Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-09-16
GOOD YEAR IN The SCHOOLS
"A Synopsis of superintendent
Harlan's Annual Report.
WORK FOR OVER 200 TUTORS
Number of Scholars Exceeds
Ten Thousand.


superintendent Of public schools, for the
year of 1S96.97, was Submitted 10 the
Board of Public Education at its meet
ing Monday. 1t was referred to the
printing committee which ia TO secure
bids for printing it, From the report
the following facts ara taken:
Total population of Wilmington, Hc.
cording to census of 1890, 81, 457; popu-
lation according to census taken by the
Board of Police Commissioners in
April, 1895, 67, 0s4; legal school age,
6 to 2i; number Of school days in the
year according to tho rules of the
board, 201; number of days the schools
were taught, 1914.
School houses in use, 2S; increase. l.
school rooms used for day schools, 225
increase, o; rooms used for High School
classes. 20; increase 3; rooms used for
grammar and primary classes, 201; in
crease, 8; school rooms not in use, %
number OF sittings in all the day
schools, l0,Sl6; increase, $40; high
schouls for boys ana girls Ii grammar
schools. 8; combined high, grammar
and primary, tcolored.l /; primary
schools, %.
Whole number OF teachers, 226; in
crease, 8; male teachers Of high school
classes, 5; female teachers of high school
classes, 15: increase, 2 female teachers
10 the grammar and primary schools,
20G; increase, Z.
Whole number of pupils enrolled dur.
ing the year in day schools, 10, 749; in
crease, 5S7: averages number belong
ing to the day schools g, S,9lG; In
crease, 42i; average daily attendance,
s, l0i; increase, '40o; whole number an
rolled in high school classes, ego; in.
crease S3 average number belonging to
high school classes, ola increase. SO !;
average daily attendance in the high
school classes, 1893; increase, So; whole
number enrolled in the grammar and
primary schools, 10, 0s9; increase, 50i;
average number belonging to those
schools, s, i02; increase, 3Gl; average
daily attendance on them, Z, GIL; in
crease, 3i7,
The percentage of attendance in all
schools of the number belonging is 30. s
in the high school classes, 95.9 in the
grammar and primary classes, 90.5
The percentage of attendance in all the
schools of tho whole number enrolled
is 75.3; in the high school classes,
74.6; in the grammar and--primary
schools, 70 4.
Schools Nos. l6, IS, 81, % and 25 are
the schools for rolnred children. They
are all taught by colored teachers
There are 30 school rooms, l,G22 sit
tincs. 20 teachers, l.542 pupils enrolled
], 139 average number belonging, and
1,02l average daily attendance. The
percentage of attendance of ths average
number belonging is 500, and of the
whole number enrolled Coz.
. The salaries Of teRchurs range from
$500 TO 81, 800 per annum. Tho eight
pupil teachers at Nc. . School are paid
Df thaaR To F,F F.,N ; Nl1 Inc.
four months of the year.
The growth Of the school system from
July LIST, 1873, to July lst. 1887, is in
dictated as follows: Number OF school
houses, then, 10; now, IS; sittings,
then, 4, SOP; now, l0Sl6; pupils en-.
rolled, then, D, I20; now, 10, 74D: average
number of pupils beunslng, then,
3, $50; now, S,0lG; Averages attendance
of pupils then, 3, $50; now, 8, 1ni
number of teachers, then, 80; now. 226.
The e5timated value of the school
sites and lots ia Sl3s 137 of buildings,
si5s. 700; Of furniture and heating ar.
rangements sIs,66 total value,
S6T5, sos.
/ The scttol tax ratio for lS9i.97 was
four mills; received from City Council,
al33, 029 81; irum State fund, Sl5,
59G. 96 from other sources, 81, j7:i. % (; all
for current expenses; total, Sl5l. 099. n.
The total expenditures for current OK,
renses was S!iS, S2s. SS; cost per capita
based on total number enrolled. Sl3 Si
based IN average number attending,
SIS IS.
The hoard received for new building
fund aud furniture, 800 600, and ex.
pended S22. 463. 49, The bunded dehi
OF the city incurred for school purposes
was August 1st 1897, S24, 1t il
redeemable September lst. 1899.
The table Of ayes OF graduates of the
High School shows that the class oil
1877 the fret recorded in the list, had
the youngest hoy graduate at IA yearF
and 10 months, and the class OF 1875
had the youngest girl graduate at II
years. The class of 1880 had the lowest
age average in tue boys department,
1G years and months; and the class
of 1894 shows the lowest average fol
girls of II and . months.
The higheat average OF boys was Ii
years and 10 months, OF girls. 10 years,
In speaking of school houses Super
intenGent Harlan says that 10 new
buildings were erected within the yeal
and no old unes were enlarged, In the
part of the city hetween Yatnall ami
Franklin and Sixth and Front streets
thera were 30 to % young children ap
plIcdulS iuT heHlS all tue year IN OlHel
parts of the city ali who asked fol
places in school got them. Tho super
intendent thinks if the present rate o
Sincrease continues the High School, l.!
September, 1855, will not be large
enough 10 receive all who are fitted tt
enter it. The school buildings have al
been kept in a good state Of repair
have been fairly well ventilated, ant
in very cold weather, have been bettn
warmed than in previous Years. Yht
ianitors have been held TO better ser
vioe than in former years in keeping
the buildings clean.
The superintendent also discusses thi
matter Of school attendance. He nOldt
he proposition to be reasonable ont
that when proper school facilities are
providnd at the public nypense, chill
dren ought to be required to attent
school. Tho total enrolment VIA
10. 749; average daily attendance, s, ,l0t
average daily absoncs of those who
were in school some part of the year
2,Gi5. After making allowance fd
several clusseH of absentees, such a
those who enter school after the no
ginning Of tho term and thuse wit
graduate al the middle of the year, o