The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-21
SCHOOL BOARD ASKS
THE PEOPLES ADVICE
Issues Statements Requesting
Suggestions as to High
School Studies.

School Studies.
The people are asked by the board
of school inspectors for suggestions as
to how the problems with which they
are confronted are to be solved. The
questions under consideration relate to
high school conditions and the rear
rangement Of exercises in the several
grades of the city schools.
1.-THE members Of the board wish to
have the advice of the public on these
matters which are Of vital interest
to all, and they do not wish to proceed
to make changes which are felt to be
necessary before they have secured a
popular expression of opinion" said
School Inspector Charles A. Fisher,
chairman of the committee.
1.-THE investigation has revealed
clearly what has been known for
long time, that the present high schools
are cramped and that more space Is
needed. The manner in which we are
to solve the question of providing the
required facilities will depend upon
The statement follows:
At present we have four high schools,
the Oldest and largest being the Central,
corner Of Tenth and Minnesota streets;
Mechanic Arts, Central, and Park ave-
nues; the Cleveland. Walsh avenue and
jerks street and the Humboldt, Livings
ton avenue and Delos street.
For the purpose Of showing the condi-
ton of these schools the board has pre-
pared a statement giving the size, ca
paeity and cost of maintaining each of
the schools.
Expenses of Four High Schools.
The Central high school has thirty
three rooms, with four laboratories and
six shop rooms. The rooms range in size
from 15X24 to 29x41. The average daily
teachers forty. The cost of janitors' serv
ice is $1,450; fuel, $1.80823; supplies.
$1,000; teachers salaries. from Sept: 1903,
to Febrg s9r ~ 1904 s2O2I9; total ex-
last semester, $22.28; per capita 1902 and
1903, $42.02.
The Mechanic Arts high school has
fourteen class rooms, two laboratories
and five shop rooms, and the rooms
range in size from 24x15 TO 60x40. The
average daily attendance is S87,
and there are % teachers. The total
expenses are $14,963.O3. The per capita
cost, last semester, was $3711, and
during the past two years, $685.
The Cleveland high school has eight
rooms, two laboratories, one shop room,
and the rooms range in size from 11x15
to 31x6O. The average daily attend
ance is 181, and the number of teach
ers, IL. The total expenses, $6,714.79.
The cost per capita, last semester,
$37O5, and last two years, $59.01.
The Humboldt high school has eleven
rooms, one laboratory and one shop
room, and the size of the rooms range
from 11x27 to 37X40. The average daily
attendance is $50, and there are IL
teachers. The total expenses are
$6,6S9.56. The per capita cost last
semester was $44.41, and the last two
years, $S0.43
The Cleveland and Humboldt schools
were never built for high school purposes,
and in consequence there are lacking IA
critics and Sonveniences that would ex-
1St IN building constructed for high
school work. All the buildings are quite
fun. Principal Robinson, of the Central
high school says:
MY impression is that our average en-
rolIment comes nearer to the maximum
high schools"
of the matter is. the Mechanic Arts
school has reached its limit; this occur
red two years ago."
Principal FarnsWorth says: "Our reel
tatlon rooms are too small to accommo-
date some of the classes that we now
| nave, and We have no room in which to
carry on the work Of the business course,
or our work in expression. We should at
once have at least two ordinary class
rooms 25x32 for our work in the high
school. We need to separate the chemical
and physical laboratories. We have but
one basement room for manual training,
and that with very low ceiling We
should at least have one more room for
wood work and one for iron work These
rooms hn hao
plant IS put in. Our great need is more
room for our work, and the present build
ing Is much better adapted to grade
work than to high school purposes We
nave no gymnasium, and the only as
Sembly hall that we have is the high
school room, now seated with 14O single
desks, and used for high school purposes
at all times"
Principal Baker says: "If we had more
room there would be introduced one or
more branches of domestic science such
as cooking, sewing, etc. AS the girls far
outnumber the boys, these additions to
the courses would benefit many. Our as
senbly hall is good, but small. We have
no gymnasium. The attic, at small ex-
pense, could be fitted for a gymnasium"
No Ground for Additions.
None Of the high schools has ground
upon which to plan additions The con-
ditions are such that some form of re-
lief must be provided for the opening in
September. This will, Of necessity, be
| be satisfactory. Financial conditions will
| not allow at the present time measures
! looking to permanent relief but we feel
| that the time has now arrived when our
citizens must give this question the seri-
| Gus attention that its great Importance
| demands. We feel that It would be QUITE
| impossible to rely upon mere expedients
| providing from day to day, as circun-
| stances compelled. Certain questions
| should be determined and policy estab-
| lished that may give reasonable assur-
ance of being continued indefinitely. Such
| principles should form the basis of this
1 policy as would assure a safe investment
| of money and also the facilities for the
! proper amount and quality of instruction.
The first and most important question,
| and one that should be settled for all time
| 1ss should the location of the several high
| schools be regarded as definitely fixed. and
should it be the policy to add other high
! schools, as growth in school population
| in other parts Of the city shall require
2. Assuming that no change in the To-
] cation of any of the schools is desirable,
| shall new buildings be provided for the
| Cleveland and Humboldt?
3. Shall ground be purchased and addi-
| lions made to the Central and Mechanic
| Arts?
| Is New High School Building Needed?
| 4. Shall a new high school building be
| erected in such locality as to afford relief