The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-08-16

lOr their teachers.
In the widest sense the school is a
cooperative institution in which all
are actuated by one common impulse
toward the accomplishment of pro-
posed ends. In this respect the teach
ers Of the public schools are nowise
lacking, as a spirit of unquestioned
sincerity and helpfulness distinguishes
and dignifies all communications The
board has every reason to congratulate
itself upon it's thoroughly efficient
corps of assistants.
The most important duty of the
board relates to the course of study
and in this respect the quality of the
subject matter and it's presentation are
all important.
1 regret to state that some of the
text books now in use are totally lack
ing in these requirements, being
absurdly impractical and tending to
hopelessly confuse the pupil. Steps
should at once be taken to remedy this
evil.
In regard to the teaching Of modern
languages, I consider it of the utmost
Importance that natives Of the respec-
tive countries be employed, as greater
stress would then be placed upon the
acquiring of a correct pronunciation
and such {. knowledge of the grammar
and idioms of the language as would
enable one to converse with ease.
The average high school student
does not study the language for it's
literature, but for the benefits arising
from being thoroughly conversant with
it when he enters upon q business
career. In this respect as we'll as
others, the future must be considered;
for that reason I recommend the addi-
ton of Spanish to the high school cur
ricuIuu
The entire continent lying south of
us is rich in resources and is practi-
cally the only field open to the adven-
turous of the rising generation; Span
ish is the universal language and
promises to be essential to the sue
cess and prosperity of every American
engaged in commercial pursuits.
In this connection I desire to state
that observation has convinced me
that as a whole the pupils of the
public schools are especially worthy of
our commentator. They have been
most obedient and diligent in their
school work, and furthermore they
have manifested a keen interest in the
protection of school property that
does not characterize the average
pupil
L have also noticed that our efforts
to impart a spirit of patriotism among
the children has not been futile
Each building displays the flag of our
country. furnishing constant object
lesson in patriotism.
For further details I respectfully
refer you to the exhaustive reports of
the committees on school work and of
the superintendent of schools.
High School.
Tla 1,oc4 ,,ro-o,,+ 5o,~o.1
is for the erection of a new High
school building that will accommodate
the increasing number of students and
meet the requirements of the city for
the next ten years. Such a building
should be the crowning point of our
school system and is at the present
time an absolute necessity.
The Salt Lake High school has been
credit to the city, and is admitted
to he the best in Utah. 1t is complete
in every department and it's influence
upon the community cannot be over
estimated. 1t forms the stepping stone
from the grades to the university, thus
placing an excellent and practical
education within the reach of ALL at
no cost to the pupil.
Last year, owing to the increase in
enrolment, the main building was
found to be too small. This necessi-
tated the removal of the laboratory Of
the science department from the cen
trail building to an adjacent one,
thereby causing great inconvenience to
large number of pupils, requiring
them to lose time in travelling from
one building to another, as we'll as
diSarranging periods of study. The
ensuing year it will be necessary to
make more changes and procure addi-
uonal rooms, and another year will
probably find the board totally unable
to procure desira BILE and adequate ac-'
Communications in the vicinity OF the
present location of the main building.
That the erection of d High school
building is imperative is clearly APP
parent. There is but one way to &C
complish this end-by direct taxation.
At the present reduced cost of
building materials it is believed that
building of ample capacity can be
erected at cost of about 100000.
This can only be raised by taxation
and will require special levy of 8
mills on the dollar. If the board con-
ours in this recommendation the mat
ter should be submitted to q vote of
the people at the ensuing November
election, and if approved, the tax
should be levied and collected with the
general taxes for 1896.
When it is considered that the rental
of the rooms for the High school next
year will be ST. 200 and that the ac-
commodation is entirely inadequate
and unsuitable for school purposes. l
am of the opinion that no better in
vestment can be made, and that the
enterprising people of this city will,
by their affirmative votes, direct the
board to furnish this institution of ur-
gent and paramount necessity to tia
rising generation of this city. A large
per cent of it's costs viii be distribu-
ted for labor and material among the
taxpayers, and when completed a
large saving will be made in the ex-
pense of maintaining our schools
Training school.
AS soon as pecuniary affairs permit,
manual training school should be
added to the High school, in order
that every young man or woman,
whatever his position in life, may be
taught a useful calling, from which, if
necessary, support may be derived
Such a training, however, should not
be permitted to abridge the academic
course, so essential to finished edu-
cation, and which constitutes the fOun-
dalton for success.
This is an age of specialists, and as
a man having once entered upon
business career has but little time for
general culture, the foundation should
be laid prior to his entrance upon a
business life.
The aim of the board should be to
provide a practical Eeducation-an edu-
cation that will prove of material
benefit to the student when he is COM
PEELED to provide for himself.
firmly trust that cur efforts in that