The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-09-28

Mr.. James F. Post, chairman of the
school committee of district No. 1, and
chairman of the joint committees, in
forms us that the public graded and
high schools of the city will open for
the fall term on Monday, October Sth.
By way of getting in readiness for the
work before them a meeting Of the
teachers will be held at 4 p. m. Friday,
October 5th at the Hemenway school
building. Regular notice of the meet
ing will be given later.
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BUILD
INGS.
During the summer months the
school committees, with the progress
sive spirit that has always character
lied them, have been interchangeable in
providing additional rooms to antici-
pate the increased attendance expected
al the coming session
Notable among some of the improve
ments are those at the Union scnool
building which has been handsomely
painted and repaired inside and out
side. More library space has been ar
ranged for, and the surroundings of the
building generally have been oke
after.
Two additional rooms lave been pro-
yided at the Peabody school (colored)
to obviate the necessity Of renting o.
side buildings, as has been customary
heretofore to accommodate the pupils
attending that school. With these adj
tional rooms the school, now a a seat
ing capacity for 600 pupils, and this
rrangement will bring all the pupils
under one principal.
The most decided improvement, how
ever, have been made at the Hemenway
school. A nice two room annex has
been built on the south end of the main
building, extending from the east side
towards Sixth street, and giving this
school twelve large, comfortable school
rooms. The new annex is a reproduce
ton of the one facting it on the north
end. With the north and south an
nexeS, all the rooms Of the school prac-
tically will be under one roof, as both
anneXeS are connected with the main
building by covered passage ways.
The new addition will give the Hem
enway building a seating capacity for
$50 pupils. With its annexes, this build
ng is unquestionably one Of the best
school houses in the state. 1t is GER
tainly one of the best arranged n is
a model of convenience and comfort.
The ample grounds surrounding the
building are to to be improved n
beautified at an early date. The an
neXes from a court on the Sixth street
side and the grounds are to be turfed
and a fountain will be erected in the
centre.
1t all the schools where additional
rooms have been provided, the rooms
have been equipped with the most
modern furniture, consisting of desks,
b~lackbOardS etc.
OUR SCHOOLS ARE UP TO DATE.
Well informed people say that the
public schools of Wilmington compare
favorably with similar institutions in
any of the great northern cities where
millions are spent in their support. In
this connection We have in mind one
system of public schools in a city 49,
600 inhabitants where several times
the money is expended as is spent here
in this cause and where the population
is about twice that of u city. 1t is
evident from this fact that the money
expended on public schools in Will
mington is economically, wisely and
judiciously spent. This is conclusive
evidence, too, hat the school interests
agement and in the hands of those well
qualified to look after them.
This reminds us to say that If anyone
at any time has had any doubt as to
he Importance and necessity Tor pub
lie school education, they need only to
visit the public schools of Wilmington
and talk with the enthusiastic school
committeeman and the faculties of the
various schools in order to have their
doubts dispelled and make them firm
adherentS and supporters of public
school education.
STUDYING THE BEST METHODS.
AS an evidence of their great inter-
est in the public chools here, many Of
the teachers have spent the summer In
II n0-fh fnn flaws orl
observing the methods followed in
the schools of different cities.
Miss Nellie Cook, the supervising
principal, accompanied by Miss Kate
Johnson and Miss Kate Marlborough,
spent some time in Washington, D.. c.,
looking into the methods of the graded
and high chools of that city.
Miss F1orina G.. Worth, principal of
the high school, spent three or four
weeks making observation in the pub
lie school sof Philadelphia, and since
has been attending the Columbia uni
versity, Jew York CITY,.
Miss Daisy Bailey Watt a investi-
gated the methods in the New York
and Boston schools n is now at Am
herst college, Massachusetts,.
Mis- Gertrude M. Bagby spent some
time looking into the Washington
hoo and is now investigating the
model school system of L%ynchburg, Va
eNAS wv 90
the public schools of New York and
Boston gaining information for use in
the work here.
Many of the teachers are already in
the city and those not here are ex-
pcted during this and next week.. They
will all come back refreshed and bet
ter equipped for the work in which
they nave so heartily and zealously
enlisted.
Mrs. Mcleod, the capable and expe-
rienced principal of the Hemenway
school. took her outing at Mt. Airy,
and Is back in the city ready for the
work. Last year b closed her Goth
years service in this work, and no
doubt she and her efficient corp Of
teachers Will be proud OF the very
handsome edifice which the school COM
mittee has so literally provided for
them.
We are glad to see that the efficient
and valued services of Misses Nellie
Cook, principal Of the Union school,
have been recogni.ed in her recent