Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-01-02
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Interesting Statistics In superintendent
Twitmyer's First Report.

q The 18Th annual report Of the De-
partment OF Public Education, mention
OF which was made lew days ago, is q
most interesting and we'll printed BOOK
and reflects credit upon the publisher,
The Star Publishing Co., the work
manship being fine.
1t ia Superintendent George W, Twit.
myers first annual report and shows
careful and systematic preparation, and
in it the superintendent gives interest
ing data. 1t contains cuts of the Hiph
School, No. %, No. 8 and the Howard
School. The following statistics are
gwen:
There are employed in the white
schools, 2IO teachers, an increase of 20
over last year; the total enrolment of
pupils was ll,019, decrease Of &,
but the average number belonging was
$500, an increase Of 5-3 over last year:
the average daily attendance was 3, 47G,
an increase of 1913 over last year. The
per cent Of attendance IN the High
School was 96,7, and in tbs primary
and grammar grades, IA. The num-
her Of oolored teachers was 36, an in
crease of 2, and tine whole number OF
coIored pupils enrolled was l,j60, an
| increase Of 10 over last yer. The total
| tluuuub Vi lluudS oNpouhUh III
books and supplies and fuel was sl63,
0I3. AZ; the cost of books and stationery
! for each Pupil was 81. 30, and the whole
cost for each pupil, based on the total
| number enrolled was Sl57 During
the year there wns received from City
Council Si62, 792. II, this heirg PASS
per cent Of the total amount Of the
city's appropriation for current ex
| penses.
During the past year the city appro
pr ated for police purposes S19. 500. 20,
while it appropriates for the erection
OF new school houses and for the educR.
tion OF ll,000 children SlS2. 792. II.
The schools OF our city cost a large sum
of money for their maintenance, but
the ratio OF the amount expended upon
them. when compared with tbs entire
revene of the city, IS not high in COM
lArison with the expenditure of some
cities in which schools of the highest
grade are to be found as the following
table will show: Scranton, Fa, spends
36 per cent of her entire revenue !;
Cleveland o., 81 PER cent; Cincinnati,
o., 33 per cent; Kansas City, Mo-, 33
per cents Oakland, CAL, 49, . per cent I;
indianapolis, Ind, 20 per cent: Denver,
Col, % per cent; Chicago, ILL.,, "a per
cent; Omaha, Neb., "a per cent; De.
tToit, Mich, 24.37 per cent; Whining
ton, Del, 2i.SS per cent,
The following recommendations are
made to the Board Of Public Education
LOOKING toward the increased etiic ency
of the schools: "A thorough revision Of
the course of study In the elementary
schools so as to Ering it into fuller con
forrlity TO our needs and modern educa-
tional thought and practice; the exten-
sion OF the High School course to four
years, with liberal provision for cleo
tives; the introduction Of sewing into
the upper primary grades; the oxten-
sion OF manual training in the form oil
constructive work in all the grades he
low the High School; more complete
system Of keeping records in account
with the pupils, so as to insure better
care OF the text books furnished by the
Hoard OF Education; a thorough over.
hauling or remodeling of some OF the
sanitaries in the interests OF cleanliness
and the health of the children; the
establishment OF G pedagogical librar,
in connection with the principals RounC
Table Library, open to all of the teachers
OF the city the establishment of ar
ungraded school for the better training
of children, requiring special care and
, instruct on.
Tho report Of the assistant superin
tendent, Miss Mary q. |. Williams
details tie results OF her observation O
| the work in the primary schools. IL
: her visits of supervision she has paic
{ special attention to the teacher !
! method of instruction and discipline
| skill in questioning, her manner, voic,
Gnd lans uage, arrangement of black
/ board wOrR, neatness OF her desk aGc
OF the room, position Of pupils at sea
ard during recitation, ard the venti q
( ton OF the room. The most signitican
change made during the year was plac
: ing the Frinoil a s of the pr mary SCHOOL,
: in the posit on to supervise all grade
Q in their buildings, and making her th,
gnide and Inspiration of her teacher
and the sympathetic friend Of the chill
! dren. The meetings Of the Primar.
Teachers Association were largely at
I tended. .
/ In the death of Miss Sallie A. Taylor
q principal of School No. 20. the prImar.
schools lost a most efficient teacher
Those under her have lost guide unt
l. counsellor whose nart will be hard t
Q fill, and the little children have lost
4 Kind friend and teacher who's on
wish was to help them.
A. II. Berlin, principal OF the Higl
n School, in his report, touches upon ever
O phase of its management Means to ad
: vance the school, to incresse the mum be
OF pupils, thus adding to the intelli
gence and the wealth of community, b.
q says, are more advantageous arrange
- ment of the curriculum; closer articu
. lation with the grammar grades below
o u single flexible course from which
: pupil may select the studies which wi
a make for preparation 10 his life work
It to give who are intellectually sron
% greater opportunities for Investigation
n to permit the stronger pupils to tinis
n the course IN three yeara by increasin
|. he amount Of subjects studied.
Ir Athlstics under proper regulation an
o supervision can be made productive I
"a a nigh spirit of loyalty to and enthusi
ann for the schools.
II The transfer of the pupils Of the sixt
o grammar grade has been attended wit
b the happi st effect. They have met th
10 demands made upon them by their me-
10 cond tions, and both discipline and ar
70 plicAtion to the more serious duties {
e the schools have been oheerfully com
1t piled with. The advance 10 attendant
10 and schoarship was steady throughou
p the term.
In the Howard High School durin
the year 964 pupils we're enrolled with
percentage of attendance for the year {
i87.
D. The professional spirit OF the teacher
Is man tested ny the fact that out of
of corls OF 20, 10 attended summt
school in 1900, and seven took course
% ON Saturdays at the University of Penn
sYlyania during the yenr. The publi