Sonoma County CA Archives History - Books .....Public Schools Of Santa Rosa 1877
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Book Title: Historical And Descriptive Sketch Of Sonoma County, California

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF SANTA ROSA.

   The public schools of Santa Rosa constitute one of its mo3t important
interests, and are among its chief attractions. The same salubrity of climate,
beauty of scenery, and morality of sentiment that have been instrumental in
building up the colleges of this city, have also produced a remarkable growth in
its public educational facilities.

   Three years ago the schools numbered six teachers and three hundred pupils;
to-day they contain fourteen teachers and six hundred and fifty pupils in
regular attendance.   Within this time the facilities for school work have been
greatly improved by the erection of a large and handsome building, at a cost of
eight thousand dollars, capable of seating five hundred pupils, and furnished
with the best modern furniture. The building is conveniently and comfortably
arranged; the ventilation is excellent, and the means of rapid egress ample in
case of an emergency. The school apparatus is not as complete as could be
desired; but as much has been done in this direction as possible, and more will
be added as soon as the funds of the school department will admit.

   The school-grounds are well situated; the location of the east school is on
Fourth street, in the eastern portion of the city, and that of the west school
on Davis street, near the railroad; the capacity of the grounds are hardly
sufficient for the recreation of so many children.

   By the last legislature, Santa Rosa was constituted a separate
school-district, under the management of a board of education, consisting of
five members.

   The present board is: F. G. Hahman, president; W. B. Atterbury, clerk; C. G.
Ames, R. A. Thompson, and R. P. Smith.

   The discipline of the schools gives general satisfaction; and in this respect
the schools have gained a reputation in other sections of the State. The
following comprise the present corps of teachers, and their respective
positions: Melville Dozier, principal; Mrs. Jeannie Pyatt, first assistant;
Ellis T. Crane, first grammar grade; William Acton and Mrs. C. H. Ballard,
second grammar grade; John H. Burnett, third grammar grade; Miss Basha England,
Miss Sophia Kraus, fourth grade; Mrs. L. E. Hardy and Miss A. Swasey, first
primary grade; Miss Flora McDonald, second primary grade; Mrs. E. Godwin, third
and fourth primary grades. J. M. Kilpatrick, principal of west school; Mrs. E.
F. Middleton, assistant in west school. Nearly all of these teachers are persons
of experience in the work, and hold the highest grade certificates.

   Residents of the city are admitted into the various departments of the
schools between the ages of six and twenty-one, while the course of study
anticipates the preparation of a pupil for the ordinary business of life, or, if
he desires to go farther, for admission into the University of the State.

   The school is kept open for ten months of the year, two terms of five months
each, commencing, respectively, on the second Monday in January and July, with a
brief vacation at the middle of each term. The per centage of attendance on the
part of the pupils Is excellent, averaging nearly ninety-five per cent. The
whole number of pupils in attendance at the public schools during the present
school year is eight hundred and thirty-five.

   The last census, taken in June of last year, returned one thousand and
sixty-three children of school age in the city. The citizens of Santa Rosa have
reason to feel gratified at the condition of the public educational interests of
the city, and would do well to foster to the utmost this very important feature
of their local advancement.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORICAL
AND
DESCRIPTIVE SKETCH
OF
SONOMA COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA,
BY
ROBERT A. THOMPSON,
EDITOR OF "THE SONOMA DEMOCRAT."
PHILADELPHIA:
L. H. EVERTS & CO. 
1877.


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