ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT. OFFICE SUPERINTENDENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ST. LOUIS, August 1, 1880. } To the Board of President and Directors of the St. Louis Public Schools GENTLEMEN :—In compliance with your rules, I herewith submit for your consideration the annual report of the schools under your charge, for the year ending July 31, 1880. In previous reports, various topics relating to general management, course of study, discipline, and the purpose of school work, have been ably discussed by my worthy predecessor, Dr. Wm. T. Harris. These discussions have been of incalculable value to our school system and to the schools of this country, and demand the careful consideration of all earnest laborers in the field of popular education. At the close of this, my first report, I have noticed briefly the tendency to extremes and one-sidedness in school work, and have suggested the correction of the same, through the means of more carefully prescribed methods and more thorough supervision. In accordance with past usage I give a summary of statistics for the year, and statistics comparing the present with previous years. By these it will be seen that while the increase in numbers is much less than that of former years, there is in many respects a decided increase in the results of the year's work. Statistics can give results as to enrollment, which show the increase or decrease in patronage; regularity and punctuality of attendance showing the effect of school discipline upon the habits of the pupil; corporal punishment and suspension, showing the effect of the school upon the conduct of the pupil; promotion from grade to grade exhibiting the results as to advancement in studies, etc. These denote to some extent, the efficiency of the schools and may indicate an improvement in methods and in the ability to interest the pupil and to direct his energies; but the real condition of the school can be known only by a personal examination into the matter and method of instruction, and into the results as manifested through the individual pupils receiving tuition. That our schools are improving from year to year, there is no doubt, but it is evident that there is necessarily much room for improvement in many particulars. That the intellectual discipline which the child receives shall enable him to make the most of his faculties for usefulness in after life; that the moral training shall give him the power to live in harmony with social and civil requirements; that the instruction given shall be of such a nature as to enable him to make further advancement in his own culture as well as to provide for the necessities of life through the necessary combinations with his fellow men; these are requirements that the public have a right to demand. How well these requirements have been met, the thoughtful and observing patrons of the schools can best judge. The past efforts of the school authorities to meet the demands of an intelligent community are, however, a sufficient guarantee that every possible effort will be made in the future to promote the efficiency and usefulness of our schools. SCHOOL STATISTICS-FOR THE YEAR 1879-80. Population of the city of St. Louis, June 1. 1880, 350,522. School population, June 1, 1880, (between the ages of six and Total number of School buildings.. Number of School buildings owned by the Board.... Seating capacity for pupils. COMPARATIVE TABLE FOR FOURTEEN YEARS. Year. 1867 1868. 1869. 1870.. 1871 1872. 1873.. 1874. 1875... 1876. 1877. 1878. 1879. 1880. 103 93 10 752 42,560 Value of school lots... ... Value of buildings and furniture.. $778,467 00 2,073,141 91 Total value of property used for school purposes.... $2,851,608 91 |