The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-09-16
PUBLIC SCHOOLS OPEN.
an Enrolment Approximating
1900 Made Today.
ATTENDANCE EXPECTED TOBELARGER
Ely a Few Hundred Than Previous
Yenrs-3ish school Will Contain
About $50 Pupils.

Ely a Few Hundred Than Previous
Yenrs-H5sh school Will Contain
About $50 Pupils.
This was a morning of unusual activ-
ity ia almost every Topeka household.
Some of the children VINO were TO begin
school were up with the sun, eager and
impatient to meet their teachers. Others
were snail-Hke in their movements.
Not every boy aud girl likes to go to
school,
Principal ]. L. Williams could not give
figures at noon to show just what the
total attendance at the high school was
but it appears that it was greater than
the first days attendance of last year
which was $50 pupils. There are desk
accommodations so far for all the pupils
who have presented themselves at the
high school and Mr.. Williams anticipates
little if any trouble.
1t will be a day before the statistics Of
the opening registration of the entire
city schools will be made up, but Sup
erintendent Davidson, whose opinion is
better than that of anyone else thinks
about 1900 pupils registered. Last year
there were 400 registered the first day.
There were today about 200 new pupils.
Mr.. Davidson is very busy attending
to the wants of parents who call on him
with their children for various purposes.
principally to obtain permission for dis
trict transfers. Last year very few trans
fers were granted, although a number
were asked for. families who have
moved into other districts since the
schools closed in June often desire their
children to remain in the same district
where they were last year. In few cases
are these permits given as the standard
of the schools over the city is on about
an equal grade, but it means more or less
trouble to the uperintendent.
The school census indicates that there
are 1921 persons between the ages of
five and twenty -one years
Mr.. Davidson bases his estimate of the
number of children from personal OBJ
servation. He finds fewer houses to rent
this fall than on previous years and
thinks there is an increase of men in
the Santa Fe shops, ali of which means
more pnpils. During the years between
1885 and 1899 there was wonderful in
crease in the schools, but they have re-
manned about stationary since then, with
slight increase.
There will be some adjustment of
boundary lines, principally between Clay
and Harrison. The Douglas school.
which had twelve colored pupils last
year, has been abandoned and the pupils
sent to the Branner school.
Superintendent Davidson doesn't think
that there were any children who APP
piled for admission refused because
there was no room. There is room for
all the children, but the fact that there
is plenty of room in the Clay street
school doesn't help the child who lives
in the Grant district on the north side.
Some little children came this mora
| ing without any books, but were referred
to Poor Commissioners Hale.
Any INDECENT pupils, SO certified by
Mr.. Hale, will be furnished books by
the board of education. These books
will only be loaned and the principal of
each school is held responsible for their
safety. It was noticeable this morning
that principals and teachers of the va
rious schools were not flock ing around
the superintendents Office. This seems
to indicate that the Instructions issued
Saturday evening were effective.