NEGenWeb Project
Resource Center
Schools

The "Cost of Tuition" table shows the cost of tuition for high school, grade and kindergarten children and also the amount per pupil spent for salaries of teachers, janitors, for supplies, for text books, etc.

     *The figures in this column are based on the total current expenses.

S. H. THOMPSON,      
Superintendent.     

     The records of Hebron for the last few years show the increase in attendance to have been chiefly in the high school. In the high school during the year 1905-1906 the enrollment was seventy-seven, while in the following year it was ninety-one, and in 1909-10 it reached 121. This increase was due for the most part to pupils of other districts taking advantage of the provisions of the free high school law. About thirty-one pupils who are not residents of the Hebron district have been attending here.

      The census for last year was 605; total enrollment 484 and average daily attendance 387.

      As the recent law on compulsory attendance has not materially increased the enrollment in grades below the ninth, it is evident such a law was unnecessary in our community,
     22

     There are two buildings. The centrally located Lincoln school was built in 1909, In it the children of grades one to three, inclusive, are placed. This structure is modern in every respect, having sanitary plumbing, direct and indirect heating and an approved system of ventilation. On the second floor a large room is used as a play room by the grades located in the building and as a gymnasium by high school pupils.

     In the older buildings the first floor is for the pupils of grades four to seven, inclusive, the second floor being for the eighth grade and the high school. The benches for manual training are in a large room in the basement. Five rooms of this building are used in high school work, these including an assembly room, a well-equipped laboratory and recitation rooms.

     For industrial education, sewing and bench work are given to pupils of the sixth, seventh and eighth grades. The regular teachers instruct in the sewing. A man gives two hours' time daily in special teaching of manual training in wood and metal. In the high school the girls have organized a domestic science club; the art of cooking and preparation of foods is studied, the girls doing the experimental work at their homes and reporting results at the regular weekly meetings. Samples of the cooking are also submitted in proof of verbal reports, much to the delight of those fortunate enough to be judges. A strong course in practical agriculture is offered to ninth grade students.

     The normal training course has been a popular one. Students taking this work have been noticeably successful as teachers in rural schools. About one-third of the graduates have taken this course.

     The boys of the sixth, seventh and eighth grades have an organized agriculture club. Each member makes a specialty of raising one or more kinds of grain or vegetables, reporting his results at appropriate times.

     The girls of these grades united with the domestic science club of the county.

     Play apparatus has been furnished with money raised by an entertainment. This has proven a most valuable addition to the school equipment. It consists of basket balls and two sets of goals, foot balls, a slide, three swings, three swinging ropes and three boards for teetering.

      Considerable interest in debating shows itself in the High School. Hebron has won three-fourths of its inter-school debates. Our school was also given third place in the state final debate in May, 1909, when represented by Harvey Hess.

     A wholesome athletic spirit possesses the entire school, reacting helpfully upon the regular work. Both boys and girls of the high school have won their share of victories in games and contests.

     Next year industrial education is to receive increased attention, efforts being made to teach it from a practical rather than from a mer-

cenary standpoint. Hygiene and sanitation will be emphasized more than has been done heretofore, and the beginnings of medical inspection will be made. Studied consideration will be given towards making school life attractive as well as profitable.

S. E. CLARK.          
Superintendent.     

     The following statistics taken from data at hand indicate the growth of the Havelock schools in a numerical sense. Dating from the year 1897 the school district had a census of 342, number enrolled 237, average daily attendance 159, and eight teachers. In September 1910, the census is 805, the enrollment 550 and the number of teachers eighteen. Of the present number enrolled 475 are in the grades and seventy-five in the high school. For the past three years the average daily attendance has been 450, 453, and 478 respectively.

