c_ St* Xoui6» H 1ban^book of llnfoimation issuc& in bonor of tbe IDisiting Zcacbcxe ot JEnglanD, Scotland, IfrelanO anO Males. 1907 STATUE OF ST. LOUIS, WORLD'S FAIR. ,\'? i> INVITATION . TO THE TEACHERS FROM ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, IRELAND AND WALES, The Citizens and Teachers OF ST. LOUIS extend a cordial INVITATION TO VISIT THEIR CITY AND ACCEPT THEIR HOSPITALITY. HEADQUARTERS FOR THE European Visitors Board of Education Building, Northwest Corner Ninth and Locust Streets. <:^ ^^ The offices of the Board of Educa- tion are open from 8:30 A. M. to 5:30 P. M. On Saturdays, from 8:30 A. M. to 1:00 P. M. TELEPHONES: Bell, Main 3053; Kinloch, Central 3720. BOARD OP EDUCATION BUILDING. COMMITTEE OF RECEPTION. W. S. CHAPLIN, Chairman, Chancellor Washington University. WALTER H. WILCOX, Secretary, Principal Jackson School. Prof. C. M. WOODWARD, Member of the Board of Education. Dr. WM. TAUSSIG, Member of the Board of Education. F. LOUIS SOLDAN, Superintendent of Instruction. BEN BLEWETT, Ass't Superintendent of Instruction. II THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. St. Louis is the fourth city of the Its Importance. United States in regard to population. It is located on the west bank of the Mississippi, about twenty miles south of the mouth of the Mis- souri River. It is the largest city and railroad center in the Mississippi Valley and important both as a manufacturing city and as a distributing market for products representing the entire country. Its location makes it a point of exchange between man- ufactured products and the products of the soil. It has a central position in regard to the two great agricultural States of Missouri and Illinois. Missouri is rich in minerals, especially lead and zinc. There are large coal beds in the vicinity of St. Louis. School Statistics. Number of Inhabitants Estimated at 686,000 Popu- Census of 1900 575,000 lation. Number of Children in Public Schools 87,074 Number of Teachers Employed . . 2,090 Number of School Buildings ... 119 The modern school building contains, as a rule, twenty rooms and a large room for the kindergarten. It accommodates about twelve hundred children. Ill TKATMAN HIGH SCHOOL. The Educational Growth of St. Louis* St. Louis has always been a center of progressive education. Several of the men that she em- ployed in her schools have subse- quently achieved a national repu- tation. Dr. W. T. Harris, the foremost American educator, and until lately National Commissioner of Education, began his pub- lic career as Superintendent of Public Schools in St. Louis. Many important movements that affected education all over the country originated here. The first kindergarten connected with public schools was founded in St. Louis nearly thirty years ago by Miss Susan Blow. The first Manual Training School IV in the country was founded here over twenty-five ^ears ago by Professor C. M. Woodward. The last ten years mark a new epoch of Pro§:ress educational progress in St. Louis. A new in the Last charter was then enacted b}^ which politi- Ten Years* cal influences are eliminated in the election of a Board of Education, and the executive work in the conduct of the schools is placed in the hands of ex- perts. School buildings of superior merit have been erected. Large pieces of land for school sites with abundance of play- grounds have been purchased. Over one-third of all the school rooms in the citv have been reconstructed or rebuilt. Two high schools with manual training equipment have been erected at a cost of a million dollars. Manual training, sewing and cooking have been introduced inlo the elementary schools. School books and stationery are supplied at public expense. Large school libra- ries have been purchased for every school so that no child grows up without acquaintance with the treasures of literature. Photo- graphs and casts of the masterpieces of the world are displayed in almost every school. Modern rational methods of instruction have been introduced. The work of the evening schools has been systematized and improved. A compulsory education law has been adopted. Teachers' salaries have been raised. A system of paying annuities to superannuated teachers has begun. These are some of the educational achievements of St. Louis during the last ten vears. V ADMINISTRATION OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The State of Missouri, through ics Relation between legislative assembly, has absolute au- State and City. thority over all the schools of the State. The Board of Education of St. Louis derives