Semi=weekly graphic., 1896-12-19
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

0D-~N~
 thing about our public schools.
 am in some doubt as to what fea-
 ture of our work it will be best to
 mention in the space allotted to me.
 The conditions of our schools as
 compared with the corresponding
 period last year makes the follow ing satisfactory showing.
 The enrolment has increased con
 siderably; the present attendance has
 been raised from 88 to 96; per cent
 the number of cases of tardiness has
 been substan tially reduced, and the
 whole number of pupils neither ab- sent nor tardy has been more than doubled. These facts are shown by
 an examination of the monthly statistical reports of the teachers.
 During the present session mid year promotions and half-year grades have been introduced in all departments except the high school and in this way we have been en- abled to classify pupils much more in accordance with their advance ment and ability, and the course of study has been made much more flexible
 The High Schooi has been placed in a separate building-the one on Pine street formerly used as ward school. This building was reAo- vated and enlarged during the sum mer vacation and is now specially adapted to high school work. The science room has been supplied with a splendid selection of chemical and physical apparatus, a geological cabinet, relief maps, etc. In pro- viding a separate building for the high school, Pine Bluff is in ad- vance of any other city in the State. Next year Fort Smith will it's high school from the ward school in wich it has been heretofore taught. The contract for their new building was let a few days ago.
 In the high school department there are 160 pupils, the sexes be- ing almost equally represented.
 The bi-furcation of the course of study gives students a choice be- tween work in classical and scien- tifc courses.
 The classical courses embrace four years each in Latin, English and two years in Greek, and two years in natural science. Greek is elective with physics and ohemistry-enabling a student 10 take four full years in science if he so chooses.
 The student who completes this course satisfactorily will have no difficulty in securing admission to the highest Southern and Eastern universities, such as Vanderbilt, and Princeton.
 Departmental work has been intro 5uced this year and each department is in the care of a t rained specialist. In the Ward schools, all sections have been arranged that, with two exceptions, no class contains more than twenty-five pupils and the pro yrams have been so adjusted that the teachers have no difficulty in each individual member of the classes.
 The Library Association was re- at the beginning of the present session with an increased membership and the records of the Librarian indicate that many more books have been read by students than were read during the cores bonding period last session. The library now contains betweed 300 and 400 volumes, quite small num- Der when the varying ages and tastes of the children are considered. In the.main, these books have ,been purchased or donated by the stu dents. The educational value of school libraries is beginning to be more fully appreciated by school 5uperintendents, teachers and the friends of popular education every where. The memberes of the Library Association are looking hopefully to the time whenlsome gen. erous and philanthropic citizen will donate a large collection of books or set apart a permanent endowment for the maintainance and equipment of a public school lihrarv in this citv What q e,,1o,,