     The compulsory attendance law has been rigidly enforced for the past three years. In the summer of 1908 a notice to parents or guardians was printed explaining briefly by extracts from the law the requirements of the law insofar as it applied to Havelock. Every patron of the school received a copy of this notice before school opened that year. Generally speaking the patrons of the school have faithfully obeyed and upheld the law without being forced to do so. Much of our trouble in the enforcement of this law comes from those who move into the district after this notice had been sent out. We have been fortunate too in being able to work through the juvenile court at Lincoln in bringing bad cases to time. At present the superintendent reports the difficult cases to the chief of police in Havelock who sees the parents of the truants and notifies them of the trouble impending if the law is not complied with. He then reports his findings to the superintendent who in turn notifies the county probation officer, Mrs. Hornberger, if any parent is still not convinced of the law's power. And let me say to the credit of this branch of the court there is no occasion to lament "the law's delay." We have had some very bad cases, however, and those who do their duty are sometimes severely censured but to see the improvement brought about by compelling some children to be regular in their attendance, is worth all it costs. The compulsory attendance law should not be a "dead letter" and as Bert Hall of Milwaukee says: "Those officials who see to it that the compulsory attendance law is enforced deserve the everlasting gratitude of the community in which they live whether the people appreciate it for the time or not."

     The Havelock high school does not profit much from the free high school attendance law. At present we have but nine non-residents in the high school, yet we have about all the students in the high school that our limited room will accommodate.

     At present we have three school buildings, two of brick and one small frame building. One brick is a ten-room building and the other a six-room building. They are located on the same block and within a few paces of each other, one heating plant heating both buildings. The six-room brick has been in use about four years and while not strictly a model in construction the rooms are unusually large and have plenty of light. The walls of this building were painted a pea green and the ceilings a steel gray during the summer of 1910. While I would not mention this building as my ideal I believe to be far above the average in the qualities required for school buildings. The ten-room brick is of more ancient architecture and is therefore far from ideal. It is made as pleasant and healthful as new paper and paint and good care can make it. We have hopes that the halls may some day be widened and better lighted. The walls of this building are papered green and the ceilings are all metal. The two bricks above mentioned occupy the north half of a block. Two years ago the south half of this block was occupied by dwelling houses. These properties were purchased and the houses removed. A school garden and playground now take up this ground. The grounds on the north half of the block have recently been graveled.

     The bricks are heated by steam, the plant being in the basement of the ten-room building.

     We depend mostly upon window ventilation. We have some fresh air shafts.

     The school is well equipped. Each grade is supplied with the necessary number of up-to-date texts and other appliances for teaching, such as maps, globes, etc. A copy of a master artist hangs on the walls of each grade. The equipment for drawing and music is ample for doing very satisfactory work in these special subjects. The Board of Education are progressive and are quick to do all that the financial condition of the district will warrant in adding to the equipment. We are not satisfied in this regard but are improving each year.

      When the new Carnegie library was installed in our little city a large part of the school library was transferred to that institution. In some respects this move is to be regretted since many valuable books of reference are too far removed from the school. But we have tried to encourage the pupils in going to the library, i. e., in getting the library habit by supplying each teacher with a required list for reading suitable to each grade. The high school is well supplied with reference books in history, agriculture, and such subjects. In addition to books purchased by the board we each year use a selected library of about sixty volumes from the Nebraska Library Commission.

     In the grades we give as much industrial training as possible. The grades up to the fourth have drawing three times a week, above the fourth, twice a week. This work is given under direction of a supervisor of drawing. The girls in the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth

grades are given lessons in sewing once a week. The boys are given a period of forty minutes in some sort-of hand work. We intend to enlarge this work as soon as possible.

     We have had normal training in our high school since January, 1908. Three classes have done this work. With exception of the year 1908-09, the class has numbered at least ten. This year we have a class of fourteen. We feel that this feature of our school course has been a distinct advantage to the pupils who take the work and also to the teachers of our school. The graduates of the normal course have, without exception, made a success of their work as teachers in the rural schools. One of the first graduates of this course is now a teacher in the Havelock grades and is doing very satisfactory work.

