1 82 HISTORY OF PASADENA. 



The following is a summary of current expenses for the year : 



Insurance [on $66,500 valuation] $ 644.42 



Repairs 679.03 



Labor [including for election board, $45, and for washing 



towels, $74. 70] 281.13 



Fuel and Water 854. 1 2 



Rent [Opera House for graduating exercises] 20.00 



Teachers' Salaries 26,537.49 



Janitors' Wages 2,339.50 



Printing and Stationery 200.10 



School Supplies, Books, etc 691.73 



$32,247.52 

 J. W. Wood served as secretary this year, and also during 1891-92. 

 The school year of 1891-92 was one of unusually quiet, easy-going smooth- 

 ness. There were no strifes or contentions to mar the harmony of the work, 

 although the problem of how to reduce expenses without impairing the 

 efficiency of the school service was deeply pondered by the board of trustees 

 and others who took a lively interest in educational matters ; and some 

 reduction of salaries was made. The school census this year showed an 

 increase of 339 over the previous year. On April 15th, 1892, a special tax 

 of $10,000 was voted by the district, and this was expected to supply the 

 deficiency from State and county funds for the ensuing three years. The 

 total of teachers' salaries and general expenses for the year was $32,783.82, 

 being $530.30 more than the previous year. An item worth mentioning is, 

 that out of twelve High School graduates of 1891, eleven were already 

 enrolled in higher institutions of learning. At the close of this school year 

 Superintendent Will S. Monroe retired by resignation ; the office of city 

 superintendent was abolished, and James D. Graham was employed to take 

 charge as "supervising principal " for the ensuing year. 



The year 1892-93 had some points of note, and I quote from the offi- 

 cial report: "The year of 1892-93 marks a new era in the workings of 

 the public schools of this city. The lines along which it was decided to re- 

 trench were the offices of superintendent and special instructors in music 

 and drawing, the duties of supervision being transferred to the principal of 

 the High School, and the work of music and drawing being done by the 

 regular teachers." 



The schools this year prepared an exhibit of their work for the great 

 Columbian World's Fair at Chicago. The national program for Columbus 

 Day was observed in all the schools, with a detail of old soldiers from John 

 F. Godfrey Po.st, G. A. R., taking part in the flag-raising and other exer- 

 cises at each school. And in the observance of Memorial Day this year 

 the children for the first time took part in decorating the soldiers' graves. 

 It is noted in the report that the number of tardinesses had been reduced by 

 nearly 300, and corporeal punishment had been almost entirely abolished. 