its power from a charter by which the legisla- ture grants to the cit\' home rule in school affairs. The principal part of the income of Income. the schools is derived, not from State funds, but from local taxation. The rio-ht of the Board to tax is limited by the State Constitution to sixty cents on the hundred dollars. The expenditures for school puposes during the school year 1905-1906 were over three million dollars. The Board of Education is com- The Board of posed of twelve members, elected, Education. not by districts, but by the whole city. The members serve without remuneration and have a tenure of six years. The regular meet- ings of the Board take place once a month. There are four administrative de- Chiefs of partments: Instruction, Building, Departments. Supplies and Finance. At the head of each of these departments is a salaried officer to whom the charter grants extensive powers. These officers are appointed by the Board for a period of four years. In the appointments of teachers and in the adoption of text- books and apparatus, the recommendation of the Superintendent of Instruction and affirmative action by the Board are required. VI ORGANIZATION OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Separate schools are maintained for white Kinds of and colored children. Schools. The elementary schools are called District Schools. Each District School has, as a rule, a kindergarten. The secondary schools are called High Schools, and have a course of instruction extending over four years. The Teachers College receives students that have finished the High School work. Its course covers two years. During the winter, Evening District Schools and Evening High Schools are opened for 3'ouths from fourteen to twenty years of age. Principals. The principal of a school has Teachers supervision of the teachers and the general and management of the school. He is not required Pupils. to teach but is held responsible for the teach- ing in all the rooms. Teachers. Teachers of the city have, as a rule, received their training in the High School and in the Teachers College or Normal School. Specially selected teachers are placed in charge of the primarv rooms. VII ENTKANCE TO CLAY SCHOOL. finisli the course of elementary instr This flexible S) stem of promotion is organization of the chiss rooms. viir District Schools. Pupils. Children e u t e r the elementary schools at the age of six. They remain in kindergarten one year and then are pro- moted to the primary room where instruction in reading, etc., begins. The course of the elementary school covers eight years. At the close of the District course, the pupil may enter the High School on the cer- tificate of the principni, with- out additional examination. A Hexible Promotion s y s t e m of of Pupils, promotion is in use which enables a talented child to uction in seven years or less, made possible by the peculiar In the District Schools, the average Ofgfanization number of children per room is about of Classes* fifty. As a rule, the pupils of each room are divided into two classes of different degrees of advancement. While one class is reciting, the other division studies the lesson for the next recitation. This plan is preferred because it encourages self-reliance and individual thinking. It leaves children a little more intellectual freedom and gives them a little more self-dependence than if they were always keeping step mentally wMth the teacher. By having two or more divisions in each room, the number of classes becomes large and the interval between the classes small, representing in some cases but ten weeks' work. A child wiio fails in his studies and is placed in the class below loses but a few weeks, and may soon make up his loss. Promotions in the District Schools take place once in ten ^veeks. Talented pupils can be promoted at any time since there are two classes of different grade in each room. It is often possible to promote children without a change in rooms. IX COURSES OF STUDY. The course of study in the District District Schools* Schools includes Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Geography, History of the United States, Singing, Physical Culture, Elementary Instruction in Science and Conversational Lessons in Morals. Drawing is systematically taught and includes elementary color work and the making and decorating of objects, from paper and similar mate- rial. The recitations last from twenty to thirty minutes according to grade. The school hours are from 9 : 00 to 12 : 00 and from 1 : 10 to o : 25 with intermissions. Printed