     There are two student organizations in our high school. The boys have just organized a literary and debating society. Since 1907 the girls have had a literary and social club known as the P. L. S. club. All the girls of the high school are admitted to this club. This club has also given the city library considerable aid in the raising of money for the purchase of books. A boys' and girls' glee club has been organized this year.

     In the above recital of conditions in Havelock, I have attempted to give a brief and "unvarnished" statement of conditions as they exist.

JOHN A. WOODARD,       
Superintendent.     

     The citizens of Holdrege point with special pride to their school system. They are not satisfied with anything but the best and are willing to pay for it. Throughout the school the average salary paid teachers is $64 a month, Janitors get practically the same. The buildings are all brick, in perfect repair, equipped with sanitary closets, ventilating systems, drinking fountains, and everything available to protect and promote the health of the children. A domestic science kitchen has been fitted up this fall at an expense of more than $400. The department is very popular, requiring the full time of one teacher to look after it. The school grounds, especially at the high school and west ward buildings, are beautiful, shady, well-kept grass plots, the equal of any private lawn in the city.

     The entire enrollment last year was 800. Of this number, 208 were in the high school. Very few schools are able to enroll as many as 26 per cent of the entire student body in the high school. This large high school is not just a specially big year but the result of a steady growth. The enrollment in 1906-7 was 130; in 1907-8, 157; in 1908-9, 180; in 1909-10, 208; in 1910-11 it will reach 225. The teaching force has been increased from year to year to keep pace with the growing attendance.

     The course of study is largely elective. In addition to the usual subjects, courses are offered for credit in domestic science, music, physical culture, and elocution. Thirty credits are required for graduation. The student may choose these, with some restrictions, from a possible forty-five. While only thirty points are necessary for graduation, the majority of students have more. The opportunity to choose the work pursued does not leave the so-called hard studies without pupils, though it must be acknowledged the tendency is to take the lighter work.

     The school spirit, so essential to first-class work, is excellent. Patrons, pupils, and teachers are on friendly terms and are working harmoniously for the common good. 1910-11 gives promise of being the best year in the history of the school.

C. W. McMICHAEL.       
Superintendent.     

     The school census as a whole has increased but little in the last biennium but an increase of 25 per cent appears in the high school attendance, owing to a greatly increased attendance from rural districts. An epidemic of diphtheria continuing for several months somewhat reduced the average attendance in the lower grades last year.

     We have never been able to enforce the compulsory school law through the lack of co-operation of the proper authorities.

     We have a large attendance from rural districts because of the free high school tuition law. Also three adjoining districts by special contract send their pupils. Our tuition now amounts to nearly $1,000 a year.

     To improve facilities two additional rooms have been provided. At the main building, the walls and ceilings have been replastered, the exterior painted, cement side-walks constructed, electric-lighting provided, and fire escapes procured. The Smead hot-air system is used for beating.

      A good city library is supplemented by a school library of several hundred volumes. A reading-table is maintained, and a home-reading course in English literature made compulsory.

     The course of study meets the entrance requirements of the state university, and of the state department for normal training. A large room is fitted up for a laboratory and double periods are used for all science work.

     A special supervisor of music is provided; a laboratory course in agriculture is maintained; bookkeeping is taught; and normal training given along with observation work and practice teaching. The normal training class so far has never numbered less than twenty. The graduates in this course nearly all teach at good wages.

     Industrial work includes basketry and other work with raffia, water-color painting, free-hand and mechanical drawing, sewing, card

board construction, clay-modeling, map-making, weaving, card-sewing, and some wood-work. At the close of each year an exhibit of school work is made.

     We maintain a literary and debating society, a debating club, a declamatory club, a high school orchestra, a boys' basket ball team, a girls' basket ball team, and a track team.

     The teachers take an active part in all school organizations and are invited to all class functions. The grade and high school teachers mingle freely. All school forces work together in harmony.

