Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-12-20

year has been one OF marked
v and substantial growth In our
public schools. Ali workers have
added to acquired skill and power re-
newed energy and devotion, Teachers
principals and supervisors have We'd
with one another In an effort not only
10 maintain but 10 raise the former high
standard. A spirit of unity and en-
thuslasm has prevailed. and deyo-
ton to the best interests OF the schools
has characterized the efforts OF teach
ers and principals alike The frequent
grade meetings have been well attend
ed, and thus they have furnished an
evidence Of u high professional spirit
Principals have given supervision their
closest attention and they have been
well guided by proficient supervisors
With these facts In mind the excellent
results secured occasion no surprise
The attendance of the year ending
June 80, 1902, was the heaviest in the
history Of the schools, while the school
enumeration showed an increase OF only
1925 over the previous yer, the increase
In attendance was more than double
this number. Oil per cent of all chill
dren between and Is being In school,
against 1913 per cent for the year pre-
cedlng Based on enrolment there were
46 pupils per teacher. and based on av-
erage attendance. IS, over 30 per cent
of the total number entered during the
first month. lO,26s pupils continued from
the beginning gutll the close Of the
year In June.
on Monday, Sept e the schools OPP
ened for the present year under au-
splcious conditions During the first
month the record Of attendance showed
an Increase OF 1900 over the closing
month of last year This unprecedent-
cd increase taxed the seating capacity
Of all buildings and made double ses-
sions necessary In parts OF the city
where there Rad been ample room here
tOfore, Under these conditions the
board has been compelled TO require
pupils to attend school in their respec-
tive districts even against the protest
Of parents in some cases. In few IN
stances pupils were transferred to an
other district by reason Of several
slight changes III boundaries. The cree
ton OF a l5.r0om building at the head
OF State street will give needed relief
TO the eastern part Of the city at the
beginning OF the next school year How
ever, another OF the same size Will
really be necessary to place the schools
OF the whole city on u good working
basis. Thereafter one new l5-room
building each year would not more than
satisfy the demand. IL is unfortunate
that the school Law does not al present
give the board source OF sufficient
revenue 10 meet this yearly demand for
additional room. Unless some provision
be made soon, work In the schools VIII
be seriously checked. our citizens can
well AFFORD to give this matter their
most serious thought.
With the exception Of two rooms
halliday sessions are al present con-
fined TO beginners classes, and this
condition does not prevail over the
whole city. Pupils In rooms where half
day sessions are conducted, although
they are IN school three hours daily in
stead Of four have essentially the same
advantages as others. because an eX-
eeptionally strong teacher-One fitted
by nature and training for this class OF
works. always selected for them.
With the aid OF young but promising
assistant teacher she is able TO give
more individual attention 10 her pupils
than they receive IN rooms where but
enc teacher Is present Thus the little
ones In such schools have constant and
most careful direction az time when
IL Is most essential to their welfare. 4
careful inspection shows that these pu-
pills reach the first grade as early aud
are practically as proficient as those
that were trained under apparently
more favorable conditions.
Pupils above the beginners class are
the ones that suffer most on account
VI the cUngested condition OF some
buildings Recitation rooms intended
originally for u or 20 pupils during al
ternate periods OF the day must seat
permanently almost twice that num-
Der and class rooms with a capacity
Of a. must accommodate more than ~.
Several buildings have three or four
teachers and over 100 pupils more than
designed In their construction But
-3ese untoWard conditions are met with
Increased application on the part
teachers With whom constant and sub
stantlal Advancement is the waichWord
regardless of the required effort.
The kindergarten is not yet a part Of
our oity school system. but II Is con-
hdehtly hoped that the very near future
will see It's Introduction. a little en-
enlargement from the Legislature APP
pearB TO be all that Is needed
Beginning with the present year the
board OF education very wisely mao
provision for high school work In the
eastern part Of the city. For this pur-
bose the Bryant building. formerly used
exclusively for the grades. has been ap-
TopriAtsd. II has an admirable To-