The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-03-05

If we add the expense OF board of teachers,
not included in the above, and the amount paid
for school books-both of which are really part
OF the expense of the schools, the amount viii
hardly be be less than million Of dollars expen-
ded on common schools in the year.
| But the above total was in cash, and all save
the Primary school fund, came by direct taxa
ton, that is-$69l ,6s3,04. And we may here
see just how onerous would be war tax Of that
amount, as i; would be just equal to our school
taxes the past year.
The number of districts in IBgham county, is
| l2S; and the number of children between FIVE
and twenty years Of age, ia S,3SS- but slight
increase during the year. The number attend
ing school was 5,56s-s positive loss Of 2I5 In
this, Ineham has fallen below the average Of the
State. The average length Of the schools was
6 go months one tenth OF month less than
the previous year and yet, half month above
the average of the State.
| Nonresident scholars paid for tuition, $50 So
OF this, t26 10 was in Lansing, and $40 a in
Leslie The amount raised by rate-bill, was
| 81 ,299 81, in the previous yesr it was g.,
707 "a. This shows an Improvement in doing
away that obnoxious tax, which keeps many a
child from school. The t~o-mill tax was So
933 s4-the Primary school fund 81 e77 so; and
the amount raised by district taxes SIS, 7s5 9o-
Adding to the above, the receipts from fines for
libraries, and sl95 IS paid to the inspectors. We
find the total resources of the county for school
purposes, to be $l5,7ll 81; or 50 Al per schol.
ar for six and half months of school. This
shows the great advantage Of the common school.
in point OF econOmy-being less than half what
it would cost in private schools. But beside
this, in estimating the benefits OF the common
school, We must consider its stability. The
common school is permanent institution, while
private schools are uncertain and unreliable.
There was paid in the county the past Year
to sixty-fve male teachers, s., PCS %; and to
ls3 females S6,S79 "a, total, Sll,67s Il. This
is but 90 cents per month, for each pupil The
reported value of school houses is s35,ss7 IS.
The number of volumes in the Libraries is g.
sos. Only sss 80 of fine money was received
(.
though every cent of all fines collected should 20
by law into his hands for libraries Where is the
balance? ] believe the Supervisors are looking
for it. Not town voted anything for libraries
at the spring election, and of course. the libra
res are languishing, and failing of their high
design.
The number Of children between five and
t"enty-one years Of age, reported in this civ, i.
s77-and 700 attending school. The previous
year the number between four and eighteen wears
of age, was eS', and the attendance TO. Th. re.
duction is not supposed to be from loss in the /
number in the city bu, BY the special school
charter, all outside Of the city limits we're set of
to other districts. The schools we're kept ten 1
months, and sl,325 90 was paid to three ale /
teachers, and 81 ,22S 90 to seven females. The
total school-,axes, including $3.50 90 two-miN /
tax, was g, 925 IS. The schools we're free
The total amount of district taxes. vas ss.Ia5s5
OF this, ,ee5 90 was for building purposes, and
sl,ss5 90 to pay teachers; adding to this. $3.50
'So-mill tax, sS97 "a Primary school fund and
sl2 90 received from fines; ne find the total
school resources of the city to be IS, 1856 %
Over thousand dollars OF this expense was
made necessary By the damage to the Second
Ward schoolhouse, BY the great storm in Au-
gust, 1860.
The city never had a school library, az the law
requires; all the library funds having been ille-
galy disposed Of, from the foundation of the
town, till recently. understand that the present,
Board are organizing library. They canros do
better act, as 4 question of either policy or
law.
The following comparative statement relative
to the schools in the Incorporated cities in the
ssate-including the villages Of Kalamazoo and .
Pon'iac-wil be Of interest to these giving it an
examination: In