Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-12-24
GRAND RAPIDS SCHOOLS
LOYALTY SUPPORTED
Facllte6 for Doing School Work Unexcelled :
Brief Survey of the Present and Flu
ture Of the Schools

IL mas been we'll said that the pro-
greSS and the spirit Of city are
Indicated in no better way than bv
the support given to the public schools.
Judged by this standard, every citizen
of Grand Rapids has reason to feel
proud of his city, for in few cities in
Wisconsin OF five Thousand people is
as generous support given the public
schools as here.
THE MANY FINE BUILDINGS.
This city has now school popula-
tlOn OF little over 1000 children. To
provide Accommodations for the work
OF tue schools it has two ward build
ings devoted exclusively to the work
OF the grades, two high school build
ingS, the south side school building,
as we'll as rented rooms in the church
building and for the west side kinder
| garten. These with the new high
school building, now in the process of
| construction, will be ample to
accomodate the schools in a way that
| will insure the very best school work.
Necessary and desirable Improvements,
which tend to make these buildings
| strictly modern and up-to-date. are
made as rapidly as funds will permit.
a modern heating apparatus-the
best on the market-has been installed
| In the Howe high school building this
year.
EXCELLENT SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
The facilities for doing school work
are, IN man. respects, uneXcelled in
cities in Wisconsin of this size or
even larger. Supplies needed in order
| TO do SchoOl work most effectively in
! all departments are generously pro-
vided. We have carefully selected
library OF several hundred volumes for
the use of children in the grades as
we'll as a library of about 1900 volumes
for the high schools. The latter is
especially we'll selected and embraces
some OF the most valuable reference
works for high school work in all
departments.
In addition to this the city schools
have the advantage of the use of the
T. B. Scott library. This is we'll
selected and is invaluable in many
lines Of school work In it's juvenile
department it supplements in an
admirable way the school library.
The librarian has co-operated in a
very helpful manner with the teachers
to make this collection of books of
the greatest value to the children of
the city. BY means of carefully
selected lists Of books suitable for
children In the various grades, and
through frequent consultations of
teachers, pupils and librarian, an
honest effort is being made to encourage
and direct reading on the part Of the
boys and girls in the city schools.
EQUIPMENTS THE VERY BEST.
The physical laboratory in our high
school is equalled in few high schools
in cities Of this size or even much
larger, The Importance of excellent
Laboratory facilities in the study of
the sciences can hardly be overesti-
mated. What should be an additional
source of satisfaction, is the fact that
the enrolment in our high schools is
larger than it is in the high schools in
cities Of twice our size.
The city maintains two kinder
gartens, one on the east and one on
the west side. A kindergarten
training class for the instruction Of
those who are teaching in the kinder
gartenS, is maintained in the after
Moons in the kindergarten room in the
Howe high school building, by the
director of kindergartenS.
Instruction in drawing and in music
is also given in all our schools. There
is provided supervisor of drawing
and also of music in order that the
most efficient work may be secured in
these departments.