The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-08-12
GROWTH OF SCHOOLS
NINE THOUSAND AND SEVENTY
THREE PUPILS LAST YEAR.
SUPT. ASHMORE'S REPORT.
SHOWS INCREASE OF 500 PUPILS,
10 TEACHERS AND IL ASSISTANTS.
The City


school Children Now Live south of
GNvinnett street The COIored
schools Predetermined for New
COlOred school in southwestern
sectlOn-The Sanitary Conditions
of All the Schools ExceIIent-Su-
perintendeRt Praises the Teachers
for Their Work-Condition of the
Country Schools.
The annual report of Superintendent
of Public Schools. Otis Ashmore, was
the chief matter of interest before the
August meeting of the Board of Edu-
cation yesterday afternoon.
The superintendent report is an in
teresting review of the work of the
public schools. The year was one of
substantial progress. The total enroll
ment of pupils in the county was 9,073,
an increase of 500 over last year. The
enlargement of the Chatham Academy
and the erection of the Thirty eighth
Street School building improved the
conditions for effective school work.
Ten new teachers were added during
the year. Added to this number, the
twelve assistants employed in the
teachers 202.
The statistical part of the superin-
tendents report shows several facts
OF interest One is proof of the steady
growth of the city's population south
ward. few years ago there was no
70
sic and Barnard street schools accom-
modating the pupils beyond that limit.
There are now in the white schools
more than loo children living south of
| Gwinnett street
Sanitary Conditf6nsD Excellent.
The physical condition of the white
schools, the superintendent said, is ex-
eellent and their equipment about all
that can be desired. The new school
| buildings are models OF comfort and
convenience Superintendent Ashmore
| is in favor of large school buildings
| instead of small ones. The size of the
| building should be limited, he believes,
| only to the supervision of the princf-
| pal. At present, he said, there is suf-
ficient school room for the white chill
| or two the pressure will be severely
felt as 1t was several years ago before
! the present new buildings were erected
| This pressure will be first at the Henry
street school where there has always
been a. heavy demand for
Accommodations. This demand can
only be supplied by adding
to the building the wings
provided for in the plans when the
building was erected.
The superintendent dealt at some
| length with the problem of furnish
| ing accommodations for the colored
children of the city, The present de-
Fnaflds for another school. he said, i'm
dicate that 1t should be in the south
| western section of the city
OF the health conditions in the
schools Superintendent Ashmore said:
THE records show that there has
been little sickness. The sanitary con-
-ditions are excellent, and are strictly
| maintained by close and constant SUI
| pervision."
Praise for the Teachers.
OF the teachers the superintendent
! said: There has been a constant eff
! fort to increase the efficiency of the
| teaching force. Weekly meetings of
| the normal class have been held, and
| such courses of study pursued as were
deemed best The primary work re-
| ceived much attention.
The superintendent spoke in high
terms of the general work of the
teachers.
ut gives me much pleasure" he said
Ito state that our teachers are earnest
and faithful in the discharge of their
duties and with but few exceptions
they are doing satisfactory work The
very nature of good teaching demands
earnestness, enthusiasm and a fresh
ness that comes only from recent con-
tact with the best educational thought
of the age. Our teachers have excep-
tionally good faculties for constant i'm
provement. An excellent professional
library, containing all of the best books
on education and nearly all of the edu-
cational periodicals published In this
country is sustained by the teachers
themselves. The use of the library is
governed by regular library rules, by
which teachers are offered every facil-
ity for reading and study.
THE work of supervision by the
principals differs considerably in the
different schools. This supervisory
work by the principals is of very great
Importance and every facility should
be afforded for its proper execution
Young and inexperienced teachers need
constant guidance, and the entire work
of the school needs the watchful care
of the principal
1T is fortunate for the school IL the
principal has an assistant who can
permit him to give a considerable por-
ton of his time to the supervisory
work of the school. A special effort