     We have a good school spirit. The school board and the people, for the most part, want good teachers and good facilities, and are wiling (sic) to pay for them.

R. L. HOFF.          
Superintendent.     

     Among the many state school systems of the United States, the Nebraska Public School System is noted for its high standard of quality and efficiency. Among the public schools of our state none rank higher in the above qualities than those of Red Willow county. Since their inception they have ranked with the first class schools of this part of the state. In this county, the Indianola public school has held a prominent position since it was organized as the second school in the county, the Red Willow public school being the first organized.

     The grounds and buildings have been cleaned, remodeled, renovated and repaired. Cement walks have been put in in place of wood. The High school and grammar departments have been remodeled for more efficient work. The rooms and halls have been newly calsomined (sic) and papered. All blackboards have been re-slated. A new laboratory has been provided. A superintendent's office and book room have been fitted up. The work of the grades is based upon the Nebraska state course of study. A new high school course has been adopted consisting of the normal training four-year course as outlined by the state department. The school library is being extensively built up in the departments of normal training, reference and general reading.

     The high school has organized a high school association whose object is the upbuilding of the high school in particular and the school in general. Two literary societies have been organized each of which will give at least six programs a year. Each high school student is required to read, analyze and review in writing at least four books each year assigned by the high school instructor in charge. Literary society work and library work are required.

     Athletic work, although not required, has been taken up under the close supervision of the school authorities. Two athletic associations have been organized which have taken up foot ball, basket ball, base ball and lawn tennis. They expect to do some track work in the spring.

     At this writing, (Oct. 1, 1910) everything is moving smoothly and excellent work is being done in every department. Patrons, board, teachers and pupils are enthusiastic and doing their part to have good schools doing good work. At present the future of our schools looks bright.

F. F. GORDON,          
Superintendent.     

     Kearney has always been known as a city with plenty of enthusiasm for her own institutions. This booster spirit is continually in evidence toward the public schools and Kearney has never been satisfied with anything less than the best for her boys and girls. The policy of the board is always progressive but never radical. Money is spent freely for any improvement that means a betterment of school conditions and solid school work.

     During the boom of the early 90's the school buildings of Kearney were built and equipped with a free hand, even beyond the actual demands of the time. The hard times which followed caused several buildings to fall into partial disuse. During the last five years these vacant rooms have gradually been filled and the present year finds all the buildings in excellent condition and full almost to the limit. Within the past two years the number of teachers has increased from 33 to 40 and the enrollment has shown an increase in proportion. Kearney is now feeling the need of more school room and will probably build another modern building within a year. There are now in the city six ward, schools and a high school building. All of these buildings are provided with good heating plants and gravity ventilating systems.

     The Longfellow school is used exclusively for the high school and its capacity is taxed to the utmost this year. The high school enrollment at the present time has reached 275 and will pass the 300 mark before the close of the year. Of this number about 50 are non-residents. The average graduating class has been about 25 but the junior class at the present time numbers over sixty with the promise of an exceedingly large graduating class in 1912.

      Two high school courses are offered, the Latin and the German-Science. The Latin course holds closely to the high school manual, but the German-Science course offers many subjects along the commercial line which are intended to appeal to that class of pupils which is never seen in college.

     The laboratories and the library are well equipped. The money has not been spared where apparatus is needed and the reference library is kept up from year to year and looked after as closely as the regular text books.

     Manual Training has been in the Kearney schools for a number of years to a limited extent but this year sees an extension of the plans

with a trained supervisor in charge. The boys of the seventh and eighth grades of every school work in the shop 1 l/2 hours each week and the girls of these grades have sewing in their rooms at the same time. Shop work is offered to the high school boys as an elective.

     A supervisor of reading and physical culture has been added to the teaching force. This supervisor visits each room once each week for both reading and physical training and outlines the work which the regular teachers carry on during the remainder of the time. In the high school she has a class in rending and public speaking which is elective. The demand for this class is very great.

