Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 July 1895 — RENSSELAER PUBLIC SCHOOLS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

RENSSELAER PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

RENSSELAER PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING, NO. 1. This building was erected in 1883. Is of brick with stone foundations and stone trimmings, and slate roof. Has two stories and contains eight fine school rooms, with halls, cloak rooms Ac. The building is well and substantially built, and cost $13,000. The high school and the three highest grades ere located in this building. Also the high school library, museum, and scientific apparatus.

The public schools of Rensselaer, are an institution of which the citizens pf the town, and indeed of the whole county, may weirbe proud. Indeed we think it can be said with perfect truth that not another town of its rank in the state has better public schools or better buildings to house them in. Correct pictures of these buildings appear herewith The schools last year employed a corps of thirteen teachers, and for the ensuing school year the number has been increased to fourteen. These teachers are selected

with great care and discrimination by an experienced and exceptionally efficent school board, whose members have served in the capacity of school trustees an average of at least eight years. Nearly all of the teachers have made special preparation for teaching, a large proportion being graduates of the Indiana State or other high class Normal schools. Of late years the superitendents have all been graduates not only of the State Norm al school but of the State University as well. The principal and assistant principal of the high school are always very highly educated. To secure good teachers gdod salaries are paid. Last school year the total paid to superintendent and teachers was $6705.

The total number of pupils enrolled last year was 585. The average daily attendance was 420. The per cent of attendance of the average number belonging was 96, a very remarkable record. The course of study is very thorough, in all the grades, and

exceptionally so in the high school, the graduates of which are entitled to enter any of the universities of the state without examination. In the matters of school libraries and apparatus the schools are unusually well provided. The library for the grades contains 548 volumes; that of the high school 692 vols. or .1240 4p all. Many of the leading periodicals are also regularly subscribed for. The scientific apparatus is very complete, and represents an expenditure of S6OO. --I The exceptional efficiency of the

schools and the high esteem they are held in by the people, is evidenced by the unusually large number of graduates of the high school. The alumni is now 103 in number, and of these have graduated in the past ten yearsi or at the rate of more than 8 each year. Few high schools in towns of this size can show so good a record. Twenty-six of these graduates are now listed as teachers, and two others as high school principals. Many others are leading successful and useful lives as lawyers, physicans, merchants, bankers &c. The proportion of the graduates who have gone to still higher institutions of learning is very large. In conclusion, we wish to say to

any of our out-of-town readers who may feu looking about for a good town in which to locate and educate their children, that Rensselaer, with its splendid public schools, good churches, unequalled healthfulness, its moral, liberal and sociable people is just the place they are looking for.