CHESTER, - Delaware County PA History

CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA. 43
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SCHOOLS AND CI-IUf{CHES,
0::TER, with itg ample !"egOu!"ce5 f01' the sustenance of
thriving industries, is in 110 way forgetful of the power
which underlies all social thrift, and which inheres in the
;' provisions made for the education of the young. Its public
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school system has become perfected by careful management
t,· and supervision, until it holds rank with the most advanced
cities in the Commonwealth.
\Vithin the municipal limits are thirteen school buildings.
aU (except one) constructed of brick, commodiously arranged
and well furnished. These buildings contain seats for 3500
children. The maximum attendancc is a Iittlc Icss than
2800. All books and other needcd supplies are furnished to
the scholars free of charge, and thc schools arc open tcn
months of the ycar. The tax rate, including that for building
purposes, has not becn abO\'c four and a half (4.0) mills per
dollar during the past eight years, and from 1883 to 1886 it
was but four (4) miIls. A corps of sixty-one teachers, with a
Cit)' Supcrintendent, hm'c charge of the public instruction, under
the control of the legally constituted Board of Directors. Th~
High School, comprising the Preparatory, Academic, and Normal
departments, numbers IS0 pupils, and is under the care of
one principal and thrce assistants: It occupics a nne building,
erected in 1886, which is a model schoolhousc, especially in
respect to its complete and admirable provisions for heating
and ventillation. During the past year a new two-story building,
eight rooms, with accommodations for 400 pupils, has been
,~ erected at a cost of $12,000.
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