The record-union., 1894-01-03


CONDITION AND WANTS OF THE SCHOOLS.
During the month l requested from the
several Principals report Of the condl-
ions and requirements of the schools
under their immediate supervision. L
have received written replies from eight,
and two orally.
1 called the attention of the board in
my last report to the necessity OF erect
ing a new high school building, in keep
ing with its increased attendance and
growing wants. The following extract
from Mr.. Ponds communication demon
strates the urgency of this work:
I'm reply to your request for report
from me stating facts and other items OF
interest tending to the advantage Of the
Sacramento High School, permit me to
call your attention to these few facts:
al. That the eenrollmentof pupils is con-
tinually Increasing, the number attend
ing during October, 1898, being 1S4-the
corresponding number last year being
179.
$50. That the enrolment of boys is more
rapidly increasing that that OF girls. This
fact is interesting as denoJing growing
desire on the part of the young men OF
our city for an education.
''3. That the grounds for the boys
sports are altogether too small.
"4. That the building, also is too small
for convenience, and especially in the
line of science is not what might be ex-
pected with reason of Sacramento. 1
should be pleased to see an additional
building erected, with lecture-room and
laboratory for chemistry. One also for
physics, and such other rooms as will be
convenient for botany, astronomy and
natural history.
1.-The chemistry laboratory in the base
ment is better than none, far better; but
it is very cold and damp in the cellar dur
ing the winter, and but little use can be
made of it when the health of the pupils
would be endangered by such action.
as. Additional apparatus would be of
service, especially in the line of cleo
tricity."
The Lincoln Primary School asked to
have running water on the second floor,
new fence and cement sidewalk.
The Union Primary requests the plac-
ing of private closets for teachers; would
like globes and other apparatus to make
the work clearer to the children, and
asks most urgently that supplemental
reading be furnished each class by the
board. The Washington Primary states
the yard in front needs filling badly.
Marshall Primary calls attention to the
inside walks, which require raising; a
new sidewalk is needed and shades for
the front room.
Fremont Primary recommends two ad-
ditional classrooms; eave-troughs on the
east, west and south sides of building;
private closet for teachers.
The buildings generally are in fair con-
dition.
SUPPLEMENTAL READING.
The study of reading, the most i'm
pOrtant OF any, for reasons too OBJ
vious to be repeated here, is one
that demands the serious consideration
of the board and particularly the Com
mittee on Course of Study. In my in
vestigatiOn l find that supplemental
reading has been introduced in every
city school of the State, and as far as my
inquiries have led me | have failed to
find county district school lacking in
this regard. The schools of this city
stand alone. Why this should be so has
ever been puzzle TO my mind, particu-
larly sopwhen our instructions to teach
ers are so explicit, suggestive and true.
On this subject our board says: "Chil-
dren should not be required to read the
same book repeatedly. No one would
attempt to teach children to read music
by continually presenting the same score,
still less is 1t possible to teach reading by
the continued use Of a single book or a
single style of composition.
And yet, in violation Of this wise in
struction, one has to battle for its pre-
sentation and be made target for al
verse and unjust criticism.
respectfully urge upon the incoming
board TO look seriously into this subject
Can there be any doubt of its importance
and significant results? Is not the
storehouse of thought and knowledge
opened by its mastery? Is not this study
the best means of developing the powers
of the mind? The relation which this
study bears upon every other is a suffici-
ent reason for extending its application.
The continuous reading of the same les
son tends to cloud the mind, prevents