REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

FOR THE

SCHOOL YEAR 1907-08

To the People of the City of St. Louis:

In accordance with the requirement of the Charter, I herewith submit a summary of the work of the Board of Education for the year 1907-1908.

There is perhaps no branch of public affairs which lies so near to the vital interests of the community as does the administration of the schools.

From the organization of the Board under the Charter in May, 1897, to the present time, the purpose uppermost in the minds of the members at all times has been, to do the best thing for the children of school age in this city.

I feel justified in assuring you that the affairs of the schools during the past year have progressed in a manner which will compare favorably with school administration in any city in the country.

REGISTRATION AND SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP.

The total registration, during the year 1907-1908, in all the day schools conducted by the Board, including the High Schools and Teachers College, was 86,877 a gain over the previous year of 427 or .5 per cent. The average school membership was 72,154 a gain over the previous year of 704 or .98 per cent.

The growth of the enrollment in the Evening Schools is especially noteworthy, and shows an increasing interest in this very important branch of the work. The total enrollment in the Evening Schools was 5,888 and the average school membership of 3,299, a gain over the preceding year of 21 per cent in the enrollment and of 16 per cent in the school membership.

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DEATH OF SUPERINTENDENT OF INSTRUCTION,

DR. F. LOUIS SOLDAN.

On March 27, 1908, the Board was deprived, by death, of the association with and the service of Dr. F. Louis Soldan, who had served the schools of St. Louis continuously since 1868, and as Superintendent of Instruction since 1895. His high standing in the educational world made the feeling of great loss wide spread, but to none was this loss keener than to the members of the Board of Education who had been associated with him in the management of the schools.

ELECTION OF SUPERINTENDENT.

In filling the position made vacant by the death of Superintendent Soldan, one object was kept in mind by the members of the Board, and that was to secure the best man that could be obtained for the place. After carefully and thoroughly investigating the subject, the Board on June 9, 1908, unanimously elected Mr. Ben Blewett as Superintendent of Instruction.

The wisdom of this choice has been thoroughly proven by the masterful grasp of the work which the Superintendent has shown and the work of the department has proceeded in a manner highly satisfactory to all concerned.

ATTENDANCE OFFICERS' EXAMINATION.

In order that competent officials to enforce the Compulsory Education law might be assured, and to avoid any suggestion of favoritism, the Board provided a Commission to conduct a civil service examination and furnish a list of names of suitable men and women to do this work. In accordance with this provision, an examination was held and three additional men and two women were added to the staff. The work of this department, with the increased force, has made itself felt and is fulfilling in a gratifying measure the intent of the law.

SPECIAL SCHOOLS.

To the three schools provided by the Board for special instruction of backward children, there were added in September of this year three more schools.

For a detailed report as to the success of this work, both as to the benefit to the unfortunate children, and the advantage. accruing to the normal children, heretofore retarded by their presence, I refer to the report of the Superintendent.

The appointment of a Medical Adviser in connection with these Special Schools, and also to act in other matters when the advice and counsel of a medical man is needed, has proven a wise provision for the schools.

RENEWAL OF CONTRACT WITH THE BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.

The results from the Board's management of the Instruction at the Industrial School, had proven so satisfactory both to the Board and to the Municipal Authorities, that when the contract expired June 17, 1908, the same was renewed to cover a further period of three years.

SALE OF REAL ESTATE.

A large number of pieces of real estate are owned by the Board. Some of these, with the indifferent improvements on them, have been leased for a number of years. This policy tended to retard the proper development of other property in their vicinity.

During this year the policy was adopted by the Board to dispose of any of these holdings where a price, by competitive bidding, could be secured, which would yield an equal or better income.

INCREASE OF TAX RATE.

For the purpose of providing more rapidly, for every part of the city, modern school accommodations, the Board, at the

meeting in May, increased the tax levy to 60 cents on each one hundred dollars of assessed valuation of property. This is the maximum provided by the Constitutional Amendment of 1902. It is expected that the increased revenue accruing to the Board by this action will enable it to begin the erection of at least ten new buildings during the year 1908-09, as well as to reconstruct and enlarge a number of the older buildings.

SUMMER TERM TEACHERS COLLEGE.

An important innovation, looking toward the professional betterment of the teaching corps, was inaugurated during June and July, in a summer term of work for the teachers of the St. Louis Schools, together with courses of lectures by recognized pedagogical leaders from other cities. This was furnished gratuitously by the Board and attendance was optional with the teachers.

To what extent the same was taken advantage of by the teachers, and the probable value to the schools, will be treated more fully in the report of the Superintendent of Instruction.

TEACHERS' TRIP TO EUROPE.

A few years ago Mr. Alfred Mosely organized a plan to enable and assist British teachers to study the school systems of America. The scheme was very successful and a similar plan was inaugurated for the American teachers by the National Civic Federation.

The Board, believing that much good would result for our schools from the information and suggestion they would bring back from a study of European schools, granted leaves of absence without loss of salary to four principals and one of the Teachers College faculty, and asked them to take advantage of the National Civic Federation plan and to report their observations.