c. The teachers
employed in the public schools number 2500, a large proportion being
women, The average annual attendance of pupils is 225,000.

The school buildings are generally of brick, tastefully trimmed with
brown stone, though some of those more recently erected are entirely of
brown or Ohio stone. They are among the most handsome edifices in the
city. They are generally four stories in height, with a frontage of 100
or 150 feet. All that were erected for the purpose are commodious and
comfortable, though the more recent structures are the best arranged.
They are provided with every convenience for teaching, and for the
comfort of both teacher and pupil. Some of them cover two city lots,
while others occupy as many as six of these lots. Some will accommodate
as many as 2000 pupils, and these large buildings have been found to be
more economical than small ones. Each is provided with several
fire-proof stairways, and each is in charge of a janitor, who resides in
the building. The entrances for pupils are at the sides of the building.
Visitors enter through the large door in the centre.

The public schools are divided into Primary, Grammar, Evening, and Normal
Schools. There are about 200 of these schools in the city, a Primary and
a Grammar School often occupying the same building. Some of the
Primaries are for boys or girls only, while in others both sexes are
admitted. The course in the Primaries is very simple, as very young
children are taught here. The pupils are divided, according to
qualification, into six grades. The lowest grade receives the simplest
instruction, such as conversational lessons about common objects, or
"object teaching," which is designed to form habits of accurate
observation; simple instruction in regard to morals and manners; reading
and spelling easy words from the blackboard or chart; counting; and
simple addition by the aid of the numerical frame. From this simple, but
substantial basis, the pupil is advanced as rapidly as his capabilities
will permit, from grade to grade; until the first, or highest, is
reached. In this the instruction embraces the four ground rules of
arithmetic, geography, writing, drawing on the slate, and advanced object
lessons. When the pupil is proficient in these studies, he is
transferred to the Grammar School.

The Grammar School takes up the course where it is dropped by the
Primary, and gives to the pupil a sound and practical "common