Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-06-25
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
REPORT OF THE CITY SUPERIN.
TENDENT OF INSTRUCTION.
An Excellent Showing in the Face
of Grave Obstacles Splendid
Work DOnc-The High school
Graduates Diploma AcknOyvl.
edged at the State Uniyerstty,

"cFA DOnc-hne Dtsh SCHOOL
Graduatcs' Diploma AcknowI.
edged at the State University.
OLYMPIA, Wash, June Is, 1897.
To the School Board, District No /:
GENTLEMEN: In submitting tho
annual report required by law, fee
inclined to rearrange its items ant
add to its requirements. The lega
report is herewith transmitted.
School opened on Sept. Z, 1896. II
view of the fact that the anticipated
term could not, owing to financial
conditions, be longer than six months
/, with your approval, arranged the
work with the purpose of concentrat-
ing our energies upon the essentials
and eschewing all lines of effort that
might consume time ut the expense oil
the accepted fundamental studies
The teachers were accordingly in
structed and their hearty cooperation
Is In large measure responsible fOl
whatever of success the course followed
has attained. This policy has indeed
forbidden to us much of the eclat
which decorations lend to any affair
which possesses them, but it has en-
abled us to keep close to our text
books with the result that many of
our pupils accomplished all in the six
months work ordinarily assigned to a
full years term of nine months. Nor
do mean that this work was merely
gone over. / assure you that many OF
the pupils mastered, with at least the
average degree of thoroughness, the
subjects considered.
In pursuance of the same policy,
the work of the high school was ar
ranged i'll Il three years course. The
work done in the high school has been
of the same plain, monumental sort
as that in the grades, and | am glad to
say of the same substantial character.
This fact is attested by the action of
the management of the State Univer-
sity, which after n personal investiga-
ton by President Edwards, of that in
stitution, put our school upon the list
of accredited three-year high schools.
This means that our graduates may
enter the University without examina-
ton, privilege not heretofore ex-
tended to them. President Edwards
asks us to put botany into the course.
During the year have sought to
find the sense of the patrons of the
school touching the policy above re-
ferred to and to invite suggestions.
To this end | sent circular letter to
them, of which letter herewith fur
nish copy. am gratified to report
that nearly every patron of the schools
returned this letter with the blanks
properly filled and that the almost
unanimous response was one of ap-
proval. Some suggestions were made
which, so far as time and existing con-
ditions allowed, was glad to act
upon.
AS events turned, three additional
months were added to the year at the
beginning of this period, we took up
the work as at the beginning of new
school year, and the schools close to-
day with the classes in the middle of
the years work. However, everything
is in such order so that no delay ought
to be experienced in organizing when
school begins.
From the report of enrolment and
attendance submitted it will appear
that should the school revenues Weld
the estimated y cents for each days
attendance this district would receive
from the State $7,707.07 during the
next year. OF this sum So, 1885 have
been earned during the three months
extended term, or at the rate of $779. 65
per month.
do not doubt that there are child
rem in the city who should have been
in school, that for one cause or another
have not attended. If it is possible
under the statute, and the circum-
stances surrounding these children to
place them in school, the community
would not only reap the benefits of an
educated citizenship but an increased
revenue. You are now fully acquainted
with the financial embarrassments
through which our schools have strug-
gled, than am. wish, however, to
express to you the appreciation of the
teachers for your careful handling of
their interests and to assure you that
it has been largely due to a con.
fidence in the wisdom of your course
that has made the teachers endure,
with such heroic patience, the priva-
tions and sometimes short rations, to
which they have been subjected. They
have maintained admirable spirit
through the year, and their work has,
l believe, in no way been sighted or
neglected because of the money ques-
ton.
The graduates of this year left the
school with credit to themselves, and
will, l believe, become credit to
our schools. Comparing our pupils
with those who come to us from vari-
Gus parts OF the State, / am lead to
believe that We are not tagging be-
hind. If the pupils that come to us
are average pupils we are certainly not
doing so.
l am, yours very respectfully,
+. b. HAYES,