The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-15
NEAR TEN THOUSAND
PUPILS ENROLLED IN CITY AND
COUNTY SCHOOLS LAST YEAR.
UNIFORM TEXTBOOK LAW
BELIEVED TO BE OF ADVANTAGE
TO CHATHAM.

l. 1enchers Are E1nc1ent and Faith
ful-Public Library "a Great Bene-
tit.
The thirty-eighth annual report of the
public schools of the city and county
shows that the total enrolment of pu-
pills for 1902 was 9164, with 1873 teach
ers. In the city there were ten white
schools with an enrolment of 4,517, and
in the county twelve white schools with
an enrolment of $40. There were four
colored schools in the city with an en-
rollment of 2.S12, and in the county
twenty-seven eolored schools, with an
enrolment of 1.695. There was a de-
Inand for seats in the colored schools
exceeding the supply, but the best adj
vantage was made of the facilities at
the hands of the Board of Education.
During the year the health of the
children was unusually good, the num-
Der of cases of contagious diseases be
ing less than in many years. a hearty
cooperation with the school board has
been extended by the City Health De-
partment. The closest attention ds
given to the hygienic conditions of the
school room, and every reasonable pre-
caution is taken to prevent the origin
and spread of diseases. The new form
of drinking fountain at Chatham Acad
envy has proved a success, solving the
problem of affording facilities for pro-
viding water for the children, and also
doing away with the danger arising
from the contact with drinking vessels.
The superintendent strongly recon-
mended this new form of fountain.
In speaking of the physical conditions
existing in the schools the superintend-
ent SAYS: I'm the city the physical
conditions of the schools are very good,
and no extensive repairs are needed at
this time. Our new school buildings
are models of comfort and convenience,
and their equipment is all that is nee
essary for the best school work. In
the county white schools conditions are
excellent. Conditions are far from sat
isfactory in many of the colored
schools, but their bettermcnt at no dis
tant date is earnestly to be hoped"
The Uniform Textbook.
In speaking of the recently enacted
law requiring the use of uniform text
books in all the public schools of the
state, except in districts operated I'M
der local systems, like that in Chat
ham county, Supt. Ashmore says:
While this law does not effect our
schools directly, it may do so indi-
rectly, and to their advantage. In
der the new law the adopted school
books will undoubtedly be furnished
to pupils at much less cost than at
present. While schools operated I'M
der local laws are exempt under the
terms of the act from the use of the
uniform textbooks prescribed by the
State Board of Education, they are
nevertheless entitled to. the discounts
in the prices of such books of the
uniform list as are used in these local
systems. 1t is reasonably certain that
some of the books now used in our
schools will be on the uniform list
adopted by the state, and hence a
corresponding advantage will accrue
to the pupils of our schools using
such books. In consideration, there
fore, of the advantages suggested
above, it would be wise, think, for
the board to defer any action looking
to a change in our own textbooks, ex-
cept in cases of great urgency, until
it be known what books the state will
adoDt.
Savannah has always been conser-
vative in the change of text
books, and 1 think wisely so, but it is
only reasonable to expect the changes
absolutely necessary to keep the
schools abreast of the times"
Teachers and Public Library.
In discussing the corps of teachers
the superintendent says: During the
year a constant effort has been made
to improve the character of the teach
ing force. To this end weekly meet
ings of the Normal Class have been
held and the most important topics re-
lating to practical school work have
been studied and discussed. The an
nual supply of new teachers makes 1t
absolutely necessary to repeat from
time to time the standard of instruc-
lions in methods and management, and
for the older teachers there is constant
need for new inspiration and fresh
thought. The teachers of our schools
possess exceptional advantages for i'm
provement in their profession and / am
glad to say that almost all of them
avail themselves of their opportunities.
The teachers own and sustain one of
the best pedagogical libraries in the
South, where all the best and latest
works on education are collected. and
nearly all the educational periodicals
in this country are found. The OPP
portunities for visiting the classes of
other teachers is also of great value"
y
Supt Ashmore says: "As an educa-
tional factor in our city the public Ii
brary recently opened will play an i'm
portant part. A public library is al
ways a valuable adjunct to the public
schools. childrens department is a
special feature of the library and every
opportunity will be afforded to the
young to form the valuable habit of
reading good books. The library now
contains about $4,000 volumes, and
others will soon be added. The educa-
tional opportunities thus afforded will
be utilized by the schools, and an effort
made to cultivate in the minds of the
young taste for reading the best liter
allure of the age"
school AccOmm OdatiOns.
In discussing the school accommoda-
ton the report says: I'm every grow
ing. city like Savannah constant pro-
vision must be made for increasing
school population, and II is often wise
to anticipate the inevitable conditions
of a city's growth and its educational
needs. During the next year we shall
probably be able to accommodate in the
white schools all who apply, though
at first q little crowding and some
establishments in distribution seem to
be indicated Every school room in
the city will be needed to accommo-
date the pupils Sooner or later the
conditions at the Barnard Street School
VIII demand the attention Of the board
and IL would be wise, ] think. TO give
some preliminary thought 20 these con-
ditions before they become more acute.
1T Is matter Of regret that quite
a number Of the negro children are
IA 10 accommodated