Ann Arbor Public Schools

To th Board of Edulatlon o! the City ol Ann (i:ti.km::n : - Herewith, in 'accord:uict' wiili usage and requirement, I present to you my tirst annual report of the Public Schools of this city. The following table is a summary . the enrollment, attendancé, teachio force and cost per capita of educatio for the year ending Sept. 1,'18' Population of the district, census of m. Srliool population between 5 and 20 years. The population of the district is more by 405 than that of the city because the district ineludes considerable territorj outside the city limits. The total enrollment was 61 more than that of the preceeding year, nearh all of whom were in the High School. A small per cent of the pupils main tained their attendance without absence or tardiness throughout the year. The honor is so conspieuous that we publish their names : JlHiH SCHOOL. Waltor G. Curtís, Wallace W. Chickerinr, Albert K. Greene, Henry W Kurtz, Ama M. Miller, Ellen E. Xagle, Wilüam Treadwell. For two year - Theresa A. Grube, Viola M. Pittys. eimitii grade. Gertrude Chute, Tisdale S. Walker. For two years - Clare L. Kurtz. For three years - Fred C. Ganss. For four years - Edward B. Muehlig. FIRST WAKD SCHOOL. Perry Biggs, Mattie Cady Albert Dane, Bertha Eldert, Henry' Hudson, Daisy LaRue, Emma Schleicher, Geo. Swartout, Oscar Weitbrecht. SECOXD WARD SCHOOL. George Frey, Elsio (ilassenapp, Tillie Hagen, Katie Stadel, Fred Schleicher. For two years- Herman Kuhn, Adolph Walker. THIRI) WARD SCHOOL. May Darrow, Johanna Wurster. FOUETH WARD BCHOOLj Theodore Dodsley, Fannie Duncan, Victor Kauffman, Ida Keubier, Ina Stark. For two years - Williatn Orr. FIPTH WARD SCHOOL. Si in son Carson, Clarence Lennon, Julia Sharpe, Katie Sharpe. The result of the year's work in the movement of pupils over the grades below the High Schools is given in condensed form in the following table : "Imperfectly classified" n No. 2means that a pupil's book ia not all done in one grade. Nnmbére 2, 4 and 5 indícate metbods of relieving the rigidity of the gradedsystem ín its bearingupon pupila who cannot keep themaelvea in line with the course of study. In June, 1890,52 pupils were promoted conditionally, (i. e.,given a trial of four weeks) two-thirds of whom succeeded in maintaiuiug their class work. Au inspection of the above table shows that about 90 per cenr. of the pupils in these grades annually pass to a higher grade. All things considered must be regarded as a gratifying resultAll the promotions in the Grammar Department at the close of the year were made without special examinations therefor. In lieu of such examinations, the teachers have kept an account with each pupil, consisting of three items; viz, (1) attendance, (2) effort made, (3) scholarship. These inventories or estimates were made on the judgment of the teacher once in two ranks ; and taken in counection with monthly examinations have formeil the basis for promotious. Also, at various times, without previous notice, test examinations were given in arithmetic to all classes, of grades four to seven inclusive. All these methods that enable us to dispense with the annual examination for the promotion of pupils must be considered in the line of improved school administrador!, provided there be no attending loss of scholarship and grading. The kindergarten work in grades one and two has been a gratifying improvement on that of preceeding years. We are becoming more familiar with kindergarten niethods, especially in their plication to public schools. We s their limitations as well as their advai -. A few oí Froebel's "gifts," ju diciously selected and odapted yield valuable educational result. The quieken al! the child's mind activitie that are open to secure knowledge stimulate observation, hel and number ideas, and mak the reading sound mach easier to travc the least of these virtues are th kindness of spirit and genuine courtésy they impart to the children. But all the advantages of the kindergarten, exercises conceded, tlicy must not be allowed t supplant fundamental school studies. Primary reading for instance, is the only open sesame lo a school acquisitions, and must not be sacrifleed tor anythlng however attractive. The success of the Drawimg and Kindergarten was well set fortli in the exhibit of some of the pupils' best productions, lirst at the Art Loan, Nowben-y Hall, and later in the Superintendente office. A number of the best sheets of drawing have leen sent to Praug & Co., Boston, for their inspection and judgment. ïhe synthetie method of reading, i. e. : building the worda from the sound ments by the Pollard system, lias beei rhalleuging our attention and study fo the past two or three years. There va finally but one way of disposing of th question, viz., to put it to test in th schoolrooin. Accordingly in the Tappan school the inethod has been employee