The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-10
%THESCHOOLS% OFTHECITY.
Some of the Advantages Enjoyed by
Pupils in the Capital City.
Our High-School and Other Institutions of
Learning, with Some Mention of Ward
Schools and the Board.
THE HIGHER GRADES.
Our High School and the Facilities 1t Of
fers to Pupils.

Our High. School and the Facilities It Of
fers to Pupils.
The largest high-school in the State, and hav-
ing, in proportion to population, three times the
attendance of the Chicago high-schools, opens
its nineteenth annual session in the old building,
now thoroughly renovated and made safe from
any possible danger of collapse, on Monday,
Sept. 10. Mr.. William A. Bell organized this school
in 1874, and held the position of principal until
1871, when George Brown took charge. In
1874 Mr., Brown was made superintendent OF city
schools, and Prof. j. B. Roberts acted as princi-
pal, until two years ago, when Mr.. W. W. Grant
took charge. The school, it is seen, has had as
it's principals the foremost men in education,
each of whom has left an impress on the intel
lectual growth of the city never to be erased.
The school has nearly 600 alumni, of whom 300
graduated under Prof. Roberts, now of the Fe-
male Seminary. Last years enrolment
was 625, and there were ~forty-one grad
yates. At least half of the city teach
ers are graduates of the high-school-
The training school in the same building, under
Professor Lewis Jones, for the last eight years
has graduated upwards of 200 teachers, most
of whom were high-schoOl students and are
nowsteachingi in the city schools.
The present year bids fair 10 be a prosperous
one. The changes made during the last admin
Grant's-are in the line of
natural science and the full English course. By
the latter all others are modified and controlled.
To graduate, the pupils must be good English
scholars, although the German and French
languages and literatures are by no means
neglected. The aim in English literature is to
populariZe good reading by the use of represent
alive text books of English and American class
les rather than to analyze single pieces too
closely, or exhaust the metaphysics of the sub
junctive mood. To this end pocket text books
are loaned to pupils and they read them
at home as well as In class.
In regard to natural science, the aim is to make
physics and chemistry become laboratory as
well as recitation studies. To this end, in phys
les Cages textbook is used, based on the
method of experiment by the pupils, with APP
paratus mainly made and devised by students.
This work will be in care of Wilbur V, Brown, a
graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, and ]. P. Nayler, both of whom
have been selected for proficiency in his Kind Of
teaching. The laboratory methods are to apply
in chemistry also. The textbook used is written
by President Eliot, Of Harvard College.
The high-schoo!, last year, numbered 625
students. Probably as many Will attend this
year, unless some are frightened away by the
groundless belief that the building is unsafe.
The teachers are seventeen in number, some of
them engaged in this school since Its organiza-
ton. The high-schOpl is the peoples college:
nothing arouses the people sooner than its
threatened adjustment. 1t is in our city as great
an element OF power as elsewhere, Without 1t
the higher education weuld languish, and we
should have TO look abroad for teachers for our
graded and ward schools. No department of our
CITY schools is more popular, or has received
more watchful care and solicitude from school
patrons and board. It's courses of study have
been changed, but always, it was believed, pro-
gressively.
A feature of the coming year will be the com.
mercial department, under the care of Jesse
Brown, who will teach bookkeeping and COM
meTcial arithmetic. The design is to make the
school a school of, for and by the people, where
boys and girls can, at the public expense. get the
knowledge and training tnat will fit them for
business, for professional. advancement in higher
schools, or If they stop their schOol-life here, to
leave them with its rudiments of the higher
education in their possession.
Hereafter the seniors and juniors and a part of
the first year classes will attend the morning
session. All others VIII attend the afternoon
session.
The principal, Mr.. W. W. Grant. has his office
on the first floor of the Michigan-street front,
and Is always on hand to give information or
show patrons and visitors the inner workings OF
IA gnhnO