The morning call., 1893-04-24
ESSAY CONTEST.
Preparation of Pupils at
Los Angeles.
FAVORED BY EDUCATORS.
The AngeIenos Take Kindly to 1.-The
Calls" Prize Contest-Some
Expressions of Opinion.


Special to THE MORNING CALI
Los ANGELES. April 23.-Pupils in the
public schools of Los Angeles were greatly
pleased when they read in THE CALL of
last Monday that the prize essay contest on
the subject OF The Discovery Of America
by Columbus had reached this city.
As the contest is not confined to public
schools alone, the scholars in business col
leges and private Institutes of learning are
equally elated at the pros pect OF competing
for h0nors and prizes.
In the thirty-four public schools of this
city there are, in round numbers, 5000
pupils who are eligible to enter the contest.
There Is little danger of their literary work
falling below the high standard of the COM
positions written by the bright scholars of
San Jose and San Francisco. The eduea-
tional system here is too thorough for any
branch of instruction to be sighted.
II can see no objection to The CALLS
prize essay contest" said DIR. c. T. Pepper,
president of the Los Angeles Board of
Education. ''for to my mind, it viii cause
stimulating, beneficial rivalry among pupils
in their literary work"
School superintendent w. NJ. Friesner
also favored the contest, and said that it
hOuid lCHu W DoHtuL SGuoldTS III compost
ton writing. Both of these officials have
therefore encouraged the pupils to enter
the contest and by their literary efforts
uphold the reputation of Los Angeles as a
center of learning
1t is true that this city has an excellent
record for the thoroughness OF instruction
in its schools, but al present there are
several disadvantages that will be remedied
as soon as possible. The first Is the over
crowded condition of the schools. In thirty
of them halliday schools are held BY this
is meant that there are too many pupils 10
attend Theses thirty schools at the same
time. 81 half the pupils enrolled attend
for three and half hours in the morning
and the remainder have the benefit of the
same length of session during the after
noon. During the past three months there
has been an increase in attendance of at
least 1000, and every day the school accom-
modatiOns are becoming more cramped.
There is only one solution for the over
crowded condition of the public schools"
say the members of the Board OF Eiuca-
tiOn and the corps of instructors. THAT
remedy is the construction of more build
ings."
According to the last reports thu expense
of maintaining the School Department dur
ing the fiscal year 1S91-l892 was S2I4. 300 9S;
the total receipts were S294, JOG 13 leaving
the amount oyerdrawn $40, 103 50. This
year the shortage will be considerably
greater. In order to overcome the deficiency
and 10 provide funds for the erection of
the much-needed additional buildings the
Board OF Education will ask for the issu-
ance of school bonds. The proposition to
issue such bonds Will be voted upon at an
al, H.. l., III Ill
perhaps as early as next fall.
1T is very kind of THE CALL. to give
prizes to scholars" said Miss Elizabeth a.
Packard principal Of the High School,
whichas one of the largest and best schools
of its kind in the State. although we are
rather busy with other studies here" con-
tinued Miss Packard, the majority Of the
scholars will find time to send in essays. and
think YOU will not be disappointed in
their literary efforts"
The principal readily consented to do all
in her power to cause the pupils. of whom
there are over GOO in Che school, to lose DO
Time in entering the contest. a bright set
OF pupils are these $50, and they are deter
mined to win both prizes.
1t should be explained that the High
School building is magnificent stone and
brick structure. with thiriy-six cassrooms,
large assembly halls and all the appliances
and 1onYeniences of a modern institute OF
learning.
Here are the prizes the pupils are striving
to win:
For the best essay. $50 in gold.
For the second best essay, SO in gold.
Pupils are eligible from all schools, In
GLIDING public, private and denomina-
tional.
Intending participants should lose no time
in preparing their essays and sending them
in in accordance with the conditions given
below.
The competition will close May 10, unless
otherwise announced in the meantime.
Thls should give every student plenty OF
time to send in his or her essay if COM
menced at once
Bashfulness will not be taxed in the COM
petition, as the names of the unsuccessful
candidates Will not be known even to those
who read the essays. No student will have
lost anything, but on the contrary, he will
have Learned something from an earnest at
tempt. By the exercise of a little judgment
any one can gain the shining rewards that
fall 20 him who grasps boldly at oppor-
tunity's passing hem.
Let every student carefully read the fol-
lowing directions and then write an ESSAY
to the best Of his or her ability. Originality
will be considered of more importance than
long words or studied phrases, but each
student must try TO write good, plain En-
lish:
Contestants must OF be over:1s years
of age.
Every contestant must be enrolled in
some school in Los Angeles. The school
may be public, private or denomIna-
tionai. Every boy girl who is going to
school is eligible.
The essays must be received by Tho
Call" by May 10.
Address 1.-THE CALL, 500 Clay street,
San Francisco."
Indorse on the envelope, Essay Con-
test"
If you want your manuscript returned
inoIose return postage.
Use paper of noto sizs and write on only
one side of the paper.