the past year in teaching the first grad reading. It would not be wise to rende judgment on so brief an experiment but is safe to say that resulta are so en couraging that our ultímate approva seems probable. The subject of arithnietic in the prim ary and grammar grades has been seri ously under consideration during the past year. The pith of the question i this: Can Arithnietic be lessened ii quantity of material and detail of in struction without lessening its practica value? We think it can. Considering the demands of elementary science anc special studies upon the grammar grades as well as the immaturity of the pujiils it seems wise to postpone much of the theoretical part of this branch to the high school stage. We shall thus avoid to a great extent a repetition of both topics and methods, which often make the high school Arithmetic seem irksome to pupila that have passed the subject in the lower grades. The proposed change will also make room lor a section of Elementarv Geometrv in the grammar grade, which is clearly de. nandedby the logical order of mathenatical topics for schools. Germán was put in the primara grades of the second ward school, was, made au experiment iinmediately a f tor the holilays and carried forward to the close of the year, the instruction being by special teacher. It is proposed to coninue the experiment the coming year, but the instruction will be given by one or more of the regular, teachers. Every city or town has its quota of vouthful vagrants, loungers and school truants, and Ann Arbor is not au exception to the rule. The duty of caring for hese classes devolves upon the school Board. The statute gives ainple authority for compelling their attendance it school, and explicit directions for executing euch a policy. The welfare of the boys and the peace of community unite in asking for such action at the lands oï the Board. Il" nothing more vere (one than to appoint a "truant )fficer " to look after " insubordinates " and "habitual truants," gome of these waywards might be saved, and the schools would be protected froni certain annoyances to which tliey have been ubject in times past. Teachers' meetings are held nionthly Their principal object is the discussion of the work of the schools. The topics t the year past were as follows: 1, Writteu reports of some of the instrucion given in the inter-state institute at )etroit, by those who attended. 2, Mind studies on (a), perception ; (b), magination; (c), inductive methods, and their proper office in the teachers vork. 3, Library reading by pupils. 4, Arithmetic, reports by various teachers of methods that have proved most uccessful. 5, Language teaching in onnection with other studies, especialy elementary science. 6, School management, more or less at every meeting. One object of these meetings is to prevent degeneracy. Teachers do not emain stationary. The teacher that ïas learned all she can about her work s already on the downward grade. It s every teachers duty to grow or resign. IIIH1I SCHOOL. The High School is not only a wellstablisiied and well appreciated departoentof our city systeni of schools, but t has becoine a well established acalemic and preparatory iustitution tor a arge area oí territory. lts reputatioo Etende all over the western and southwestern states and territories, and to uite a degree over the middle states. single glance at its catalogue will how liuw widely spread is its constituncy. The number enrolled during the year ;is 898, a gain over the preceding year f ö4. The tuition received during the ear was about .f700 more than in the ear '89-'9O, amounting to $7,230. Such n income from tuition receipts enables s to retaiu the best of teachers and till keep the local cost considerably jelow the average cost of high schools n the large cities. A new departure, or rather experinent, was made during the year in viding instructioB in Conversational Germán to such as might elect it. The cffurse was of undoubted value to those that ere able to avail themselves of it; especially to the seniora in the Commercial course. ábout 35 pupila elected the at the start, but the aumbers greatiy lessened as the year progressed. One reason for thia was that the work being elective and additional to required studies rendered the pupil'a duties unduly burdensome. The preparation in Germán for the University is largely grammatica! and literary. But hereafter we shall endeavor to so minglo wiili these colloquia] Germán, as te reap the fullest advantage oí both methoda. ■ most noticeable improvement in methods of instruction haa come rom the suitable eqoipmeni with tables, .. cases, etc., of a room for la tory work in Botany. The difference in resulta obtained is diatinctly marked. Botany aasumea an educational value and preminence thatnever coüld have bi en reached by the antiquated method of text-book deflnition