Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-27

sistant; in the Second local dis
trict," E. D. Sweeney was principal,
and Miss Jennie Sammis (now Mrs
William Jackson), Miss Sarah X.
Hare, Miss Kate A. Chopper, Miss Lydia
A. Drane and Miss Nancy Mitchell
as assistants; in the Third local dis
trict," the principal was NJ B. Beals,
and the teachers were Miss H. z.
Rundlett, James Chandler, Miss A. NJ.
Dutton and Miss Amanda Taylor; in
the Fourth local district" John
Barge was principal and Miss J. w.
Senter, Mrs. H. f. Rowland and Miss
Lydia B. Chase served as teachers.
A school census showed that there
were in the district that fall 1885
children who were expecting to at
tend the public schools"
MANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS.
The records of the meetings OF the
board of education of those early days
in our history indicate that there
were many problems to be worked
out-school houses to be built, finan-
cial adjustments to be made with the
trustees of the schools that had ex-
listed prior the. organization of the
Rock Island school district, indebted
ness to be provided for, course of
tsudy to be adopted, rules and regu-
lations to be established, so that there
might be " system of public instruc-
ton; that they should use the same
series of books, be under the same
rules of discipline instructed by the
same method, and classified and ad-
vanced on the same principles"
To these problems that first board
of education devoted their best
thought, their time freely, their wis
est judgment and most careful bust
ness management. The story of the
establishment and the development of
our public schools in those beginning
years is as interesting reading as the
most fascinating stories of the novel
list, or the best work of the historian.
PEOPLE GIVE SUPPORT.
And all down through the years
the people of Rock Island have given
their loyal support to their public
schools, and the members of the board
of education have worked earnestly
and faithfully to constantly raise the
standard and improve the quality of
their work
Today We have a splendid system
of public schools; a high school with
nearly 500 pupils; nine grammar
schools with over 5000 children in
daily attendance; a total enrolment
last year, in high and graded schools,
of 1926 pupils; a corps of teachers
constantly striving to make their in
struction and influence more and more
( practically helpful to the children :;
a board of education and school Off
Gals giving their best thought and
effort to this same high purpose, and
a public justly proud of the educa-
tional work in their schools.
STRESS ON FUNDAMENTALS.
1t has ever been the effort of the
board, the school management and
the teachers to lay especial stress
upon the fundamental things, the
practical essentials Of a good Eng.
lish education, and thorough work in
the common school studies To this
there has been added a high school
course that ranks among the best in
this entire section of country. In
the grades and in the high school
there has been developed a continued
course in manual work, beginning
with simple paper cutting and fold.
ing and weaving in the primary grades
and developing step by step up TO
cabinet making, wood turning and
other lines of skilled work in the