The Nome nugget., 1904-04-02
SCHOOL
 REPORT ' Statement of Receipts and Expenditures
DURING PAST YEAR
Together With an Interesting Account of the Progress
 Made by the Schools.

Following is detailed statement of the condition of the public schools, as well as an itemized account of the re- ceipts and expenditures from April l, 1903, to April l, 1904:
 The history of the Nome schools dates from April 9, 1899, when the sys- tenn was regulated by the U. $. bureau of Education
 In 1901 Nome was placed under muni- cipal organization and in pursuance of laws modified at this time by congress, a 50 per cent. allotment of all moneys collected from licenses was to be used for school purposes.
 During that year the Board of Edu- cation proceeded to utilize the money by erecting the present Seward build ing and equipping it with necessary apparatus and also establishing the Bridge school. From 1901 to present date a school has been regularly con- ducted in both buildings during nine months of each year.
 School statistics indicate steady in- crease in enrolment of pupils during the past three years. but never has the influx of pupils been so great as during the present year.
 School reports show that the great est enrolment for any month during l9Ol-O2 was 9S pupils, and highest aver age daily attendance S7.l for l902-03 en- rollment of l2l and attendance los. :: for l9O3-04 (tO date enrolment lS3 and attendance of l42.
 During the present term the enroll ment indicates d decided increase over the previous two years and the quality of work instituted shows the result of the educational interest manifested by the present school board in endeavoring to make the Nome schools rank second to none. The fall term opened on Sep tember l. with an enrolment of l33 pupils, which has increased to lS3.
 The location of Nome is detrimental to the rapid growth of any organization and this is particularly appliable to the school system. On account of the isO- lated position and lack of communica- tion with the outside world during eight of the school months the school board and teachers have been unable to secure supplies as the need of them be- came apparent.
 The annual changes in the board and corps of teachers has proved detriment- al, inaSmuch as material that should have been secured for the ensuing years work were disregarded and ne- glected and the schools compelled to open without proper equipment of books and apparatus suitable to the continued increase in growth of the schools.
 With these obstacles confronting it the Board of Education realizing the needs of more perfectly organized system and more complete course of study, proceeded to meet the want by formulating detailed course of study that embraces all the grade work from the primary and including four years high school course. The aim in draft ing this work was to make it complete, up-to-date, practical, systematic and in harmony with courses of study pursued in. the best schools in the states.
 In order to carry out consistently the course of work outlined and that best possible results might be obtained, it became necessary to make some altera- tions in the Seward building, viz: changing closets into book rooms and store room for apparatus being pro- duced for scientific work and the fitting up of a room on the third floor to ac- tllc HUI duN Slhuu TduCS that heretofore had been disregarded as school grades. It was also found necessary to provide better system of ventilation. This demand was satisfied by the removal of toilets located on the second floor, and instituting a heating system in the toilets on lower floor.
 One of the much appreciated features of the school system of Nome is the night school. It is conducted from November to the end of May, from pm. to 10 pm. for five evenings each week in the Seward building. This di- vision also shows an increase of enroll ment over previous years. It is under the management and is a part Of the public school system. The books and supplies used by day pupils are likewise furnished free of cost to night school students by the school board.
 It is the intention of the present Board of Education to fulfill the char. acter of work that has been so carefully outlined.
 l.. l.. SAWYER,
 Secretary Board of