Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1860-02-09
Report of the Superintendent of Com
mon SnhoolS

he1errlng 10 Its statistical tables. We
learn that the whole number of schools out
side of Philadelphia is II ,485-being an
increase of 203 over last year, and of l POS
over 1854. The whole number of teach.
ers in the same territory is stated as Is, ,05S
an increase of 230 over last year and OF
1,09l over 1854 OF these, 1852 are
males, and 4,706 females. The average
salary Of the latter per month is $l7 10
being an increase of 81 cents per month
over last year, and of s. 90 per month over
1884. The average salary of the male
teachers for the year is S24 sc, being an
increase of 81 05 cents over 1854 The
total number Of scholars in attendance is
set down as 634,6 in the State, SIS 5,257
outside of Philadelphia, showing an in
crease of Sc, $50 over 1854. The schools
have been kept open five months and nine
days, on the average, during the year
The average cost Of tuition to each schol-
ar, including fuel and contingencies, was
53 cents-the same as last year S531,-
4l3 50 was expended for sites, building,
renting and repairing school houses-be-
ing an increase Of S77,970 81 over last
year. The average rate of local taxation
was tritle over 81 mills on the dollar, for
school purposes. For building purposes
not quite 81 mills on the dollar. The
whole sum expended for tuition, fuel, con-
tingencies and building purposes, was
S2,579,075 n.
Of these II, ,485 schools ,027 have COM
Portable school houses in 345 districts on
ly majority are SO considered. In lis
districts all the houses are reported to be
unfit, 235 make no report; "a districts
complain of a surplus of school houses, and
348 say they have not enough. The ag-
gregate value Of the school buildings,
grounds and furniture is set down at S5,-
100000 in round numbers
The Superintendent sees great and cheer
ing evidences of progress and reform in
the present condition of things contrasted
with their condition five years ago. He al
so congratulates the people upon having,
after much effort, secured one of the first
wants Of their system of education-a
State Normal School, located at Millers-
vile, Lancaster county. This school has
achieved unexpected success under the di-
rection of Prof. Wickersham The Super
intendent recommends that appropriations
be made to State Normal schools, as also to
County Institutes, after they shall have
been recognized By law The latter are
classed as second only to Normal Schools
Notwithstanding the inequality of results
thus far obtained, be declares the s3S, $40
paid to sixty-four County Superintendents
to have been good investment In view
Of the excessive labors imposed upon those
officers in the large and sparsely populated
counties, he proposes division of labor
each Of such counties to have from one to
three assistant Superintendents The fix
ing Of the salaries of these officers by law
is also recommended.
He is equally severe upon the practice
of keeping the schools open seven and
eight hours per day, as upon the forcing
system Of education.
The document bears witness to the can
dor, earnestness of purpose and fidelity
which has marked Mr.. Hickok' official ca
reer, all of which virtues we believe are
generally accorded him throughout the
State. e.-HarriSJurg Telegraph.