The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-15

the enrolment and general attendance in
the high school. In a city Of the size of
Savannah, it would seem that more than
22f pupils should be pursuing the higher
branches. In seeking the cause for the
small number in attendance, / have
reached Me conclusion that the price of
the tuition fee has kept many away. The
board has, for many years, had under con-
slderatlOn the question Of abOlishing the
fees, and it is to be hoped that at no dis
tant day this bar to entrance into the
high school will be removed. The de-
partmental plan still obtains, and
time has only served to confirm
my opinion of its superiority over
the former system. My knowledge
Of the instructors and Of the thorough
work done in the high school enables me
to commend it to parents who desire to
have their children receive good second
airy education.
THE GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
In reference to the grammar schools the
superintendent says: Every year shows
substantial growth in the grammar
schools. The excellent results shown by
the census is an evidence OF what our
common schools have done for our city
and county. 1t is reasonable to conclude
that without them, hundreds of children
would not be able to read and write. The
work during the year was up to the aver
age standard. The large number of pupils
necessarily assigned to a teacher, makes
II very difficult to secure the best results
The ideal school cannot be Appropriated
until there is such a reduction in the size
OF the classes that much individual in
struction can be given. This will, of
course, necessitate more teachers, and in
crease the cost of maintaining the schools
The condition of the night school was
highly satisfactory. 1t was kept up
with very little diminution in num-
bers for eight months. The pu-
pills included all ages, from to Is.
The nightly attendance was much hetter
than would naturally be expected. The
change authorized by the board, to re-
duce the session to three nights per week,
Will no doubt increase the attendance.
The enrolment was 232.
There was marked improvement in
the country schools during the year, Mr..
+. ii. Ferguson, the assistant superin-
tendent, spent most Of his time in them,
and as consequence of his careful su-
pervisiOn, the attendance was better,
and the instruction more efficient than at
any former period in their history"
MUSIC AND DRAWING.
In concluding his report Supt Baker
takes up the subject Of music and draw
ing, which was recently introduced in the
schools. In discussing it he says: "a
considerable class in our community have,
for long time, been DESTROYS of seeing
these two subjects Incorporated in the
curriculum of the public schools 1t was
in Difference to this desire that the de-
partments of music and drawing were or
ganized. There can be little difference of
opinion as to their Importance, in an edu-
cational point of view. If the object of
education be simply to help our youth to
gain livelihood, these branches might be
omitted. But, if in addition, it is desira-
bic to introduce culture into families, and
to make happy homes, then surely music
and drawing should be taught in the
schools Prof. Smith and Miss Howard
have labored diligently in their depart
ments, and it is hoped that the future
will show their work has been fruitful of
much good to their pupils"
The superintendent cOmmends the work
of the teachers. While, he says, it would
be untrue to say that in all cases efficient
work was done, it is certainly true that
the teachers largely felt the full measure
of the responsibilities imposed upon them,
and their best efforts were used to achieve
success in their work.