Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-09-09
OPENING OF THE
CITY SCHOOLS

lily SChUULS
Tribune Reporter Witnesses The
Opening Exercises at the Gen.
trail and High Buildings.
Monday was labor day, and it
marked the beginning of this year. 5
labor for S44 pupils in our public
schools. Promptly at five minutes
before nine o'clock John Thunsteht,
the faithful janitor, started to ring
the 'last bell;;" and within Is min
utes every room was filled with
anxious, eager faces" all ready
to get their assignments and 60 to
work. The enrolment was the
heaviest at the High school and the
old Central buildings and a num-
Der of transfers had to be made on
account Of lack of room.
The Tribune reporter had the
pleasure of visiting several of the
rooms at the Central and High
school building. In the first grade
Miss Inez Parker was busy giving
the new beginners their first simple
lessons, including the humming of
"America.' 1t was treat to
watch the class. There were little
fellows with ''sure 'nough" clean
faces, some with curly hair and red
bows, others with red hair and
curly bows, and there were their
little sweethearts-to-b in a most
bewildering array Of starched and
stiffened calico and gingham and
yards Of the pinkest, bluest and
whitest ribbons you ever saw. In
short, it was just like it used to be
when we inherited our brothers S
slate and oilcloth picture book and
started off to put pins in teachers
chair.
From first, the reporter moved
across the hall to visit the second
and third grade room, in charge Of
Miss Frank. Here every seat was
taken within a few minutes and a
number of young ladies and gentle
men were called upon to share their
seats with late comers. At roll
call there were no less than 62 pres
ent. When asked by Miss Frank if
they rememered any songs from
last year, most of them shook their
heads, but when she started to sing
Father, we thank Thee for the
night, and for the pleasant morn
ing light,' there was hearty re-
sponse at once.
In the assembly room the high
school students gathered for the
opening exercises, after which they
repaired to the various classrooms
to have their work assigned. Prof.
Ionning in short address of well
come expressed the hope that they
would all show their appreciation
Of their opportunities and the ex-
ceptionally fine conditions under
which they are privileged to study,
by doing good and persistent work.
The number of students enrolled
was 143, exceeding the total num-
ber of pupils last year by one. The
first days total enrolment almost
equalled that at the end Of the first
month last year, which was $50.
The total for last year was 951, and
it is confidently expected that this
figure will pass the 1000 mark the
coming year.
It might not be out of the way
to compare the records of our pub
lie schools with the averages COM
piled by the national educational
authorities. From these it is
known that thruout the United
States an average of 50 per cent of
the pupils drop out between first
and fifth grade, while in Willma1
the percentage is only Is. Like.
wise, whereas the U. S. records
show that 80 per cent drop out be.
tween first grade and the high
school, in the local schools only
about 40 per cent drop out; and Fl.
nally, whereas only one per cent
graduates thruout the U. S., Is pei
cent graduate from the local higf
school. This is remarkable show
ing and one of which Willmar tax
payers as we'll as the teachers IL
charge can justly feel proud of.