Arizona republican., 1902-09-16
OPENING OF SCHOOL
A Good Attendance and a Promising
 Outlook.

The first school day of the new year passed off satisfactorily to everybody, though it was a day of organiza ton, rather than work. Today the real bus mess of filling little heads with big ideas will begin. Most of the day was devoted to the examining of new pupils and the organization Of classes. after which many oi the rooms were dis missed to give the teachers a chance to get things organized, for the first day of school is always a harder one for the teachers than for the pupils.
 In the grammar schools about 900 re- ported for work, and others will be coming in all the week In the Gen. tral building the first grade is smaller, as there is now but one room, instead of two as heretofore, owing to many attending the new schools. The redis- tricting Of the city, which will be ne cessary now, was not attempted yes terday, as it is first necessary to find out where each pupil lives. That work will probably be undertaken today. The second, third. fifth and sixth grades at the Central building are about as they were last year in point of numbers The fourth is crowded, the eighth is
 
 est for long time. But these things will be adjusted in a short time, so that all the grades may be properly taken care of.
 One Of the good things decided upon for the seventh and eighth grade pu- pills is for each one to provide himself with good dictionary, which costs but little, and is a wonderful help in many lines of study. Another thing that will be done, by some teachers at least, is the adoption of new plan in the study Of geography, making it practical and popular. Not, of course, to take the place of the regular lesson, but in ad- dition. To illustrate, when desirable the teacher will pick up a morning paper and take the date lines of all the tele- graph dispatches from different parts of the world and ask the pupils what they know of this place or that.
 The Central school has always prided itself on it's marching and drills. The exhibition yesterday was not one the teachers would want to be judged by. Tor the reason that so many new faces were in line that have yet to learn the school drill. But all that will come in a lew days. The value of these drills may not be appreciated by all, and ;or that reason it is proper to call atten- ton to what the teachers call their fire drill. This is for the purpose Of emptying the building quickly, and yet avoiding a panic, in case a fire should break out. In each room they have se- locted two boys to open the doors and hold them open till the room is cleared by the pupils, who are taught to march cut in good order. For the purpose of drill, the principal last year turned in the alarm frequently, and without mo- tIce to either teachers or pupils. They did their work nicely, and in short tune the teachers were able to clear the whole building in two minutes. The boys at the doors stood at their posts braYely, never knowing whether the roof was burning over their heads or whether it was a false alarm. and many of them deem it a great honor to be chosen for this duty If a fire should break out in the school house at any time parents can rest assured that it will have to be lively one to catch their children mapping.