The twice=a=week herald. (Amarillo, Tex.) 1887-1906, 1906-08-07
Amarillo Public Schools.

You have asked me to speak OF the
Amarillo public schools, and I must
say TO you, first, that that Is one
subject that Is closest to my heart
Our city, believing as she does, in do
ing biz things and doing them right,
organized Nh independent school dis
irlct, seven by eight miles, making
hfty-fiX square miles of territory in
tho district,
I'm order 10 do this tho state legIs-
lature had 10 pass a special law, Civ
Ing Amarillo tho right TO incorporate
the district, The other districts in
tho state comprise only twenty-five
square miles, Tho progressive cltl-
2ons of our city then voted bonds 10
erect a new up.to-date high school
building, to cost $4,000, The build
ing, which Is now nearing completion,
would do credit to much larger
town, This makes two fine brick
buildings and one frame building for
tho accommodation Of the rapldly-ln-
creaslng population To maintain
the school tax OF 35 cents per hun
dred dollars was voted. As tho city
and surrounding country Increases,
Of course comes tho increase in tho
school funds. With such n fund as
now exists, good salaries will be paid
the teachers. and thus the very best
talent will be secured, Tho enroll
ment Of tho schools for the year 1905
and 1906 was 800, and the coming
year will be more than 1900.
There arc sixteen teachers en-
ployod for tho coming term. They
are all we'll qualified for the special
work assigned them. A great many
Of them have been or are attending
summer schools, thus preparing
themselves better for the session. The
lowest salary paid now is $50 a
month, and the highest Is 500 per
month. The school IS graded, having
eleven grades, The primary depart
ment, the grammar department and
the high school. The high school be-
ginns with the eighth, and includes
four grades. The graduates from the
Amarillo high school can enter the
State university without examination
and Is also affiliated with all church
schools and the 4. and NJ. college at
Bryan.
The course Of study compares IA
vorably with the best schools in the
state, and 1t is the aim and ambi-
ton of the management to make the
Amarillo high school second TO none
in the state. Each teacher and pupil
is imbued with that desire and with
a continued cooperation of the citi-
zcns that desire viii be verified, Why
not? With the best fund in the state;
with inducements offered for the
best talent: with the finest climate
on earth with a robust and strong
minded young populace: with nine
months Of uninterrupted work, | say
why not all this come true? No
cotton patch to enslave the young
and no sickness to hold them back,
and with a brainy atmosphere to
keep the rollicking boy moving, OPP
portunities are unsurpassed. The
Panhandle must furnish a large
share of the sincw and brain for the
development Of our great state. We
will furnish our share OF the learn
ed and good men. This section must
not and will not forget that the
greatness of country depends upon
her citizenship. Our population is a
cosmopolitan one. What the boy of
the south and east lacks the boy Of
tho north and west makes up. In
the rapid strides that our country is
making we must not forget the
schools, but foster them, for on the
quality of them rests the quality Of
our future citizenship, We have here
the greateststatein theunlon, with the
untold advantages that surround us,
and the inducements We have to offer
our children, with a love and happi-
ness and a sincere trust in God,
say let us march on and on, to vic
tory and success.
TIN CIIED