     Kearney has no normal training class. The presence of the state normal school with its superior facilities for normal work has caused the normal training course to be dropped from the high school course. Students who wish to take this course usually leave the high school at the end of the tenth grade and attend the normal.

HARRY E. BRADFORD,     
Superintendent.     

     The Kimball county high school has been making steady progress ever since it was organized. Although rural conditions have been somewhat unfavorable we have nearly twice the enrollment in our freshman class over that of last year.

     The Kimball county high school has only two pupils that are not residents of the county and so far no definite action has been taken by the board establishing a fixed tuition. The building itself is 36x74 feet, being two stories high and has a good large basement for work in manual training and indoor athletics. It is constructed of brick at a cost of $9,500, and has a modern steam heating and ventilating system and is being equipped with running water for the laboratory and other necessary equipments.

     The grounds include a ten-acre tract used for athletics and experimental work in agriculture.

     The school has already a goodly number of books in its library and expects to receive the whole county library for its use in the new building in the near future.

     The course of study, in the Kimball county high school varies somewhat from that outlined in the high school manual, being that it must comply with the requirement for normal training and industrial education.

     In our normal training class we have an enrollment of twenty and follow the course as outlined in the normal training manual.

     Two periods each day are given to manual training and domestic science, which is required of all pupils for graduation. Besides this field work in agriculture is, carried on.

     The students have organized the Kimball County High School Athletic association, with a girls' and boys' department for the carrying on of out-of-door and indoor athletics.

     Although the Kimball county high school is located in a newly settled region, where education generally does not receive its due consideration, it has proven by its progress that the county high school is filling a long felt demand for giving a practical as well as a cultural training to our average country boy and girl.

EDWARD B. JACOBSON,     
Superintendent.     

     Only a few years ago the Lawrence school was a one-room affair. Then the main part of the present building was built and the school gradually grew into a ten-grade school, with four teachers. In 1907 the eleventh grade was added. The following year we were placed on the three-year accredited list and the school spirit still growing, the twelfth grade was added the next year with three boys as the first graduating class in 1910.

     Two large Catholic parochial schools get two-thirds of the pupils in the grades, but one-third of the high school are Catholic and over one-third are non-residents, attending under the free high school law.

     This past summer the east wing, a two-story frame structure, was built and the old part refloored, painted and papered. The high school now has the entire second floor, consisting of four rooms and a hall. The present plans are to built a $25,000 brick building in a few years and with that in view several hundred dollars are invested each year in high grade furniture and apparatus for the laboratory and other school rooms. The laboratory equipment at present is exceptionally good for a small school.

     The five acres in the school grounds are bordered by several rows of trees and are joined on the east by a park of five acres with ample shade. Cement walks are already in place, and grading and gardening under progress for beautifying the grounds.

      The library is growing in books and popularity. For the past three years two or three times the required amount has been provided for books. Last year one of the citizens added a personal gift of $100 to the library.

     The student organizations consist of the various athletic teams. No normal training is recognized, but two or three in the upper grades are selected and used as supply teachers in the few emergencies that arise each year. In industrial education only a little work is attempted at present. Water colors are used throughout the grades and some mechanical drawing and bench work in wood given in the high school.

W. E. ATKINS,          
Superintendent.     

     In this, our biennial report to your office, we briefly state the growth and workings of the Lexington schools during our supervision

of them for thirteen years and the opening weeks of the fourteenth year.

     In the fall of 1897 we entered the school with nine assisting teachers with an enrollment of 360 pupils and nine rooms in use. The same fall we entered a new school building, giving us ample school room and six rooms unoccupied. Within seven years these rooms were all occupied, and today we have sixteen assisting teachers and 609 pupils enrolled occupying sixteen rooms. The crowded condition of the schools for the past four years necessitated the preparation for more school room space. This has been provided for by the voting of $50,000 of bonds, for the erection of a four-room ward building and a magnificent high school building. In the high school building will be a large assembly room capable of seating 240 pupils for study and by using the gallery an assembly of 750 may be comfortably seated for entertainments. The building will be modern in heating, ventilation and light.

