Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-01-01
OUR CITY SCHOOLS.
Annual Report of City Superintendent
Lame to the Board of Education.


Gentlemen: In making this report | do
not think it necessary to discuss at length
any of the various topics relating to the
organization of our schools. If / were to
do so, l would be compelled to speak in
terms of the highest commentator of the
organization of the three branches which
compose our school system. From what
information | have been able to procure, |
am led to conclude that in point of organ
iZatiOn, graduation and equipment, our
schools are on a plane with the most ad
vanced in the United States. This has no
relation to courses of study or methods of
instruction.
The change in the corps of teachers in
the High School and the adoption of a new
course of study has resulted in an increased
attendance. The attendance is now
1870. Comment on the methods OF
instruction in the High School, as
in the Grammar and Primary Schools,
need not enter into this report. The Prin-
cipals of these schools rank as educational
experts, and the methods of instruction
must be judged by the results obtained.
The results for the past school year have
been of a character to give the School Board
confidence in the future. The increased
attendance at the High school has necessi-
tated the purchase of more desks and
school supplies. This has also been re-
quired to meet the needs of the night
school, and the night school of drawing
that hold their sessions in the High School
building.
The Grammar schools have, as usual,
done excellent service. Both school
buildings are in excellent repairs, the
Capital school building having been
newly painted. With but few excep-
tons the promotions of the previous
year have held good but in these few
exceptions the entire classes have shown
the influence of the character of instruction
by Il general failure in the grades to which
they were promoted This leads to the
suggestion that the Grammar School Prin-
cipals be directed to give equal personal
supervision to each and every class of any
grade in their schools. Weak points could
in that way be detected early, and lament
able consequences be averted. Failure
could then only be possible by the Boards
disregard of notification that the teacher
was incapable The standard should be
kept as even as possible, and to do SO and
create an esprit de corps, there must be har-
mony, enthusiasm and equal ability ON the
part of teachers. The enrolment i'll the
Grammar Schools has been go, and the
average attendance 100.
The primary schools, with a corps of SO
teachers, and an enrolment of 2,7l9 and
an average attendance of 1.S41. constitute
the most important branch of our School
Department. | will say with pleasure that
in my opinion there has been an increase
in tie general efficiency of the primary
schools. There has been promptness and
attention on the part of teachers and real
development on the part of the little ones.
There have been fewer collisions between
teachers and parents than formerly, and
this has not been inconsistent with the
maintenance of necessary discipline. JEFF
ferson School building, at Sixteenth and n
streets, is in an admirable condition. Twen-
ty-fourth and n, and Twenty-seventh and
J, are also well equipped, all having good
desks and necessary furniture. a new
fence, and new floors and desks, at Thir-
teenth and q, has converted what was an
| old barn into q school house that Sacra-
| mento need not be ashamed of. Improves
ments have also been made at Seventh and
G.. This building also needs new furniture
| in some of its rooms. Fourth and Q is in
admirable condition, and the grounds and
| building are kept i'll unexcepional order
| by the model Janitor OF our School Depart
ment.
Ungraded school No ., o street, be-
tween Ninth and Tenth, has also had re-
( pairs made, and the school is in u healthy
| and prosperous condition.
| The Ninth and P-sreet school building
| has been painted, and is well kept and re-
| spectacle
| am again compelled to call your atten-
| ton to the Tenth and P-street school build
| ing. The school itself is the most popular
| in the city. Notwithstanding its wet and
mouldy bricks its messy roof and general
evidences of decay, pupils like TO go there.
| The interior Is antlquated, untavorably so.
The plaster is loose on the ceilings, and has
| been known to precipitate itself downwards
at inopportune moments, and without the
| formality of warning. The desks are OF
boards, and have been in use since
the DAYS of floods and fires. They bear
the marks of the knives of the past and
present middle-aged merchants, mechanics,
professional men, politicians and convicts
| that made their start in that place. They
have been moved many times. The build
| ing and its furniture is disgrace to this
prosperous city, and would not be tolerated
on the plains of Kansas and Nebraska. |
| trust that when my next report shall be
made it will touch upon the discontinue
| ance of this building and its furniture.
The necessity in this direction, and the
need of providing permanent rooms for the
night school and the night drawing school,
in apartments other than those occupied
during the daytime, brought the Board to
the consideration of the purchase of the
Perry Seminary building, with a view to
converting it into a High School. The
property was purchased for 5000. When
completed it is intended that there
shall not only be room enough
for the High Schools requirements,
but also separate rooms for the
night schools. The preparation, of
this building for q High School will relieve
he objectionable Tenth and-P school The