The herald., 1896-04-22

it's commercial department, where a
thorough course in bookkeeping and
business is offered for those whose
school life ends with the high school.
The first class was graduated in 1875.
and was composed of eight students.
The class of 1895 numbered eighty.
There is an alumni of over 500. many of
whom are among the leading men and
women of the community.
If large numbers, good instructors
and high grade of schools from which
to draw material for students, ample
facilities in the way of buildings and
equipments. and the support of a city
whose chief pride is it's high school,
contribute anything toward making
good institution, then Los Angeles can
surely lay claim to it.
In the state where public instruction
has reached it's best development, Los
Angeles takes the lead. OF this fea-
ture, more than any other are it's citi-
zens justly proud. The marvellous
growth of the city during the past dec
ade has brought with it educational
problems difficult of solution. To ac-
commodate the large number of pupils
yearly added to the school population
has been almost impossible. From 1885
to 1895 the school census has increased
from 5091 to over II 900. A correspond
ing increase had to be made in the teach
ing force and school accommodations.
From the original corps of fifty teach
erS the number was augmented to more
than 800. Ten years ago the public
school property of the city was valued at
$122, ,4S0. To-day it exceeds considerably
81, 100000. Even with these increased
facilities it was not possible to accommo-
date all who applied for admission to
the schools. Last year there were about
5000 children who were either limited to
halliday sessions or wholly denied
school privileges, so inadequate were
the buildings to provide room for them.
Twelve large and handsome new pub
lie school buildings have been but re-
Gently finished at cost of about $780,
600. They are now in use and the city
has now accommodations for all the
children of school age
The courses of instruction have grown
to correspond very closely with thoseof
the eastern educational centers like Bos-
ton and Philadelphia. Pupils coming
from those cities usually take their place
In the grade which they would occupy
at the same age in the east.
teacher is said to make or unmake
school, and 1t is probably due to the
excellency of the teachers of the city
schools that these institutions are so
well made. In this particular Los Ange-
les Is singularly fortunate. There have
been attracted to this locality many of
the ablest educators in the profession,
and they have left their mark upon the
public schools. The best teachers of the
country have come hither to secure the
advantages of good salaries and q pleas
ant place of residence. On that account
1t was made possible to select the very
best from among the leaders, hence the
composition of the teaching force of the
city Is better, perhaps, than that of any
in the Union.
The study of advanced methods of
teaching receives the most careful atten-
ton of the executive department of pub
lie instruction and consequently the
city's schools are models of the latest
type. Nothing is neglected to keep them
abreast with the times, without failing,
however, to conserve all that has been
found best in the world.
With all these accessories contributing
to the educational atmosphere of Los
Angeles the intellectual tone of the
community Is one of a high order. and
one indeed of which her citizens may
justly speak with pride.