The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-09-16
CITY SCHOOLSOPEN TODAY
They viii Be Very Much Crowded
This Year.
CHILDREN SHOULD ENTER FIRST DAY
President ChsrIton's Letter Transmitting
the Annual Report to the School
Board and the Showing Made.


The Post yesterday asked Superintendent
Barnett for statement covering certain
points Of the school work which are deemed
essential In forwarding the educational
interests Of the city. Mr., Barnett called
especial attention to the injustice inflicted
on the taxpayers who support the schools
By certain class of parents who seek to
ndsrepresent the ages of their children In
order to avoid the payment of tuition.
1t seems that it is very hard to adjust a
part of the public conscience TO truth-tel-
Ing when rigid veracity involves the pay
ment of either school tuition or railway
fare. Parents who would scorn to tell an
untruth on other subjects and who would
hesitate to set an example Of the kind in
other matters appear TO deem as miSrep-
resentation of their chlldren's ages as per-
fectly legitimate when the end In view is
to escape the payment of tuition or save
car fare. In speaking of the various points
In school work, Mr. Barnett said
we expect the schools to be very much
crowded this year. No new buildings have
been constructed and the scholastic popua-
tlon has increased very rapidly eacn year.
Some children may have as much as
q mile to walk to get to the school in their
district, but many of the parents OF these
same children had to walk much as two
ercise Is a good thing.
Every pupil who lives outside the city
limits should so state II To the teacher
when applying for admission. Parents do
great Injustice to the child when they
have the cnild state that the residence
of his parents is In the city limits whom
1t is not. We need public conscience on
such matters.
Another trouble we have to contend
with constantly Is the admission Of chill
dren under years of age. Children under
s years of age are required to pay tuition.
There are people who have their children
state that they are years OF age when the
teacher can see at q glance that Il Is not
true. These parents ought TO think of the
example they are setting their children
when they make such false representations.
rev years ago q parent told ne She had
put her child in school az and gave his
age at and that for the two following
years he kept her in dread for fear he
would disclose the fact at school. She
was placing another child In school at the
time of this confession and she said that
she had been punished enough. she would
never misrepregcnt ages OF her children,
III there Is room for the children under
the age of we viii certainly give them
seats at the tuition rates established by
see the scholastic age lowered TO ADMIT
children m years OF age but that Is I'm
possible as long as We are needing school
room badly as we are.
Understand me, ] would he glad to sec
tine buildings located moro conveniently and
this viii he the case when the new build
faction to the people Of the Third ward
II some Of the large property owners would
spe their way to donate school site IN
convenient locality for the children OF the
Third ward. Almost anywhere between
Dallas and Congress lvenues would be
convenient. There is only one building in
this ward and the children have TO be sent
20 Hamilton street, LOngtelow and Taylor,
also the Fannin school OF course the High
school is in the Third ward but we have
,nly High school pupils here from the en-
lire city and so far as the lower grades are
concerned II might as well be anywhere
-sNo matter what grade child VIII enter
II Is important that he enters the first day
The firSt who come will be given tue
Ieats II they are entitled to them Those nose
in where they belong. Then again the
public schools go to work at once we 10
bot spend a week on ,prellmlnarles. Reel;
tations will he heard on Tuesday ana
book lists ana examinations Will be held
Monday for those desiring TO enter Tor
the hrst time and for those who desire to
get into higher grade.
\ 4 I
The annual school report for 1900 1901
has been issued. 1t contains 1O2 pages,
exclusive Of the cover An epitome Of the
pamphlet and brief summary of the COM
prehensive work of the public schools, rs
set out in the school report, IS contained
in the letter from President James CharI-
ton, transmitting it to the board.
In his letter. Mr.. Charlton calls special
attention to the proposed Industrial school
for girls which the state will establish at
some point not yet settled upon and it
urges an effort on the part OF Houston to
secure this institution as an adjunct TO
the High school. In his letter, Mr.. Charlton
says:
the bylaws | take pleasure in presenting
our superintendent annual report of the
efforts nude by the faculty and students
under his control during the past year aud
the resuts-results that speak Wei Tor the
harmony and ntewst prevailing at the
'uresent time In our schools, as shown by
the remarkable statement that ont OF a
total net enrolment of $3.50 pupils there
was not a single expulsion, and but TWO
inctual suspensions for the entire past term,
/ ask n close scrutiny of Superintendent
barnett, in his report and recommends
tions, feeling that not only members of the
board but the supporters OF our schools
and all others Interested In their welfare
will be amply repaid for the time cen
sThe past has been laden more than or.
dinarily with events adversely affecting
our school work First came the never-to-
be-forgOtten storm of September s, I'M
roofing and otherwise damaging every one
OF our buildings. Yet we went to work
with will to restore them, and our open
ing day was deferred huS one week. The
loss of the Fannin school building entail
ed but the loss of single day: and Is
now reHNA 10 Ot htthliths III tht fdEil
part of this year an effort on the part OF
one or two members Of the city council
was made 10 hamper orr work by resolu
lions otherwise, and to prevent the pay
ment to the board of its portion Of funds
provided In the years budget. II met tn,
fate II deserved but l am pleased to say
that the mayor and n majority Of The
council have done all in their power e
assist the board in carrying out its wo !
and meeting obligations to teachers anC
others have reason to believe that Tho
dts finances the coming year will be suct
ae q enable the council for know II l:
fheir desre) 10 so provide the funds thai
the board will not have TO keep teacher!
MA janltors out of their money a day
longer than is necessary to prepare The
rolls ! feel that ! but express the boards
qualification at the councils submission
also the boards appreciation for the con
6dence Of the taxpayers In them. as shown
by the vote for school bonds. and | can
promise an early EFFORT to Increase oul
room capacity.
Your effort 10 comply with promise made
10 give free books has met with general
CONTAMINATION In the past, as will also
your further action which VIII bring The
free books up TO and including the fourth
grade this year
II can not close without expressing thu
hone not new with me, but expressed by
former presidents OF the board tina; the
time viii come, and IL can not come toe
eoon, whgn we viii he provided with build
sngs and funds sufficient so that we can
lower the scholastic age Of admission. and
takc IN children. 4 not at 8, certainly az
Of age There Is much more TO be
"a I In