  The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, April 26, 1891 pg. 4 CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Value of School Property - Teachers, Pupils, Seats and Attendance In a recent issues the Gazetteer announced that the paper was gathering information with which to compile and publish a concise yet comprehensive statement concerning the present efficiency as well as operation of the city public schools...The object, therefore, of the article is not that of bestowing praise on any one but rather to tell what the city is doing in the matter of educating its children. The wisdom of the council in securing suitable locations for ward schools, in every portion of the city has not, and we trust never will, be questioned. The number and efficiency of its schools is a never failing index to the character and intelligence of the people of any country. Admitting this to be true, very few cities in the south and west will compare with Denison. The city owns property devoted exclusively to school purposes as follows: FIRST WARD - One two-story, four-roomed brick building and 8 lots on N. Austin avenue, corner of Walker street. The building contains cloak rooms, heating apparatus, is finished and furnished throughout, and at a fair market value is worth $15,000. One-quarter block on North 6th avenue, Perry addition, and on which a $7,000 two-story brick building is being erected. Value of lot and building, $10,000. SECOND WARD - Block 19 on Main street, west of Barrett avenue, on which is our imposing 8-room, two-story brick building with a seating capacity of 400, valued at $125,000. Eleven lots on Walker street, corner of Armstrong avenue, with two-story, 4-room, brick building in course of erection, value $15,000. Colored School, one-story, 2-room brick, corner Mirick avenue and Bond street, value $6,000. THIRD WARD - Block 91, Miller's addition, 4-room, two-story, brick building, value $20,000. North half block 44, Dumas addition, corner of Rusk avenue and Monterey street, 6-room, two-story brick, value $15,000 FOURTH WARD - One half block on E. Munson street, corner of 5th Avenue, two-story, 4-room brick in course of erection, value $12,500 Colored school building, corner of Travis avenue and Nelson street, two-story, 4-room, one acre of land, value $10,000 Making a total in all the wards of $228,500 worth of school property. To this must be added $5,000, value of furniture, and $15,000 value of the Raynal business house at No. 204 Main Street, deeded to the city by Justin Raynal for school purposes, making a grand total of $248,500. Against this there is outstanding $75,000 in bonds, some of which will soon be due, others run 20 to 30 years. With regard to the operation of the schools, we submit the following tables; the first named teacher being the Principal at the school named: SECOND WARD HIGH SCHOOL - 9 rooms
FOURTH WARD - 6 rooms
FIRST WARD - 4 rooms
THIRD WARD - 5 rooms
SECOND WARD, COLORED SCHOOL - 2 rooms
FOURTH WARD, COLORED SCHOOL
Including
the Superintendent, 30 teachers are employed, 5 colored and 25 white.
The seating capacity of all the schools combined is 1,524, while
the enrollment for the session has been 1,850. The buildings,
furniture and grounds are all in splendid condition. Each room is
a model for cleanliness, order and system, showing that superintendent,
principals, teachers, pupils and janitors are doing their duty to the
best of their ability. This year's sessions of the schools consists of 36 weeks and was divided by Supt. Somerville as a matter of convenience to the teachers and for the purpose of promotion for the children, into 3 terms of 12 weeks each. The first term closed on Friday, December 5, the second on Friday, March 6, and, as mentioned, the last will close on May 22. At the conclusion of the first term many children were promoted from a lower to a higher grade and a general redistribution was made. At that time the Superintendent prepared and published in the daily city papers an article with reference to the condition of the schools and in which occurs the following which is worthy of re-production: "With the exception of the colored schools the attendance has been very satisfactory. As a general thing good order was observed, and due interest manifested in the regular routine work. The last week of the term was devoted to general examination and review work, the subject matter having been prepared by myself and submitted to the pupils by their teachers. In order to make the examination as thorough as possible, I examined personally all the pupils in reading except those of the first (the lowest) grade, but I trust it will be time well spent as it has resulted in the very important discovery that there is too much room for improvement in this most essential branch of study." On completing the second term another article was prepared and submitted to the local papers for publication and in which appears the following: "A long felt want has been supplied in the form of globes, maps, charts, reference books, etc., promptly furnished by the school committee when their attention was called to the importance of these articles for school purposes. Five sets of outline maps and 3 historical charts were distributed in the schools during the second term which has greatly enhanced the efficiency of instruction in geography and history. In fact, there has been nothing left undone, so far as the committee is concerned to promote the interest of the schools. While much has been done in the way of providing such facilities as the above-mentioned, much remains to be done and it may be presumed the the equipments of school buildings will hereafter receive the attention that a matter of such importance demand." Continuing, Prof. Somerville says: "At the commencement of the present term all children of the first (lowest) grade were put on regular forenoon and afternoon attendance. This could not have been done during the first 6 months of the session, owing to the crowded condition of the rooms in which these children were taught. They learned all that was necessary, however, and are now doing exceedingly well in their every day work. Indeed the pupils, generally, seem to be deeply interested in what they are doing, and it is believed the session which is now rapidly approaching to a close will prove to be one characterized by favorable results." The session of 1890-91will close on May 22, four weeks from yesterday, at and at thime the public will expect an extended report from Prof. Somerville of the progress and work of the schools during the term.  Schools Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |