The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-16
indianapolis Educational
Facilities.


The establishment of the Indiana,ol,,
Technical Institute furnishes occasion for
reviewing the educational facilities afforded
o. Indiana capital For many years the
city has taken high rank as an educational
center, but few persons. even of the citi-
zens of the city itself, are acquainted with
the facilities that we already have.
Hardly had the surveyor completed his
work of marking off the streets before the
early citizens, though few in numbers. be-
gan to plan for the education of their chill
dren. In that day there was no provision for
public or free schools. and the only means
by which to provide o. education was pri-
vate subscription. The first building devoted
10 education in this city was located at the
intersection of Kentucky Avenue and Wash
ingtOn and Illinois streets. From that little
beginning has grown the great school sys-
tenn of indianapolis, which Dr. j. Nj. Rice
editor of the Forum, placed first among all
the cities of the United States The great
school fund Of Indiana and the liberality of
the people OF our city combined have made
IL possible to attain the high standing al
ready reached.
In this work it has not all been sunshine
Just when the city first began to feel the
good influences of legislation in favor of free
schools an adverse decision of the courts
gave the work great setback When graded
schools were established in many parts of
the city and the "Old Seminary was
changed into a high school the blow came
but the broad-minded citizens could not be
defeated. though greatly discouraged. For a
time the schools languished, but after a time
the people were permitted to tax themselves
for educational purposes. From that time the
progress in public school education has been
steady and sure.
The city has been peculiarly fortunate in
those who have been selected to have gen.
eral management and control of this work.
These leaders have been men and women of
high ideals, and they have kept constantly
before themselves their high purpose. Our
educational work has been exceedingly for
tunate in its freedom from political entan-
clements and the liberal provision of the
funds necessary to meet the large expense.
Some idea of the magnitude of this work
may be had by the fact that the averag &c
enrolment for the year ending June. 1903.
was %, sos, and the average attendance q,
21z The schools are under the management
OF five school commissioners, who are elected
by the people. The system includes IS
graded schools and two high schools. The
direct mana cement of the schools is in
charge of a superintendent and two assist
ants. The special branches of German,
drawing, music and physical culture are
each in charge Of a supervisor. There are six
supervisors and five special teachers. About
SIX hundred teachers are employed in the
elementary schools and one hundred in the
high schools The total amount paid the
teachers OF Indianapolis pubic schools fol-
the year ending hume, 1900, was $497. 42S. 40
and the total expense OF the schools for the
same period was $50. 6O1. IS. The OF
study in the grade schools covers a period
of eight years and that in the high school is
four years. Those graduating from the
high schools admitted to the leading uni
versities OF the country.
1t should not be forgotten that. although
the capital city has public school system
of more than average grade, an estimate
including only these schools would be very
incomplete. For number of years we have
had the adva . age of one of the leading col
leges of the state, and we also have prOfes
sional schools fr the study of medicine
law and dentistry, well as some of th'
best business colleges of the country. TheI
there are the hOols for the education o
young women. I'd the very excellent mus
schools.
No city in the country can furnish bette
location for a hgh-grade university II
which literary work as we'll as professional