     During the first year of my supervision we graduated nine boys and eight girls. The present senior class consists of sixteen boys and fourteen girls. In the past thirteen years we have graduated 135 boys and 217 girls. These boys and girls are filling important places in life as husbands and wives, farmers, doctors, preachers, lawyers, merchants, bankers, teachers and mechanics. Our graduates have been well represented in the state university, Wesleyan university, Cotner university, Hastings college, Bellevue college, Creighton college, state normals at Peru and Kearney, Leland Stanford university, Northwestern university, Columbia School of Music, Chicago, and Ames college, Iowa. From these schools our boys and girls have been given an excellent start in life.

     The non-resident enrollment has averaged over fifty pupils per year. For twenty-one years the Lexington school has had a good attendance from the surrounding territory. The school spirit is most excellent in the county. We attribute much of the enthusiasm for the Lexington schools to the alumni, who fill so many of the schools near Lexington.

     Our library has been especially selected for a reference library, instead of a reading library. We have over 100 volumes of fiction and over 500 volumes of reference books. The school board will spend from now on about $100 per year for library books.

     Our course of study in general coincides with the high school manual. We are accredited with thirty-two points at the state university. The most of our boys and girls make good these credits when they are in attendance at other schools.

     In the first year of high school work we deem it best for the present to have no Latin and only one-half years' work of algebra. During that year we are bringing together forty of our own pupils and about twenty non-resident pupils. And this enables us to bring the pupils together in their work and also establish a liking for high school work and in this way we hold more boys for the four years than

we otherwise would. When we enter the new high school building we will then add one more year to the school, making nine years below the high school proper. This will enable us to arrange for our manual training and domestic science work.

     The normal training course is the most helpful addition that we have added to the schools since our entering the schools, The pupils of this class feel that they have entered on a definite line of work that will be an added asset to their lives. The helpfulness of this work is in the discipline of the schools and in the more earnest study by the pupils. The normal trainers see the necessity of more knowledge in teaching so many before teaching take one year at the state normal or a summer school term or teach one year and then finish the normal proper.

     Our student organization consists of a literary society which meets each Friday evening at 8 p. m. and closes on or before 10:30. One or more teachers are present each session. Each class is organized with its proper officers and a teacher in charge. These organizations add much to the school spirit and the general good of the school.

     In the athletic field we have been reasonably successful and have had a good football, basketball and baseball team which have been a credit to the school.

     On the new high school grounds the school board arranged for an athletic field 390 feet by 170 feet. This field will be entered directly from the gymnasium; Each of the four school buildings will have ample playground, having a full block. These blocks will be parked and be the "beauty spots" of the city.

JAMES E. DELZELL.        
Superintendent.     

     During the school year ending June 10, 1910, the city schools of Lincoln enrolled 7,211 pupils in the elementary schools and 1,197 pupils in the high school, a total of 8,408. Two hundred and twenty-eight teachers were employed. The total amount of money expended for current expenses for the year was $217,116.17, making the average cost of instruction per capita, based upon enrollment, $25,82; based upon average daily attendance,. $32.69.

     The Lincoln schools recognize the fact that there exist certain gifted pupils who are capable of doing more work in a given time than the average pupil and who will lose this exceptional power unless it is exercised to its full extent. Upon completing the sixth grade, these exceptional pupils are brought together in a centrally located building where, during the seventh and eighth years they complete the grammar grade work and also the first year of high school work; the former being done under the direction of the grammar

grade teachers, the latter under the instruction of high school teachers. This fall the first class trained under these conditions has entered the second year of the high school and is reported to be doing exceptionally strong work.

