125 years ago in 1899, transcribed as originally published in the Youngstown Vindicator:

“Enrollment in the public schools surpasses all previous years. Prof. F. Treudley comments very interestingly on the conditions of the schools.

“Referring to the opening of the public schools, Superintendent Treudley says: the public schools opened up very auspiciously, with a good attendance quite evenly distributed and under external surroundings never better. It would be gratifying, I am sure, to all patrons of the schools, to look into our school rooms and take note of the conditions of the school rooms as to ventilation, light, cleanliness and general order of the rooms. There is not a school in the city uncomfortably housed, and with the exception of one school the walls of every school room are papered, painted, or as in the Parmalee building, clean and white. They present a pleasing appearance, inviting to the eye, and solicit the presence of our young people.

“Moreover, our schools have accumulated many appliances for teaching, as number tables, book-cases, closets for material, organs, libraries, cabinets, collections of various kinds. Blackboards are in abundance and much work is being done along the lines of reading, to which the public library is making steady and valuable contribution. Scarcely any school is crowded, very few having more than fifty pupils and these are mostly in the hands of experienced teachers.

“The conditions on the South Side indicate that ere long additional accommodations will have to be provided for that quarter. One new room has been opened up at Parmalee and judging from the attendance at Elm and Covington, the resources of that building will from now on be steadily taxed to relieve those schools.

“Great care has been taken to accommodate the pupils with proper seats, so that their physical wants may be met. All these conditions with large and ample play grounds are greatly contributing to establish those higher conditions where teachers and pupils work together to accomplish the great purpose of the school. The teachers of our schools are certainly highly appreciative of the way in which preparation has been made for the comfort and welfare of themselves and the children.

“The attendance at Rayen has not reached the number anticipated. The entering class numbers, as will be seen, 150, but with those falling out, presumably largely on account of the heavy demand for work, and an unusually small number of grammar pupils ready for Rayen, only about half of the year before, the attendance, which was confidently expected to pass 300, will remain about as last year. However, there are as many as can be well accommodated in the building.

“Besides instructions in this branch at Central, two classes in beginning German have been organized at South Market, numbering in all about 35 pupils; three at Covington, numbering 45, and three at Elm, numbering about 45. These classes are being taught by Miss Lydia Boehme, who visits Covington and South market in the morning and Elm in the afternoon.

“Below will be found a table of school attendance and distribution. Rayen — post graduates, 13; seniors, 70; juniors, 80; sophomores, 135; freshmen, 150. Total 450.”

Compiled from the Youngstown Vindicator by Dante Bernard, Mahoning Valley Historical Society Museum educator.