The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-16
SUMNER PLAY Is ENDED
SCHOOLS OPEN WITH AN ATTEND
ANCE OF ABOUT $4,000.
Two High Schools Are Crowded and
Primaries Well Filled-Mrs. Nor
tons Gift to Morton school.

The schools of the city opened yesterday
to receive the pupils of the coming two
terms Of study. and, as a consequence, the
parents of about 5000 school children were
busy securing books for them last night.
The attendance was somewhat greater
than had been expected in some buildings
and the accommodations of many were
taxed to their utmost. The attendance In
the higher grades was larger than formerly
and the two high schools, the Manual
Training and Shortridge will have some
trouble in caring for all of the applicants
for admission. At the Training School the
portable rooms provided for emergencies
will be used, and with these 1t is thought
that ample facilities will be had when con-
ditions adjust themselves.
The lower grades. the primary depart
ments, were not so crowded as formerly.
In some schools, where the entrance OF
little folks of six and seven years of age
is large, the expectations of the primary
teachers were not realized. The school
teachers explain this by saying that many
parents will not send their children TO
school until after the State fair. In a ma
jority of schools short sessions were held
to-day, and as all of the schools will be
dismissed tomorrow in order that the
children may go to the fair. the work will
rot become irksome to the small boys until
the latter part of the week.
The estimates of Superintendent of
Schools Kendall On the capacity of the
schools to accommodate children attending
are nearly correct. He says no difficulty
will be had in the central part Of the city.
In the suburbs the schools will be greatly
overcrowded, and II will be a few lays be-
fore arrangements can be made 10 accom-
modate the surplus of children. Most of
the schools have been redecorated i'm the
interior, and the outside Improvements on
some of them were new to the children.
In the yards and lawns care has been taken
to add to the attractiveness of the schools,
and with the May poles and swings and
other devices for amusement the children
will have plenty OF opportunity TO enjoy
the open air during the recesses between
studies.
School No. %, at College avenue and
Twenty-frst street, will be known here
after as the Oliver Perry Morton school.
The school has been renamed after Indi-
ana's war Governor. and on Wednesday
the new name will be m by
the presentation of a life-size bronze bust
of Governor Morton to the school by his
widow The pupils of the school will par
ticipate in exercises in honor of the occa-
sion, and in response to Mrs. Morton's pre-
sentation speech Andrew NJ. Sweeney will
receive the bust On behalf of the Indianap-
oils public schools. A class of twelve OF
the older boys and girls will recite a num-
Der of Governor Norton's sayings. and will
enumerate his public services to Indiana.
The exercises will be held in the reception
hall of the school. and the principal, Miss
Jane w. Bass. invites the friends and the
families of the children and friends OF the
school to be present.
The bronze bust OF the war Governor is
said TO be an excellent likeness, and was
taken from mis- death mask. n plaster
model of the bust was entered by the
GoItlnfnr in the contest over fha Calantinn
of a design for the monument to him. but
was rejected by the board. II was bought
by o. p. Morton, jr., and on his death
given TO Mrs. Morton, who now donates
1t TO the school Mrs. Morton says the
bust will be familiar TO many OF the peo-
pie Of Indianapolis who remember Gov
ernor Morton. as IL Is without the beard
and recalls his appearance when he was
a United States senator.