direct suitable rules and regula-
ample power to levy taxes for school pur-
poses, and to Issue bonds for building
houses and purchasing school groupds,
Few cities in Illinois provided at so early
day so ample provisions for the education
of their youth The prosperity OF the
schools OF Rock Island demonstrates
the foresight and wisdom of her citi-
Gems in obtaining the enactment of this
character.
The present Board of Education con-
s;sts of the following named gentlemen:
j, vi Butord. f. Nj. Sinnet Nj. ID, Mer-
rtl, David Donaldson. Fl. @. Cleaveland
and j E. Everett, Superintendent aud
Clerk of the Board.
The Board have at the present time,
thrty-seven teachers employed besides
The Superintendent. On the completion
of the school house now under contract
in The east part of the city, this number
will be increased by two more teachers.
There are at the present time nearly
twenty two hundred pupils enrolled,
the average monthly attendance bein Z
about sixteen hundred. These pupils
are accommodated in six school buiidings,
viz: High Seh'.ol building, between
Sixth and Seventh avenues and Twenty
first aud Twenty secoud streets. under the
charge OF Benjamia I. Hathaway. is a
large tnree story brick, and accommodates
wien seated to full capacity, Elk hundred
pupils.
The First Ward building which has been
under the efficient principal. 5. ). kemble
for the last SIX years, in the western part
of the city, en- the south side of Third
avenue between Seventh and Eigth streets
is large three story brick. and can &C
eommodate six hundred and fifty pupils
when seated to its full capacity.
| The Second ward school building, on
| the south side of Third avenue on Thir-
teenth street, Is two story brick, and &C
commodities one hundred and forty pupils.
The Third ward building. under the
charge of Miss Ella Wiser, on the corner
1 of Fifth avenue and Nineteenth street, is
large two story brick. and accommodates
two hundred and fifty pupils.
The Fourth ward building, Under the
charge of Miss Annie Kirkpatrick, loca-
ted on Seventh avenue, is two story
brick. and accommodates two hundred
and twenty pupils.
in October, 1877. on the ground pur-
chased of Bailey Davenport, corner of
Ninth avenue and Twelfth street, the
Board of Education completed q fine
three story brick building capable of
seating Eve hundred and fifty pupils.
in which they then opened four rooms
accommodating two hundred and
thirty pupils. The Board of Education
exerted themselves to make this school
building convenient and attractive. The
plan of heating and ventilatipg this build
ing is the most economical and perfect OF
any in the city, and perhaps in the state
The Board of Education adorned the
ground with shade trees and in front with
beautiful grass plat, in which the teach
ers interspersed shrubbery aud flower
beds. Rarely will you find. built for the
same money, a school building 80 conveu.
lent. 80 we'll ventilated, or SO economically
heated as this one.
will be erected according to the plans now
in the Office of the Board Of Education, on
a lot donated to the district by VIM.
Brooks, on Seventh avenue, east of the
Swedish College. Il is the intention of
the Board that this bulldog shall be COM
pleted and ready 10 be opened for school
purposes BY the LIST of November, 1880,
The graduation of the schools is thor
ough, there being nine distinct grades
below the High School, and each grade
containing an A and a B class, In
these grades are taught the various
branches pertaining to a common school
education, including the history of the
United States, music, drawing, the ele..
ments of science, and geometry. The
last two branches taught orally. At the
close Of each year classes are promoted
from grade to grade, as they are able TO
pass the required examination. Monthly
examinations are held, and airy pupil able
to pass TO higher grade receives special
promotion. By this means alright pupil
by close application. can finish the pre-
scribed studies in much less time than
provided 10 the course of study.
The First Ward School provides in
structions in all grades below the High
School, Pupils in the Second, Third and
Fourth Ward schools, complete FIVE
grades. Pupils in No. building COM
piete Eve grades. In the High School
building all grades above the third are
provided for There are two distinct
courses of study in the High School. The
English, embracing arithmetic, Euglieh
analysis, algebra, physiology, geometry.
ancient and modern history. zoology, |
natural philosophy, botany. rhetoric, geol- |
ogy, plane trigoDometry. astronomy and |
intellectual philosophy. This course en-
braces three DISTINCT grades. and occupies |
three hours of study. The classical and |
preparatory course is the same as the |
English. and also provides for the study Of |
Latin and German, 10 this course there |
are four distinct grades, and occupies four |
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