     During the past summer a vacation school was instituted which proved an exceptional success. All grades from the kindergarten to the eighth grade were represented with the exception of the first grade. Pupils who were conditioned in their work and pupils who were sufficiently strong to "skip" n grade, upon the recommendation of their class teachers, were admitted to the school upon payment of $6, the tuition charges for the full term of six weeks. During the morning session regular class work in geography, history, grammar, language and arithmetic were conducted. In the afternoon classes were formed in cooking, bench work, and hand work for pupils of primary grades. At the close of the afternoon session organized play on the public playground adjacent to the building was conducted under the direction of the City improvement society. On two days of the week the pupils were given swimming lessons. For this purpose the Y. M. C. A. gave the use of its pool to the boys, while the Everett sanatorium donated the use of its pool to the girls.

     The board of education supplied all books and supplies and paid for the janitor services. The tuition charged the pupils paid the teachers' salaries.

     The school served as an observation school for the teachers of the Lancaster county institute and for the teachers taking the course in elementary education in the summer session of the University of Nebraska.

     Lincoln is the only school system in the state in which an attempt is made to pay the exceptionally meritorius (sic) teacher a higher salary than the one of average ability. In both the elementary and high school the salaries are increased automatically for a certain number of years; in the elementary school for four years, in the high school for five years. After the expiration of this time, two additional increases are allowed, based upon superior academic training, exceptional teaching power, and upon general helpfulness in the schools.

     In compliance with my request Principal Vernon G. Mays of the high school has submitted the following statement with reference to the conditions and policies of the high school:

     The Lincoln high school has kept up its record of high grade work during the past year, being equal to the best in quality of work and somewhat in advance in certain departments of instruction In

methods employed. During the year 1909-1910 its enrollment lacked but three of being 1,200. Of this number 47.8 per cent were boys.

     With a new and adequate building, permitting instruction in the manual arts, there would be undoubtedly many more enrolled. The existence of two parochial high schools, the founding of the model high school in connection with the university, and the establishment of the Lincoln academy and of three business colleges in the city help to account for the young people of high school age who are not found in the Lincoln high school.

     Owing to the crowded conditions in the high school, Lincoln refused to qualify under the free high school attendance law and is charging non-resident students $45 a year tuition, which is the yearly per capita cost for educating a pupil in the Lincoln high school. Fifty-seven nonresident pupils have enrolled under the arrangement. One district paid for its eight pupils the full amount asked. All of these were reminded that there were other schools available for less tuition, and in some cases free to the individual, but in every case their appreciation of the advantages offered in Lincoln caused them to pay the tuition willingly.

     The buildings are very inadequate for the proper handling of so many students. Above the basement, the rooms not shaded by the adjoining buildings are quite well lighted and all are steam heated.

     The ventilation of the buildings seems to have been seriously slighted by the architect.

     The buildings are equipped with sanitary drinking fountains, a change which was made last year and highly appreciated by its frequenters. The recitation rooms have an average of thirty seats each. The several laboratories for chemistry, physics, botany, zoology, agriculture, physiology and elementary science are well equipped for their work.

      The library, supplemented by the city library, within one block from the high school building, is one of the very valuable aids to our high school work.

     The course of study differs from the one suggested in the state manual most largely 1n that it offers much wider election than is indicated there. This is possible in our school of fifty teachers and assistants to a degree that would not be wise in schools with a few teachers. We have our work grouped with reference to the several courses of the university, offering more than is required for entrance. In addition to these are offered a business course and a "home course for girls." In our mathematics department our work differs most radically from that of other schools of the state and nation. Within the past year letters of inquiry have come from educators from all sections of the United States, from California to South Carolina concerning the work, which was mentioned with favor in the School Review published by the University of Chicago Press. Our work is not begun until the sophomore year. Then the student is first taught the

units of geometry. After learning these, he is caused to see that algebra is most useful as a means of expressing their relation under different conditions. Thus his mathematics is shown to be of real use and the consequent interest developed is marvelous to all visitors who observe the students at work. The power to think logically is developed to a degree not attained by students under the old system. The credit for this system belongs to the head of the mathematics department, Miss Edith Long.

