Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-05-14
Oar city Schools

during the past few years is source OF
civic PRIDE to every citizen. Magnificent
business blocks have sprung up as if by
magic, upon spots that were formerly the
domain of marshes. Hills have been
leveled, and what seemed to be almost in
superable obstacles to improvements have
been overcome by indomitable energy
Amid evidences of a rapid development
of material resources, it is gratifying to
notice that the facilities for the educa-
ton of the rising generation are not
neglected. st. Paul to-day has system
of free schools, under the able manage
ment of Prof. B. F. Wright, superin-
tendent, of which older cities might well
be proud; and although the point has not
been reached where she should not
eagerly strive for something better, the
condition of her public schools is encour-
aging. 1t is the purpose of this article
to give brief sketch Of the progress of
the school system, statement OF It's
present condition, and the pros
pect for the future.
The act instituting the Board of Edu-
cation was passed in 1856, and the board
was organized in June of that year, with
Hon. George L. Becker, mayor OF the city,
as president, and Rev. Il. ID. Nelll as
secretary and treasurer. AT this organl-
Zation neither funds nor school buildings
were in the possession of the board. In
the year 1857, in the month of September,
the Washington school was erected, and
during the next year the Adams and the
Jefferson, since destroyed by fire. These
furnished sufficient school accommoda-
tions for the children of the city until
1864, when the franklin school was built
and High school class formed, which
may be regarded as a beginning of the
city High school. The demands OF the
city for increased school facilities were
met by the erection of the new Jefferson
school, to replace the building burned,
and later by the Madison, the Lincoln,
the Rice and the NELL, and still later by
the Humboldt, the Monroe and the Jack
son. During the past year the building
operations of the board have included
the erection of two substantial eight
room structures built of brick, one on st.
Anthony Hill and the other on Dayton's
Bluff, and a twelve-room addition to the
Franklin, all of which have been furn-
bells, slate blackhoards, and the most i'm
proved appliances for the conduct of the
schools. Due attention has also been
given to ventilation and heating in the
construction of these buildings. The
Mclean school has also been moved, and
placed upon lots purchased for the pur-
pose in Terry's Addition, and the building
thoroughly remodeled. These improve
mentS have been made at cost of about
100000. They have given twenty eight
additional school rooms, or sixteen hun
bred and eighty sittings. Plans for the
new High school, to be constructed this
year, and for an eight-room building IN
the Sixth ward, have been adopted by the
Board. When these buildings are con-
structed the patrons of the schools in all
parts of the city will be well accommo-
dated, and our school facilities will COM
pare favorably with those of other cities,
East or West.
The total enrolment of the schools for
the present school year will exceed 5000.
In 1872 1t was 3,205, and in 1862 there
were IN all 1,475 pupils registered. The
number Of teachers at present employed
in the public schools is 1913. The super
vision of the schools was originally com
mitted to the secretary of the board OF
education, which was held by Rev. u. ID.
Neil, by annual re- election, until his res
ignation, March 1860. His successor,
Rev John Mattocks, served as secretary
twelve wears, and exercised nominal
supervision over the schools during that
time In 1872 Prof. George M. Gage was
called from the principalship of the state
normal school at Mankato, and was the
first to devote his whole time and energies
to the actual superintendent OF the
schools. After two years service he was
succeeded by Rev. l.. nj. burlington, who
was superintendent until 1878, when the
present incumbent, Prof. 3. F. Wright,
was elected. He entered upon the duties
Of his office with an acquaintance with
the needs of the schools, gained by an eX-
perienCe of eleven years as principal OF
the Jefferson and Hugh schools.
The schools are classified as follows:
High, Grammar, Intermediate, and Pri-
mary. There are eight grades below the
High school, each corresponding to
years school work. The full course
of study in the High school occupies tour
years. Each grade has two classes, known
at the beginning of the school year as
GA" ant ape classes, the "a" classes be-
ing twenty weeks in advance of the "B''
classes in the work Of the grades. The
school year, consisting of forty weeks, is
divided into two seneSters, disregarding
vacations, and the work of each grade Is
arranged to correspond with this division.
Promotions are made twice in each year,
once at the END of the first semester, in
January, and again at the end of the
school year, in June. This includes adj
mission to the High school, where the
work is divided, and classes begin at these
periods. 1t is claimed that with this clas-
sification our pupils, from the frequent
opportunities for promotion, are better
graded than under the system of an
nual promotions, and that the system
IS able to do better for pupils of moder-
ate abilities. The distinction between
the two ranks of pupils into which our
schools are broken up is not so great but
that bright ones may be promoted at any
time, and those who fail to pass required
examinations are not discouraged and
driven out of school by provision which
would compel them for whole year to
90 over their work again. The fexibili-
ty of the system is further increased by
provision for individual promotions at
any time when pupils show marked
ability.
During the last year an evening school
l.. l. ,N<3o 1Ov.