Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-05-06
CITY BOARD or EDUCATION.

which will be in an especial degree inter
eating to the strangers within our gates.
CITY BOARD or EDUCATION.
Interesting Report OF City superin-
tendent Smith.
At the meeting of the City Board of
Education, held last evening, Prof. H.
ID. Smith, Supe perintendent of the city
schools. presented the following report
ON the condition and requirements of
the publics chools:
TO the Board of Education: Gentle.
men--l have the honor to submit the
accompanying monthly report, giving
the usual statistics ns 10 enrolment,
attendance, etc.
In addition, beg leave to present the
following facts and statements in regard
to the condition and needs, present and
prospective, of our schools.
We have now enrolled about 200
pupils, an average OF So to each teacher.
la Oakland and San Jose, the average
number enrolled, as shown by the latest
reports OF the Superiniendents, is Al
and 43 respectively. The maximum
number OF pupils that ought to he
placed in one room, under the charge Of
one teacher, should not exceed 80. This,
the common verdict OF hest authorities
on the subject, is based not only upon
tho ground Of health Of pupil and
teacher, but upon the conditions re-
quired for dong good and thorough
work. Many of our classes this year
HAVE EXCEEDED THIS MAXIMUM ENROLL.
BY from twenty to fifty per cent. Six
of our teachers, having "double.se ssion"
classes, have this month an aggregate
enrolment of GAG, one reporting the
enormous number OF l50. This condition
is the result OF choice of two OWLS, viz:
crowding the schools, or turning from
their doors several hundreds of children.
The first is bad enough, but the other
seemed to be still wo,se. 1t has there
fore been my constant aim TO find place
in our schools for every child who ap-
| piled for it. From the opening of the
schools in September, large share of
my time has been devoted to this ono
object to accomplish which it has been
necessary to crowd to their utmost ca
rooms. 1t has also been necessary to
make
NUMEROUS AND FREQUENT TRANSFERS,
TO almost ignore district boundary lines,
and frequently to send children from
the same neighborhood TO different, and
in many cases, TO distant schools. To
explain to parents the necessity for this
in such u manner as to make it clear
and satisfactory, has often called for tho
exercise OF more wisdom and patience
than your Su erinteutent CLAIMS to
possess. He has had, however, the sat
istaction of believing that, with the ex-
ception OF two or three suburban dis
tricts, very few children have been
crowded out OF school. Too much praise
cannot be accorded those teachers who
have cheeifully received and uncom-
plaiugly taught these ovei flowing classes,
striving faithfully that individual pupils
should lose nothing by it. They deserve
your active appreciation, and the thanks
of their patrons. And, notwithstanding
the disadvantages under which we have
labored, feel gratihod and justified in
expressing the belief that the schools
have never done better work than they
are now doing.
We shall be able to get through the
present school year withoul further ser.
ious Inconvenience on account Of room.
1t is TO the
PROSPECTIVE REQUIREMENTS, IMMEDIATE
AND IMPERATIVE,
That | would again call your attention,
and through you, present yet more ur-
gently the claims of our schools upon
the public and the authorities who must
provide the needed relief. Woare now
using As school-rooms. Twelve of these
are rented, of these twelve, only three
can be retained after the Both oi June,
proximo, another (on the Fort street
lot is temporary and cannot be used
longer.
This leaves thirty-eight rooms. The
new building on Spring and Fort street,
under contract for completing the lower
story only, will add six rooms (making
forty four) four less than we now have.
Or, il the entire building is finished,
with its twelve class rooms, we shall
have fifty, AN actual increase OF only
two over the number now occupied.
Comparing the enrolment this month
with that OF the corresponding month
two years ago, we have an increase OF
- per cent The accommodations dur.
ing this period have been increased only
30 per cent,
AT THE OPENING OF THH SCHOOLS
in September last, there were 200 more
pupils enrolled than at the close in June
previous. We may Justly count upon
like proportionate Increase for the open
ing next year, This means fully 1000
new pupils. who, with the 200 now at
tending, will present themselves for en-
rollment. What shall be done with
them all, is n problem which to those
who will be called upon to solve it., can.
not but be source Of serious anxiety.
Fifty school rooms cannot properly ac-
commodatc more than 800 pupils
Twenty additional rooms tbesides twelve
in the new building now under way) is
the minimum that would seem to be in-
dispensable if your schools are to ac.
complish the work the public expects of
tLNhi anu W iiiSh law ltblll lttlulTtS.
To the localities where these are most
needed, your attention has alreay been
called. Sou are fully convinced of the
pressing necessity, and have signiiied
your readiness to do all in your power
to meet it. The one thing lacking is the
funds.
SHOULD THE PROPOSITION To ISSUE S2l,-
600 IL BONDS
BE carried, and, in addition, should tho
City Council levy the maximum rate of
taxes for school purposes, at the next
apportionment, you may see your way
out OF the difficulty. Should either or
both these contingencies fail, however.
1t is difficult to see what can be done,
The outlook for next year would be
gloomy indeed. | am in almost daily
receipt of letters from parties in the
Fast who ask for information about our
schools. They are debating the ques.
tion of coming to make their homes in
Los Angeles, and naturally consider tho
advantages for educating their children
an important factor in deciding their re.