Grayson County TXGenWeb

Sherman Public Schools

The crowning glory of Sherman is her schools. With all of her magnificent resources, her superb commercial institutions, her splendid industries, none have so thoroughly advertised her as having her magnificent schools. For her schools Sherman has for years have been classed the Athens of Texas. She is known throughout the South as a seat of learning, and for this have her homes been filled with a citizenship of the very highest moral and intellectual attainments, a refined cultured and elegant people, the equal of any in our land.

And among all of her schools, there are none of greatest genuine merit, none that are daily accomplishing more good than are her public school. In point of public schools there is not a city in the State today that can make a better comparative showing than Sherman. Her public school buildings are five in number, four devoted to white children, and one to colored. As will be seen from accompanying illustration, these buildings are each of them magnificent structures of beautiful architectural design, well ventilated, superbly lighted and splendidly equipped with all that is necessary for the purpose designed. The faculty consists of a superintendent, five principals, and thirty-two other teachers, making a total of thirty-eight teachers; the whole is presided over by a board of trustees composed of seven of the best known citizens of Sherman. The last annual statistical report of the schools for the scholastic year ending August 31, 1900, showed an enrollment of 1,985 school children. For years these schools have shown a gradual increase in point of attendance, and when the present school year has ended the report will no doubt show a very decided increase over last year's number.

The value of every school must necessarily be measured by the character of teachers employed; and in this regard the public schools of Sherman are peculiarly blessed. Years have been spent in the selection of these teachers, and the result has been that the faculty of Sherman public schools today represents one of the most learned, cultured, refined, vigorous, and conscientious body of instructors in the entire State; a body of teachers who one and all take a delight in their work, whose minds are well rounded out with generous education, are earnest students of their particular line of work and are energetic in the preservation of their duties in the school room.

The superintendent and principal of each school stand like superior officers in a well-drilled army, so smoothly and perfectly is all work performed throughout the system of schools, their work is not only good for Sherman, but would reject credit upon any public school system of the State.

The present is the fourth term that Prof. P. W. Horn has been principal for the Sherman public schools, and judging from the success he has achieved and the esteem in which he is held by both the school board and the people of Sherman, it is highly probable that he will remain in this position for years to come. P. W. Horn was born at Booneville, Mo. April 30, 1870. He was educated in Central College at Fayette, Mo. His first experience in teaching was as professor in mathematics in Garrett College at Neosho, Mo., the session of 1888-9. After remaining there one year he was elected as principal of Pryor Institute at Jasper, Tenn, a preparatory school for boys. He remained in this position for three years when he came to Texas and for two years taught in the public schools of west Texas. He then removed to Sherman and for two years was principal of the Sherman High School when he was elected as superintendent of the city's public school. Prof. Horn is not only an able educator, but he is a thorough gentleman. Under his superintendency, the Sherman public schools have made decided advancement; they have not only grown in point of attendance, but their standard as institutions of learning have been materially advanced. Prof. Horn is broad-minded in his views, his ideas are high class and well poised. He works his position strictly through merit, for he is too blunt and commonplace to wear that pulley which insures a position, if it does not bring success.

Sherman schools have shown a continued growth and improvement and many departments have been enlarged and new ones added. The latest addition is the Distributive Education, added the past year in high school and directed by Auston Kerley.

There were 171 graduates in this year's graduating class, compared to 42 in the class of 1907, when Osgood Campbell and Spearman Webb were the honor graduates. Miss Doris Dell Landolt, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. George L. Landolt and Anita Elkins, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Elkins were honor graduates this year.

Superintendents of the Sherman Public Schools have been a Professor Manlove, Clark Smith, Nat Somerville, Leonard Lemmon, P. W. Horn, B. W. Glasgow, Jay C. Pyle, L. T. Cook and R. L. Speer. C. D. Landlot is now superintendent.

Members of the school board are: Dr. Arthur Gleckler, president; B. Frank Spindle, Paul Lawson, Mrs. E.M. Deck, Dr. J. J. Willingham, Levis Hall Jr. and Joe Lee Tate. Paul Ellis is business manager.