     Our course includes work in English every semester of the entire course, with four more semesters in English open to election by juniors and seniors. Mathematics, six semesters; history and civics, eight semesters; science, twelve semesters; Latin, eight semesters; German, eight semesters; and in the normal training course in addition to the work prescribed by the state, we offer a full semester of arithmetic and a full semester of grammar, laboratory work in physiology and agriculture. In the business course we offer one semester's work of business methods and arithmetic, four of bookkeeping, three of stenography and typewriting, one each of commercial law, commercial geography, business correspondence and penmanship and spelling.

     Only a few students avail themselves of the limited opportunities provided by the shops and kitchens of the grades during their freshman year. If we had better facilities in these directions, there would be undoubtedly many more electing such work.

     There are aside from strong teams for the usual athletic contests and the gymnasium for physical culture for girls, many organizations which have as their purpose the development of the student in other directions than are given attention in the class room. Of these the most valuable are the three debating societies for boys, two for girls, and two others for girls which have a dual purpose--the cultivation of both social and literary ability; one for boys interested in astronomy; a German club, a Latin club, a Pedagogical club, a Business department association and a high school department of the Y. W. C. A.

     Our boys go to the Y. M. C. A. for their regular physical training.

     Each of the classes has regular weekly meetings, at which programs involving literary and musical ability are given. During the year the sophomores may have one party, but not in a public hall; the juniors are limited to three events, one party, the junior play, and the junior-senior reception. The seniors are allowed in addition to the three corresponding to those of the juniors, four events.

     A school paper, "The Advocate," is published weekly by the students under faculty management.

     Each day there is a consultation period during which pupils who need individual help and direction in their work are given opportunity to consult their teachers.

W. L. STEPHENS,        
Superintendent.     

     During the past two years the Loup City schools have made a steady growth. The enrollment has increased 10 per cent, two teachers have been added (a total of nine), the high school raised from three to four years university credits, vocal music made a part of the course of study in all grades below the high school, and the normal training course with a class averaging fifteen members introduced.

     In general the morale of the school is of such a high order that there has been but few cases of punishment and no occasion to enforce the compulsory attendance law. There is an average of fifteen nonresident pupils under the free high school law.

     Pupils organizations are very active. There is the High School Literary society of fifty-five members holding two period hi-monthly meetings, a Girls' Domestic Science club of thirty-five members, a Girls' High School Glee club of twenty members, and both boys' and girls' athletic associations.

     The school has a separate primary building with ample playgrounds on which play apparatus such as swings, see-saws, climbing ropes and ladders, giant strides and slides have been placed. The main building, library and laboratory facilities, while good in quality are not sufficiently ample. There is urgent need of two more teachers, two more rooms, and a duplication of the library and laboratory facilities to do the best work.

JAS. O'CONNELL.        
Superintendent.     

     Credit must be given to Mr. T. N. Fleming for taking Lyons schools in a rather unorganised condition, organizing them, bringing them up to university standards and pushing the erection of the new building. Since I have been here the schools have not grown much in size until the enrollment this fall. This enrollment is much larger than recorded for any previous first week of school.

     The buildings we now occupy are the new brick building and the primary building across the street. The new building contains seven school rooms besides office, class rooms, laboratory and gymnasium. The primary building across the street has but two rooms. Both buildings and the lawns and all that is connected with them are in excellent condition. Both are well lighted and ventilated, heated by furnaces and well equipped.

     For a school of its size Lyons is especially strong in sciences and has excellent equipment to teach them. This part has been much developed within the past two years. The laboratory has for botany five excellent compound miscroscops (sic), apparatus for projecting slides and instruments for studying plant anatomy and physiology. The physical apparatus is much the best and most complete of any of many schools of its size with which the writer is acquainted. Apparatus for physical geography is being installed.

---

---

---

© 2003 for the NEGenWeb Project by Ted & Carole Miller