copies of the courses of study may be obtained by addressing the Superintendent of Instruction. t^ c^* ^^ MANUAL TRAINING. District Schools. Every boy in the seventh and eighth grades of the elementary course receives instruction in carpentry work. He makes his own working designs. The girls are taught the household arts, sewing, mending, etc., the making of plain garments, and cooking. The cooking lessons include marketing, the elements of the chemistry of food and physiology of nutrition, the preparing of meals for the sick, and lessons in good table manners. X COURSE OF STUDY -HIGH SCHOOLS. The course of study in the High Schools includes instruction in ancient and modern languages, mathe- matics, science, histoiy and art. The study of the English Language and Lit- erature forms an important part of every pupil's work. The laboratories and manual training shops are among the best in the countrj^ Each school is decorated with choice copies of good art works. The studies are arranged in courses, from which the pupil must choose one when he enters school. The studies in each course are prescribed and not subject to choice. ' Some of the courses offered to the student are : Preparatory Courses for College, Course preparing tor Commercial Life, Courses with special stress on Drawing and Art, Manual Training Course, etc. Each pupil is required to pursue four or five studies at a time. The recitations are about fort}^ minutes in length. Promotions are made semi-annually. The school session lasts from 9 : 00 to 2 : 30 XI COOKING, DISTRICT SCHOOLS. with an intermission of half an hour at noon. Substantial warm luncheons are served to the students prepared by employees of the Board of Education and sold at cost. c^5^ t^ ^^ MANUAL TRAINING IN HIGH SCHOOLS. The McKinley and Yeatman High Schools and the Sumner High School for colored youths offer to the boys a Manual Training Course of four years and have well equipped shops for wood work, forging and machine work. For the girls, a four years' course of Instruction in the Domes- tic Arts and Science is provided which includes the sewing, fit- ting and designing of garments, and the art study of costume and color in connection therewith, millinery, cooking, including the chemistry and physiology of food, marketing, the work in the household, including the laundry work, the giving of first help in accidents, nursing the sick, etc. The Central High School does not teach Manual Training. Enrollment in the high schools, 4,487 pupils. xn o o o THE KINDERGARTENS OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. St. Louis was the lirst city to add kindergartens to the Public School system. The first Public School kindergarten was opened in St. Louis by Miss Susan Blow, when Dr. W. T. Harris was superintendent of the Public Schools of St. Louis. The graduates of the St. Louis Training School for Kindergarten Teachers be- came the pioneers of the kindergartens in the United States. In every large District School there is a room specially built for kindergarten work. The children in these kindergartens are from six to seven years of age. Tiie aim of the kindergarten education is to promote the healthy growth of character, intelligence and physical strength. It is a preparation for the regular school work, but does not impart instruction in the regular studies of the school. The developing influence of the kindergarten is exercised through games which give a glimpse at the relations and vocations of life ; through songs which enlarge the vocabulary and form a kind of introduction to literature ; through occupations and hand- work which train hand, eye and mind, and which cultivate the sense of form and color. Good taste and a love of the beautiful are inculcated. The children are introduced to the elementary facts of science by watching the growth of plants. XIV. TEACHERS COLLEGE The purpose of the Teachers College is the training of teachers for the public schools of St. Louis. Candidates for admission must have finished a course of four years in a secondary school (High School) or possess equivalent preparation. The Teachers College was established in 1903. It is located in a new building finished in 1905. The building contains well equipped reci- tation rooms, a library, laboratories, an assembly room, a g3'mnasium, and a lunch room. There is a large room with seats arranged in tiers ; in the center there is desk space to seat a class of children. The young teachers here observe how classes brought here from various schools are taught. The course of study of the Teach- ers