The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-03-23

December Professor +. 4. Burnette OF
Putnam. Conn. was elected superintendent
and retained that office uniil the following
November. when his resignation was re
Quested
In the meantime however, the scholastic
ase had been raised to IS, and Mayor Bn-
ker was doing all he could for the schools.
und with good results. A new oolored
school was aTened and the agent OF the
Peabody ftiud recommended an appropria-
ton fer a normal course in the white
schools. which was accepted
Professor w II. Foutc OF 81. Louis was
elected to the vacant superintendency and
took charge January g. l~a
II was during this term that this teachers
Institutes we've first established.
Under Superintendent Fou,e the system
advanced ana though his tenure was shor,
he left an indelhle impress of his having
boon in charge in many things appertain-
ing 10 the schools
The session of 1856 81 was the first with
Professor j. e Dow as superintendent, and
he reported that the schools had made
steady and healthy progress and that the
confidence Of the citizens in their efficiency
aud excellence had grown stronger and
more abiding ,nd that the permanency OF
the system WAS assured.
President T. w. Taylor of the school
board died in November, 1855. and one OF
the warm.s and most jealous friends OF
the chilrcn OF Houston had gone to his
reward The schools are somewhat OF a
monumen, 80 his uuHring zeal. though
many others shared tho work AZ tho HON
ors With him, he stood pro-en1incntly the
frtuh of education. who worked well ana
hard that his city should have fine sys-
tom Of public schools. open 10 the rich and
tho poor
Superintendent Dow died In Nav, 1857,
and Professor W. s, Sutton. then prin-
ciral Of the high school. was elected 20
til the vacancy and is still retained at the
post
THE Superintendent sutton's
SCHOOLS administration has been
or TODAY marked by advancement
from the first in all DEPART
mcHts. The course OF study has been
" leoed teachers have beer more fully
instructed in their duties and have been
specially trained that they might do better
work. every detail has been carefully look
cd after ard no step taken except after
l. tbre consideration.
lie han rendered valuable assistance to
tho trustees in their enieavor to raise tho
standard cf the schools: he has had tho
confidence Of the board and has been given
assistance in his own untiriug efforts to
the same end. Mr. Lombarii may be SAID
10 represent the board during the whole OF
Superintendent Suttons incumbency. and
tho TWO havs pulled together 10 erect
lasting and citing monument TO tho prin-
ciples on which thu Republic IL founded
Mr.. Lomhardl has taken great interest In
the system and has given tt his personal
supervision, being never too busy with prl-
waite business to give attention TO his pub
lie trust
Nor have the other trustees been ncsii-
~ OF their duties. all have sttivan and
haVr used their best ondcaVors to give the
city public school system second TO none
anywhere. Mr. Lotuhar5i is mentioned
personally because he han been on the
hoa ri longer and has given more OF his
TINE. An TIN members are doing their
duty and 10 this can be attributed the
progress. As q whole the schools could
not havt hctter set of men In charge
Superintendent Sutton has devoted HIM
self a9sduously mind and body. to carry
ou' his ideas IN the system. Their wuolo
worn all may see ana Judge. and there IS
no room fer doubt that they have worked
wpll.
In the past ten years there has been
steady Improvement In discipline at tho
scholars. while hnrshness and severity
have been hanshed from the schools. The
behavior of the pupils has become more
ard moro what II should be. ,ho personal
suasiau OF the teachers doing more than
the muscular force of the old-tine pcda-
sosue. During last session there were few
suspensions ami only one expulsion, al
term over $50 children
The meetings for teachers have been
improved, more, perhaps than any other
particular branch Of the service Il is
one of Alr Suttons beliefs that a good
Teacher w.n vers5d In The profession. is
The greatest essential OF perfect system
OF education. and he has steadily worked
toward that end The result showing his
saEacity
What follows Is a part OF the history of
the schools under Superintendent sutton.
and It would b. repetition to state it here.
WHAT In ISL when the schools were
lT taken IN charge by the city the
COSTS. enrolment was Isl white and SS0
colored children. there being
tWenty-cight teachers In charge Of the 12l5
children Of both races The total cost OF
The System for the first session was SlS
37s3f, or s % per pupil enrolled, SlOqq per
pupil based on average attendance.
In lSls2 the enrolment had risen to 1910
white and 7s6 coiorcd, the number of teach
ers employed was eighteen white aud
eleven colorcd. Tho cost Of the systcn
was NS2S9.2l, or a per capita for the m
Pills Of SASS per pupil based on average
attendance. The length of the session had
been increased, however. from 100 to $50
days or one scholastic month.
In isS6-Si the enrolment VAS 1874 white
and 1915 coiored pupils. the average attond-
"a ct M.I The total expenditures amount
go 20 'SA.224,9e, or a yer capita biased on
"a tterSanccl az slg4S
IN lNi-95 The enrolment was 1858 white
and 1884 coloreA pupils. the average attend
ance OctHD gags Total Disbursements
were S56o1i7, which includes the whole
running expenses 81 the school system. or
a pcr capita per pupil OF SlS6a hasel on
enrolment. on SECS based on average at
tendance
II Is interesting to note In this conncc-
tipn the total cost per capita for tuition
only leaving out all other expenses. which
are included IN the abovc--lu some OF the
largest cities Of the country. winch are
~ follows, based on average attendance:
cleveland, o..,..SlI 05 Kansas City. $50 Sf
Detroit. .......... ~ II Portland. ore. 20 rs
hiladephia,.., "a 81 Chicago D. ..... u -
Cincipnati....,.. % T. Bostou ......... - -
Buffalo. ..,... 20 % Now York;. - z
acknowledgements 81.
--;i;--
The course OF study extends over a period
OF eleven years, rine months Ia each year
This s shorter hy one year In
COT RISE the course man IN the major
OF ity OF the best schools oil the
STUDY, North, srn. Eastern ana Cen
trail cities but ha, been found
TO give good practical 'rcAults Suurriu-