and analyí flowers by table. The inureasiug numbers of the High School will soon make it necesaary for UB to re-occupy the third iloor of tlïe old building, or to return to our former practice of holding two school sessions per day. Whether one session or two sessions per day would conduce to a greater welfare of the School has always been a debatable question. The subject is likely to arise for future adviaement. In this connection it may be proper to notiee that iiot infrequently complaints come tu us that the High School work is made unneeessarily hard for pupils by the faet that the separate departments or branches are not duly coördinated and adjusted. We should be sorry if this were true. We should be more sorry if any of these branches were weakly taught. However gratifyiug it might be for bur corps of teachers to attempt to raise the scholastic character of the High School to, or towards, the college grade, or however strong the temptation of any instructor to unduly exalt lus own line of studies, we restrain our desires, and attempt to keep fairly within ourself- imposed boundaries. These limits, especially in the higher branches, are the prepiiration needed, or desirable, for admission to the U. of M. Wheu these limits have been reached, our policy is to hand the pupil over to the University for his furtlier edueation. But it must in fairnesa be said that it is not always easy, ;ml is sometimes impossible, to deternine what the desired limits for admission to the University are in some of the branches. This perhaps may exuse oui teachers for sometimes overdoing (or possibly under-doing) tbeir work. Tlie advantages and conveniences of :he diploma relation are very great, but there are several importa'nt kindred oatters that sorely need abetter adjustment. Again I am permitted to speak in flatering terma of the annual meeting of iie High School Alumni Association. ili( attendance was larger than for nany years; the interest and enjoyment vere all that could be desired. Under troper directions and restrictions the Lssqciation promised to be one of the lappy features of graduating week. The list of teachers in a'll departmente or the coming year are as follows : V. S. Perrj-, Superintendent. HIGH SCHOOL. J. ü. Patteugill, Principal, Greek and Latin. H. N. Chute, Physics. Lew is D. Wiues, Higher Mathematics. Alice Porter Latin. Mary E. Hunt, „.Natural Science and Algebra. Mary E. Dickey, Germán. Fred C. Clark, History and Pol. Ecouomy. Louis P. Jocelyn, Mathematics. Wm. W. Eagan, Grammar and Old English. Callie II. Trueblood, Elocution. 3, C. Mcf'lenahau, Business Branches. Grace Taylor, _..Rhetoric and Eng. Literature. ara Whedon, English and Composition. J. Moutgomery, Chemistry and Astronomy. Anna II. Adams, French and Latin. Nellie 8, Loving, Librarían. ORAMMAR AKD PRIMARY DEPAETMENT8. (KNTRAL BUILDING. Eliza C. Ladd, Principal Eighth Grade Auna D. Eobinson bbieA.Pond FIRST ff.VRD SCHOOL G. l'Iymptoii,' I'rhirin "'„.Si'vcnth Grade Emilie J. Eldridge Ylia L. Burke ..'. Sixth ' Yilhelniine L. Bender.Fifth and Fourth " Carrie Baxter _Third and Second " laggie T. McDivitt First " SECOXD 1VARD SCHOOL. I.uy Mulholland, Principal Sixth Grade Gertrude F. Hamilton Fifth " :mily E. Lutz Fourth " Emily Gimdert Third " inguetá W. Walter Second " [elinda K. Mogk First " THIRD WARD SCHOOL. ie!lu K. Edson, Principal Sixth and Fiftb Grades ara G. Come Fourth and Third " llzabeth J. (owan Second lara Woodman First " KOVliTH WARD SCHOOL. Annette L. Alles, Principal Seventh Grade Eva Leonard Sixth and Fifth " Julia A. Howard Fourth and Third " Minnie A.Drake Second " Eugenia Mogk First " FIFTII WARD SCHOOL. Mattie E. Goodale, Principal Sixth and Fifth Gradea Charlotte L. Millard- Fourth and Third " Alice L. Treadwell Second " Hattie V. Haviland First " SIXTH WARD SCHOOL. Adda C. JewelltPrincipa! Sixth and Fifth Grades Ella S. W'right Fourth and Third ' Mattie Cornwell Secoud and First " SPECIAL TBACHERS. Alice Huut Drawing Lucy K. Cole. Music Penmaship The following appointments as cadet teachers have also been made : Misses L. Algee MeGilvray, Emily R. Marshke, Bertha Feiner and Anna L. Clinton. In behalf of all our teachers, I would express to the Board our grateful acknowledgement of your appreciative interest and support in the dischage of all of our duties. Respectfully submitted W. 8. PEERY, Supt. Alllioi:. gept. 1, 1891. In Delaware peaches are very plentif ui, first olass fruit being sold at ten cents per bushel. We are notin Delawere. A gentleman who goes to Detroit quite often on business, says that he bought a bushel of Ann Arbor peaches in Detroit the other day, paid 25 cents to get them home and then sa ved 25 cents on the price he would have had to pay here in Anu Arbor for the same. Steats can now toe eecured for the Original New Orleana U-ncle Tom's Oabin at the Post Office News stand.