The herald., 1896-04-22

should be mentioned the Orphan asy-
| lum under the direction of the Sisters
| of Charity, where little waits are in
| structed in the regular common school
branches
One of the three state normal schools
of California is located at Los Angeles.
1t is an institution supported by the;
state for the training of teachers for the
public schools. 1t was established by an
act of the legislature fourteen years
ago. when Los Angeles was but little
more than a village and all of Southern
California was sparsely populated. 1t
has steadily grown in size and influence
until it is one of the most prominent
educa ational institutions on that coast.
1t is located almost in the center of the
city on an elevation fifty feet above
the principal business streets, which are
but three or four blocks away. The
campus consists of five acres beauti-
fully laid out and improved with drives,
walks and shrubbery.
Besides the main building there are a
fine chemical laboratory and large
and we'll equipped gymnasium. The
main building Is an imposing structure,
from any one of whose several towers
may be obtained magnificent views Of
the surrounding country. The original
structure was 120 by 100 feet and three
stories high to this last year was added
still larger building, $50 by 80 feet. also
three stories high. The whole contains
forty-five class and recitation rooms
Besides these there is a magnificent
auditorium, so by 100 feet, capable of
seating 1900 people, large museum
room, a commodious library containing
1000 volumes, and large and finely fur
nished public and private offices and
reception rooms
The laboratories for physics. chemis-
try. biology and psychology are finely
planned for special work and well equip
ped with modern apparatus.
The principal, DR.. Edward r. Pierce
is assisted in his plans and work by a
large. enthusiastic and capable faculty
consisting of twenty-ei gentlemen
and ladies, nearly all of whom are spe-
cialists The aim of the entire faculty is
to prepare well-equipped teachers for
the pubic schools of the state. The
course of study covers four years, all Of
which tends toward special preparation
for teaching. Prominent educators
recognize the special professional de-
partment. under DR.. F. B. Dresslar, as
one of the strongest in the normal
schools of the United States
Nearly 500 students attend the school
yearly, and its influence on the intel
lectual development of the state is
great, as q large percentage of the
teachers of Southern California are
graduates of the institution. There is
no expense for tuition, as the state
recognizing it's duty to it's children. sup
ports the school solely for the uplifting
of the teaching force.
In this city is located the largest high
school in the state. II has an enroll
ment this year of nearly 800 students,
most of whom come from the grammar
grades of the city schools. The institu-
ton is maintained by the municipality
and Is governed by the city board of
education. An able corps of thirty in
structors is employed to teach the four
years course of study, which embraces
all of the branches usually included in
the curriculum of a secondary school.
Graduates of the institution are adj
mitted to the state university, Stanford
university and many of the best known
colleges of the east without examina-
ton. Great care has been exercised
in arranging the courses of study to
make them comply with the require
ments of the institutions of higher
learning, and at the same time to pre-
serve the character of the school as an
independent place of instruction. While
it is possible for a student to prepare
himself in the classics at the Los An
geles high school. there Is marked ten
dency in the direction of the so-called
practical studies. This is in keeping
with the movements of the most pro-
gressive universities and is highly fav-
ored by the board of education and the
community at large.
An important feature Of the school 10