The Alaska daily empire., 1915-05-25

with that insiitution. It Is not to be
 wondered at chat credentials rom the high school have been questioned in the past Certain laboratory eQuip- ment should be added m order that we may fully measure up Go the re. qulred standing. Your recent approp. irlatlon win, believe, meet the nec- essary demands. Graduates from the high school are at present admitted at the University of California on the same basis as those seeking entrance to chat institution from other high schools outside the state.
 The courses Of study as afranged for the elementary schools secures definite end scientific progress in each study from the first to Che eighth grade. prevents needless repetition, aids the teacher in presenting the es- sentials of the subjects. and mater ially assists in effective supervision.
 The study of penmanship which has been carried on thoughout the entire school during Ae past year has re suited in marked improvement in the handwriting or the majority Of the students In addition, there has been that gain whicls comes from con ceutrated effort to attain on end sought Your recent proposal to pro vidc for superintendency Of music and drawing in the schools would present a material advance and the good gained would easily justify the ex- pense eutailed by such an action.
 The medical inspection which was instituted during the year has result ed in findings which would promote the efficiency ol Che schools. The state of the mind is known materially Go algect ,he condition of the body. The reverse is also true, and phys ical defects many times prevent tho proper tunetioning of tho mind. Many so-called. stupid indolent, or delin- quent children become normal when Che sight is corrected, the hearing re- newed. or the offending Instructions in the nasal passages and throat re- moved The work can be more thors oughly systematised during the com ing year and should be continued.
 Because Of the fact that so many high school students are unable to spell many Of the words which should make up their every day vocabulary have instituted work in spelling. AL though the time spent in this work Is comparatively meagre. nevertheless tho. results produced prove that there is need for such work and that the remedy is the one tried. l expect to make additional requirements along this line next year
 During the year, tests in grammar and arithmetic throughout the grades have been given at frequent intervals Minimum essentials sheets were used in the work. These tests have en- abled the teachers to select the weak pupils and to ascertain the points where special weakness existed and have enabled me to get at the root Of the deficiency without needless. eS- penditure of time and energy These minimum essentials sheets have been placed in the regular course and they should materially aid in presenting these two most important subjects
 It is hardly necessary for me to state that our present school build ings are inadequate to meet the needs of modern education. The buildings are now over crowded with pupils. it is impossible to secure proper yentii- ation of the rooms or any marked de gree of sanitation. The heating plant in the main building is not sufficient O.. economical. At least three of the rooms now in use are not large enough to properly accommodate the number of pupils which they must contain Fire drills are conducted regularly and it is possible to empty the building in 30 seconds. In spite of this fact. the building may easily be considered a fire trap. Avenues of escape. in case of a fire in certain parts of the building. are not ade- quate The physical side of education is important. A gymnasium and play room is especially needed for this climate. The present facilities do not provide for this need. The high school has no assembly room large enough to serve in satisfactory way for the various literary and social functions which are such an import