The Columbus journal., 1889-02-13

and three stories high, cootaininR ftum
fifteen to eighteen very large rooms
heated with steam. Three entrances are
tho rule. tho center ono for The teaohers
and around to tho sides oe tie building
the ones for the boys and sirls respect
lively. A large yard surrounds The
schools and this, together With the largo
cemented Easements which are the sixe
OF the entire building, form ample May
grounds. The sexes arc kept distinctly
apart, however, their grounds - ven -
entrances being separate. The stair
way leading to the upper Aoos for
tho two are a far apart = tho building
viii allow, but in the rooms they arc
seated without reference to sex or echol-
arship. The primary grades are On the
lower Aoors and from this it grades up
to the Seniors, who occupy room 1
on the third floor.
We viii visit the lowest grade first
Our knock brings the teacher in response
and taking us into the room seats us at
the desk where We can command q view
OF this infantile group. In this room
are about 60 children and in the after
noon there will be a. many more, for in
the primary classes the session il only
half q day, there being 30 many scholars
that it is impossible to accommodate
them. Here the first rudiments are
grated trying work it must be,
too-but no matter how vexing or how
unruly the culprit, the teacher 10 strictly
forbidden to strike q scholar or use any
rough means OF punishment. This last
is effected by suspension first, then by
expulsion. We leave the teacher vainly
endeavoring to impress in some youthful
brain the fact that 'th" follows e" in the
alphabet. In this grade and the three
following nothing Is taught but reading,
writing and spelling. Arithmetic is next
added and geography is not taken up for
at least four years.
In room l We find about the same
nuz,ber Of scholars, ranging in age from
13 to Is years. This is the final year in
the Grammar school and here we find
them studying the 'three Rs" geogra-
ply, United States history and elemen-
tary physiology. Grammar is taught by
the reading of famous poems such as
~Evangeline," etc. But bark! A. great
gong sounds, and looking in astonish-
ment at the time, We find it is II O'Clock
and the pupils are preparing for the
noon hour. At tap Of the bell the
scholars rise and passing to the dressing
room put on their wraps and wait for
their signal to leave. The gong is placed
in the lower hall and as it is pulled it
can be heard throughout the entire
building. The pupils pass down the
stairs in files of two, and 60 beautifully
is it arranged that from all the Aoors the
ranks from all the rooms join as they
pass down and to see all these pupils
fully thousand-so thoroughly trained
as to start at just the right moment and
and to gain the files at the appointed
time, is most interesting sight. The
old habit Of punishment by keeping the
pupil after school is done away with, as
all are compelled to be out Of the build
ing at the last tap OF the bell, unless, Of
course, something unusual necessitates
their remaining. The session is from 9
to IL in the forenoon and from 1:3O to
$50 in the afternoon without any re-
cesses, thus giving the pupils five hours
of study. The ranks have all gained the
out door and as the teachers seem as
anxious as their wards to get away, We
will leave and pay our next visit to the
North Division High School. As the
teachers pass We cannot but notice what |
prosperous, stylish, genteel set they are,
and we'll they can afford to be. The
salaries paid amounts all the way from
$40 to $85 a month the eighth grade
teachers of course receiving the $85. The
principals receive an average of $500 q /
year, but Of course these figures refer |
only to the Grammar schools, the high |
school teachers getting very much high
or wages. But while the salaries differ
60 much, the examination for a certif-
cate is the same for all, and upon first
the field the applicant is given
q primary grade and from this must
work her way to the higher positions.
When one reflects that there are over q
thousand schools in the city, and on an
average twenty-five teachers in each
school, one cannot be surprised when I
say that the money spent annually for
teachers' salaries alone amounts to over
, million and half dollars. And then
think Of the expense Of school sites,
building, steam-heating, janitors' servi-
zee, sweepers- three of which are en-
ployed at each school for sweeping them
,very day-and the many other bills
hey must meet, the truth asserts itself
hat 100000 is spent every year in this
ity alone for the common education;
md still the board finds itself each year
With surplus Of over 100000 in the
reasury. It is such figures as these
hat makes one feel the enormous growth
md development Of this great city; but
ust now the important question Of COM
,ulsory education 10 being agitated and
I it is decided to enforce this law, which =.
las been dead-letter in Illinois for 60
ong, it will necessitate the erection Of q
arge number Of new schools, while q