The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-07

dign-scnool building, and believes High
school ought to be- maintained. But. to use
their own phraseology intelligent people have
urged members to wipe ont the whole High
school," To several have replied that IL this
should be done, within three years, when times
were improved, they would not sanction such
STEP but would themselves denounce the board
for taking it, should they do so now. l asked
several of these if they would sign petition
asking the board to abolish She D1.sii-school.
wbich might go file as a justification of
such an act Rejecting moment they
have replied: "No | would not l am glad
that you. and not |, have the responsibility of
this matter" And here is the point of my caus
tic words do not believe that such petition
would get the signatures of one-fourth of the
voters and school patrons of the city, and if
1t would not the School Board would make a
pretty mess of it in "wiping OUT of the system
that which had been established for more than a
quarter of century, for the High school in one
form and another Gates many years back of its
present distinctive organization. | have be-
lieved, and do yet, that there are some features
OF ours that do not belong TO it legiti-
mately. do not believe that Greek
Latin, French or German have any
legitimate place in the distinctive course of the
English branches contemplated by the law or
ganizlng our system l am, as you say. new
member of the board, ana, being conservative.
nave not urged my own notions a~ TO the course
OF instruction as yet But, as TO the IL man.
forrhed to put it into the course, and the board
has no option while that law is in force
Now, as to the increase OF the school popula-
ton: AS a justification, in the main, for the in
creased expenditure. am sure that | stated it
correctly, and drew fair conclusions from the
figures. The school enrolment met enumera-
toni In 1875 was 11,0l3. including transfers,
while IN 1885 it was Is, l60 including trans
fers AS the only record kept for 1875
included the transfers-removals from one
schooi district boundary to another-it was but
far. IN comparison to include the transfers for
1850 In the enrolment, for it is to he presumed
that the transfers are as great one year or
period as another. And moreover, this is the
only basis by which to De guided in providing
school sittngs. 1t is, therefore, readily seen
that the growth is Ga per cent. Eliminate the
transfers both from the H. 13 in 1875, and from
the lS l6O in 1885 and the per cent would be the
same. But If you count the transfers in the en-
rollment for 1873 and omit them in 1885,
the increase would be what the Jour
nal saws. but SO per cent I am thus particular
to state the matter, because there seems to be
discrepancy In my statement, made in the School
Board when this matter was under discussion.
The increase In teachers in the same period has
been but little greater. But the average to
the teacher is now about forty pupils, which
experience has shown TO be enough as believe
all agree.
The Journal is mistaken in the statement that
thirteen teachers are to be dismissed from the
required about that additional number to meet
the increasing school enrolment, but it is pro-
nosed to put the increase the coming year into
the present rooms and classes, and, II possible.
avoid the expense of the annual additional num-
Der OF teachers. l very much doubt whether
we can go through the next school year that way,
however, and it is an impairment of the schools.
One other point: The normal or training de-
partment Of the High school has been. and is,
one of the most economic features of DOR whole
system, saving hundreds OF dollars annually to
the school fund | have already stated that
twelve or thirteen teachers were required annu-
ally 10 be added, to take care of the increasing
school population. The normal or training
school admirably fits our own people for these
Places which they I'll acceptably for
few years at half or less than half
the cost of other teachers 1t is rule of
the board that they do so, in consideration
of the expense of fitting them for teachers.
And thus the normal department.. under the
rule which has operated so well, saves hundreds
of dollars to the school fund annually by paying
for itself in this way. The tacit agreement is
that as these new teachers having been prepared
by the eystem, they shall pay back to it in serv-
ices, as have stated. for few years. And this
is not theoretically the case only, but is the
actual result and the dollars saved can be
counted each year.
Now, let any one take the figures and facts
| have given land they are from the
recordsj. and see for himself how
long even the district schools can be
sustained. with the Hish-school abolished, if you
please, with ga per cent of increase in school
enrolment most OF it. of course, in the district
schools, and the revenues at standstill or
less than per cent. increase in ten years The
matter needs but to be stated for its own answer,
if valuations to remain the as in the
past ten years And so it is a much larger ques-
ton than the continued existence of the High
school. shorn of its frills and furbelows even,
which agree that it has, and which may be
Topped off. | know that it is vexatious to talk
think about additional expenses, but as
l said before, it is frivolous for one to
complain at his growing family. We have to
consider the inevitable, whether it is pleasant to
do so or not and think it is wise to do it.
| may say, in conclusion, that for one | vel
come criticism. / think it wise to criticise. for
out of it can come only good, as it is the factor
to both better understanding of questions in
volved and to conclusions. But to be denounced
for not at once 'wiping OUT system that it has
required years to establish. and by those who
say they would not themselves assume SO much
of the responsibility of it as the signing of pc
ton for it would involve. is the last feather" on
my stock of patience. l not only
DESTROYS but anxious to know the wishes of peo
pie on this subject and if bare majority shall
file petitions to wipe ont the High school" will
obey resign. for the school is theirs. and they
have a right to abolish IT. JNo. b. CONNER.
INDIANAPOLIS.