Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-21
SCHOOL SYSTEM
OF BROWNSVILLE
ISBICB BUSINESS
5000 Pupils En-
rolled in Is Institu-
tons With Efficient
Teaching Faculty

The seven public schools of
Brownsville have an enrolment
OF almost 1000 pupils, an eff
cient faculty of 81 teachers. and
the buildings, grounds and
equipment represent an invest
ment OF approximately $3.50, 900. :
making the system one Of the
largest as well as one Of the
most important, business insti-
tutlons in the city. In addition
to these there are also six oar
ochlal schools with almost half
as many pupils attending.
All OF the buildings in use are modern
structures and are efficiently eouipped
Tor the work. The oldest one, the gram.
mar school building, was constructed
io9o but was remodeled and modernized
IN 1872. The junior high school build-
ihg' the second unit of the fourth ward
school, the Victoria Heights and CoIonia
Mexicana buildings all were erected in
l9l2. The senior high, West Browns
vile and the first unit Of the fourth
ward school all were built in 1916.
Tn work of the faculty and punils 10
IN keeping with the splendid build
lngs and equipment, according to Stunt
Thos. j. Yoe, and better work is being
done from year to year and month TO
month. In addition to the regular
studies a number Of special activities
are being undertaken, some of them for
the first time this year. and splendid
4 rpcnIfc 49, Iz.--
Organized Play
Among these are the organized play
program in the junior high and the
physical program in the senior high
school. The specially organized play
ground program in the junior school re-
quires that every child take part in one
OF the several play groups. The child
is allowed to select the group and a cap
tain is elected from the pupils. The
teachers are then assigned to see thai
each group plays the game for which
it is organized. The girls play under
the direction of Miss Matte Gentry.
who also is dean of girls. R. M. Pate
directs the activities of the boys.
Miss Annie Craig, dean of girls at
senior high, directs the physical and
social activities Of the girls in that
school and the boys program is under
the care of S. W.. Scale. The pupils of
the senior school are assembled three
mornings each week for Swedish gym
nastic drills, which they do to music. On
the other three mornings they play
various games such as hand ball, basket
ball. volley ball and other similar
games.
Junior high school is organized in
one large literary society which is d.
vided into a number of groups and each
Of these groups presents a program at
stated intervals before the entire schol
assembled in the auditorium. The So
ciety elects it's own officers and each
group has a program committee.
The work of the junior high school is
highly departmentalized and has a
specially trained teacher for each sub
iect the same as in tn esenior school.
Boys are taught manual training and
the girls are given vocational home eco
Monies, including both sewing and
cooking.
Commercial Subjects
In addition to the regular academic
subjects, rtypewriting, shorthand, and
business English, courses are offered in
the senior high school. A bookkeeping
course is to be started next year. There
also is a course in home nursing, and
home economics-both cooking and sew
ing-for the girls. High class equip
ment has been provided for the teach
ing Of these subjects.
The high school has 26 and a half
units of utilization with the University
of Texas and application has been made
for membership on the all Southern list
of affiliated schools. Additional credits
will be sought this year on each of the
commercial subjects being taught, home
nursing, biology and fourth year
Spanish.
Every teacher in the high schools is
a graduate of a recognized college or
has had equivalent training. All teach-
ers being employed are required to hold
a degree from an accredited college and
to have had two years experience in a
position similar to the one applied for.
A cafeteria is maintained at the SEN
Tor high school by the P~arent-Teacher
Association which provides a well bal
anced meal for the students at a very
low cost. Mrs. Harbert Davenport sup
erintends the project and Mrs. r. Z.
Whitehead is the employed manager.
The cafeteria is located in commodious
quarters and is spIendidly equipped. Un-
der the efficient management of Mrs.
Whitehead, with the assistance of Mrs. |
Davenport. it has cleared a small fund
each year and this has been used to
purchase additional equipment. A largs
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