The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24

The public school is the most demo-
cratic of American institutions. 1t is
the university of the common people in
which the boys and girls destined to be-
come voters and mothers of the Republic,
receive their training for the grave duties
and responsibilities of citizenship. 1t is
therefore natural and reasonable that
public education should be a matter of
such deep concern with the people of
Wilmington.
Nothing is more indica.ive or the
intelligence and advanced civilization OF
a commonwealth than it's interest in
popular education and the facilities
which it has provided for communicate
ing knowledge to the masses. Meas
ured by this standard Wilmington oc-
cnpies an enviable position among the
leading municipalities of the South.
Only those who study the educational
affairs and history of this city can I'M
derstand the grand and rapid progress
that has been made within the past sew
eral years. This progress is real pro-
gfess. not merely change from something
old and long established to something
new. The progress consists first in the
increased efficiency Of teachers. Second
i'm executive ability and in management
and greatly improved equipment, third.
in the nominal cost of educarion: fourth.
in the grading of pupils and uniformity
in school books.
No city in North Carolina affords facil-
tiles for primary and secondary educa-
tion superior. and in but few are they
equalled The course of instruction IS
thorough. the teachers experienced ana
competent, the expenditures liberal and
as a consequence the schools rank with
the best. The best systems in the coun
try have been carefully examined anu
the .conrse of study so arranged as to
adopt the best thought of the new cdn-
cation to the solid requirements Of the
essential studies. The course Of study
is being looked to by superintendent
and principals in other cities and towns
in the State as guide which could be
safely conservative. Much care has
been bestowed upon the course of study.
as its Importance demands. and the
course will compare favorably with the
best schools throughout the country.
The following are the names or the
different school buildings with the num-
Der Of pupils attending each
Union and Union annex 675 pupils.
GAO pupils.
1'ileston High School III pupils.
Willeston tcolored) and Willeston an
mex. 400 pupils.
Peabody (colored) and Peabody annex,
400 pupils.
There are five teachers In the High
School, thirteen in the Helnenway and
annex Fourteen in the Union and an
mex. eleven in the Peabody (col). and
annex and eleven in the Willeston (col.),
and annex.
The total value of the school property
including buildings, grounds and furni-
ture is $4,000.
The officers of the schools are as fol-
lows:
j. j Blair, Superintendent.
School Committee, District No. /:
James j. Post. Jr, chairman.
Edwin Borden.
k. j. Jones.
School committee, District No. 2:
Jas. H. Chadbourn, chairman.
w X. Kenan.
Samuel Northrop.
The course of study in the grammar
schools includes spelling, reading, writ
ing, language and composition. arithme-
tic, geography, physical geography, his
tory of the United States, science, vocal
music, English grammar, ciyics and ply
siology. In the High School the follow
ing subjects are taught: Arithmetic.
Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Latin.
Science, English. Grammar, English.
Literature, Rhetoric, History and
Spelling.
The physical condition Of the pupils,
their needs and desires for physical ex-
ercises are carefully looked after by the
teachers who well know that a slow
circulation Of the blood often causes
dullness and inattention, and that child
rem who have a restless and uneasy
disposition require an outlet for the sur
plus vitality, and the necessary training