College includes the Science of Education and its Practice, and His- tory, Psychology, the Study of Chil- r j:: ^^^1 dren, Methods of Instruction, etc. M '■ ^Sm After the student has finished the course she is sent for a year, as an ENTKANCE TO TEACHERS COLLEGE, apprcuticc, to somc school. A di- ploma is aw^arded to students suc- cessful in their studies as well as in their practical work. XV PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS. WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY. Washington University, of which Mr. W. S. ChapHn is Chan- cellor, is an institution with all the modern equipments of Univer- sity work. It is located in the western part of the city where it covers extensive and beautifully located grounds. It combines 1. A College of Letters and Philosophy, University Campus. 2. A School of Engineering and Architecture, University Campus. 3. A Law School, 29th and Locust Streets. 4. A School of Fine Arts, 19th and Locust Streets. 5. A School of Botany, Missouri Botanical Garden. 6. A Medical School, 1806 Locust Street. 7. A Dental School, 27th and Locust Streets. Three Subordinate Schools. 1. Smith Academy (Classical) for Boys, Von Versen and Windermere Way. 2. Mary Institute for Girls, Lake and McPherson Avenues. 3. The Manual Training School, Von Versen Avenue near Union Avenue. XVI WASHINGTON UNIVBRSITT GATEWAY. XVII The picture sbows the Grand Tower Entrance to the First Quadrangle of the University. Under the Arch is a glimpse of the Library, the building in which the Jubilee Presents to Queen Victoria were exhibited two years ago. On the front area of the campus, the " Brit- ish P^avilion " still >tands, in the midst of the well preserved "English Garden." The University Buildings are en- tirely new and con- tain lecture and class rooms, laboratories, library, gymnasium building on campus, and dormitories. THE MANUAL TRAINING SCHOOL OF WASHING- TON UNIVERSITY. Tlie Manual Training School is a secondary school for boys. It was the first school of its kind in the country, and its founder, MANUAL TKAINING SCHOOL. Prof. C. M. Woodward, is still in charge. It was organized in 1879 and opened on another site in 1880. This pioneer school has a world-wide reputation, and has served as a model for similar high grade schools in many lands. It is not a trade school, but is for general education, combining mental with man- ual training and culture. XVllI DENOMINATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY. ; There are many excellent denominational schools in St. Louis. Among the Roman Catholic Schools, two institutions are speciall}' prominent. The St. Louis University was established St. Louis in 1829 and has educated several genera- University, tions of young men. It has the following departments: Academy, College, Commer- cial, Philosophy, Medicine, Science and Divinity. The library of St. Louis University contains over 43,000 volumes. It is located on Grand avenue opposite Pine Street. CHRISTIAN BROTHERS ACADEMY. The Christian Brothers Academy is an institution for the edu- cation of boys and 3'oung men, and enjoys an excellent reputa- tion as an educational institution. It has fine and commodious buildings which have a commanding location at one of the highest points in the city. It can be reached bj^ the Easton avenue cars Names and Location of Some Parochial Schools. St. Alphonsus, 1122 North Grand Avenue. St. Leo, 25th and Mullanphy Streets. Holy Name, Grand Avenue near 20th Street. XIX FOR THE INFORMATION OF VISITORS. Visitors should notify Chancellor Notice of AffivaL W. S. Chaplin, or Prof. C. M. Wood- ward, care of Washington University, or Mr. Ben Blewett, Assistant Superintendent of Public Schools, of the day and hour of their arrival in St. Louis, and mention the railroad line b}' which they propose to come. The headquarters of the Reception Headquarters. Committee is in the Board of Educa- tion Building, Office of the Superin- tendent of Instruction, Ninth and Locust streets. Telephones, Bell, Main 3053 ; Kinloch, Central 3720. Visitors will be the guests of the Hotels* Committee during the time of their visit of inspection. Hotel accommo- dations will be provided for them and they will be informed of their location in advance if notice of their visit is sent in time. Visitors will be provided with School Visits. guides to the various schools which they wish to visit. Lists of schools with information List of Schools. concerning the car hues by which they are reached can be obtained at headquarters. Printed courses of stud}^ and the Annual Report of the Board of Education, with detailed information about the Public School system can be procured there free of charge. XX SOME POINTS OF INTEREST TO TEACHERS. Ill the following list the points of interest located near each other are grouped together: — 1. (a) Board of Education Building, Ninth and Locust streets — Session Room of the Board with pictures of new buildings ; offices of various departments, Supph^ Room — Architects' Drafting Room. In the same build- ing: Public Library about 200,000 volumes. (b) Jefferson School, Ninth and Wash streets — mostly Jewish children — 1,300 pupils — Manual Training. (c) Patrick Henry School, Tenth and O'Fallon streets — just opened — cost about $300,000.00 — nearly 1,400 children — bath rooms. (d) St. Louis School of Fine Arts, Nineteenth and Locust streets, maintained by Washington University. (e) Dumas (colored) School — Look at the Kindergarten. Notice the singing in all the grades. 2. (a) Washington Universit}', Lindell avenue and Skinker Road. It can be reached b}^ the McPherson car on Olive street ; at end of line transfer to Clayton car, which passes the University. XXI (b) Manual Training School and Smitli Academy, a prepara- tory school for boys, both maintained by Washington University (Von Versen avenue west of Union avenue). (c) Eugene Field School (Olive st. and Taylor ave.) — a Public District School, located in a purely American district — 1,000 children — 18 rooms and a kindergarten. 3. (a) Yeatman High (Garrison and Natural Bridge Road) — Manual Training Shops, Domestic Science Instruction, Kitchen, Sewing Rooms, etc. — Chemical, Physical and Biological Laboratories — Art Rooms — Rooms for Com- mercial Training — Gymnasium — Baths — Note the work in Drawing and the connection between Art Work and Manual Training — Visit the public kitchen and lunch- eon room during recess and see how 600 pupils are served — Look at the assembly room and the mural paintings of Mr. James E. Yeatman. (b) The David Farragut School (Sullivan and Warne ave- nues) about eight blocks west of the Yeatman High School — Opened in September, 1906 — Representing the most modern type of school building — Notice the school gymnasium. 4. (a) The Sumner High School (Fifteenth and Walnut Streets). A secondary school for colored students — Visit the workshop and the Art Room — Notice the " portable building" — About fifty of these buildings are used in various parts of the city to take care of the XXII overflow of pupils during the time necessary to erect a new building. (b) L'Ouverture School (2612 Papin Street). A school for colored children — Visit the Ivindergarteu. 5. (a) The Teachers College (Theresa and Park avenues). Laboratory — Library — Gymnasium — " Critic " Room — See the World's Fair Exhibit of St. Louis stored in the basement. (b) The Educational Museum (Theresa and Eads avenues). One of the most important additions to the Public School System in the last two years — It is a " traveling " col- lection of objects to be used in all the schools for in- struction in Natural History, Physics, Science and Geography — Large collections of lantern slides and stereoscopic views — A delivery wagon takes these col- lections to any school making a requisition for the same — Pedagogical Library for teachers — Ask for a catalogue of the collections. (c) The Wyman School (Theresa and Eads avenues). Listen to a recitation in the primary grade. (d) Eads Avenue Training Center (Eads and Texas avenues). A small building used as a center to which classes from the surrounding District Schools are sent to receive in- struction in Manual Training and Domestic Science. XXIII 6. (a) The McKinley High School (Missouri and Russell avenues) Manual Training Shops, Domestic Science In- struction, Kitchen, Sewing Rooms, etc. — Chemical, Physical and Biological Laboratories — Art Rooms — Rooms for Commercial Training — Gymnasium — Baths — Visit the public kitchen and luncheon room during recess and see how 800 pupils are served. (b) The Franz Sigel School (Allen and McNair avenues). Opened in September, 190G — Representing the most modern type of school building — Notice the school gymnasium. 7. (a) Monroe School (Broadway and Winnebago streets). A building of 18 rooms and kindergarten — 1,000 children. Located in a part of the city in which a large number of German families live. (b) Shepard School (Wisconsin and Potomac streets). A new school opened in 1906 — Notice the gymnasium — 22 rooms and kindergarten — 1,200 children. XXIV FA.KRAGUT SCHOOL. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 019 885 242 9