under the management and supervision of one principal, has been established beyond a doubt, within the past few years. Much expense in the supervision is saved. In a large school the classification of pupils can be so much more perfectly established, and the re-grading so much more easily made, that there is much time saved to a large number of the pupils. The patrons of our schools show their appreciation of this fact, by desiring to send their children to the larger schools. The policy of the Board in the future, therefore, should be to locate all new buildings in such a manner as to admit of necessary extensions, from time to time, without impairing the convenience and general appearance of the edifice. The plan of our twelve and eighteen-room buildings,—such, for instance, as the Carr Lane, the Madison, the Ames, and the Peabody, was adopted many years since, and seems to be the most suitable, as well as most economical design for the construction of school-houses. While no money has been wasted on these buildings in an effort to produce architectural effect in design and ornamentation, yet the structures are sufficiently imposing to produce the desired influence upon the pupils and the community. The deviations from the former plan, that have more recently been made, have not added to the value of the buildings for school purposes, though the cost has been considerably more. In accordance with an act of the General Assembly, approved May 16th, 1879, only the income of lands held by the Board, and derived from the State or general government, can be used for school purposes. Whenever such lands are sold, no part of the proceeds therefrom can be used for the purchase of school sites, or for the erection of school buildings. The object of this enactment was to preserve the public school fund, that a permanent income might be secured. The title of nearly all of the real estate held by this Board, except that portion bought for school purposes, and not yet used, (valued at $49,000), was derived from the State or general government; therefore, the funds for the purchase of school sites, and for the erection of permanent improvements thereon, must come mostly from the same general source that provides the means for meeting the current expense of maintaining the schools-that is, direct taxation. It certainly would be an imprudent policy to dispose of real estate for the purpose of meeting running expenses; but the wisdom of the present restriction is doubtful. This limitation of power prevents the exchange of unimproved, and, in many cases, unproductive real estate, for lots and improvements that would not only benefit future generations, but also the present. Within the last ten years, this Board has expended nearly a million dollars in buildings and lots, exclusive of repairs; and this is not a provision for the present only, but is permanent, and will serve the generations to come more profitably than it would, had the money been retained as a permanent fund. The taxation for permanent improvements should be distributed through a series of years, that there might be a more equitable apportionment of the outlay, among those who are to be benefited; and there certainly can not be a more reasonable method of enforcing such equalization of the burden, than by converting, each year, a portion of the permanent fund into necessary school sites and substantial school-houses, thus reliev ing the present generation from a portion of the excessive burden caused by our unprecedented growth, and which justly belongs, in part, to those who are to be benefited hereafter. From the superintendent's report it will be seen that the total enrollment in the day-schools for the year was 51,241, or an increase of 2,405 over that of last year. The average yearly increase in enrollment since 1867 has been about 2,500. This estimate does not include the years 1873 and 1878, when new wards were added by the extension of the city limits. The average number belonging in the day schools was 37,150, against 35,860, for last year. There has been a decrease, during the year, of 57 teachers in the number employed in the day schools, exclusive of the kindergartens. The cost of tuition has been reduced from $16.72 (the cost of tuition last year) to $15.60 per pupil belonging; while the cost of incedentals has remained about the same as for the preceding year. For a statement of the manner in which this reduction of the number of teachers, and of the cost of tuition was accomplished, and for a detailed statement of the condition of our schools, reference can be made to the accompanying report of the superintendent. Heretofore the fiscal year of the Public School Library has coincided with the calendar year, while the fiscal year of the Board began on the first day of August. This disagreement necessitates the delay of the Annual Report until after the first of January of each year. It is proposed to make the fiscal year of the Library correspond with that of the Board, in order that the Annual Report may hereafter be published soon after the close of the scholastic year; therefore the report of Librarian for the year 1880 will not appear in this Annul Report. The Library now contains in all 49,000 volumes, and its annual growth in circulation denotes its increase in influence upon the community. Probably the greatest general public benefit is derived through the free reading-room. This Library has been established and is maintained for the good of the general public; and the adoption of any scheme through which the taste for good literature and the love for reading can be extended, will, in the end, benefit the Libary financially, as well as result in greater good to the community. There are in our schools hundreds of children to whom books are not accessible, owing to the pecuniary condition of the parents. Then, too, there are many others who have no interest in general reading, and prefer to spend their spare money in frivolous outlays, or squander their time in unprofitable amusement. To promote a healthful growth in the taste for good reading, it is suggested that all the teachers of our schools interest themselves in directing the pupil as to what and how to read, and that the managers of our public Library appropriate, each year, a portion of the book fund for the purchase of a sufficientn umber of such books as are suited for use of the pupils of the intermediate and higher grades of the schools. In addition to this, some means of free circulation among the pupils of our schools, either through the principals, or in some other way, should be devised. The extent to which the tastes and morals of the young are being contaminated by the circulation of cheap, trashy literature, demands our serious attention, and an effort on the part of the school authorities to devise and execute some effective remedy. The report of the principal of the Normal School, Mr. F. Louis. Soldan, shows a satisfactory and highly efficient progress. The Central High School, under the management of Mr. Horace H. Morgan, is in a high state of excellence, and in an unusually prosperous condition, and should receive, as heretofore, the entire confidence of the people; and I regard it as an indispensable adjunct to the Public School course of our city schools. The past year's experience in the system of German instruction has been highly satisfactory. Our kindergartens are now demonstrating their real practical usefulness, and they have fully kept pace with the general advancement and improved standard of excellence in all our schools. In conclusion, I again respectfully call the attention of the public to the reports of the superintendent, the secretary, and assistants; and avail myself of this opportunity to tender, in behalf of the Board, to our esteemed superintendent, Mr. W. T. |