Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-11-29
SCHOOL STATISTICS.
Facts and Figures from the Report
Of General Eaton.

The report of Gen. Eaton, as State
Superintendent of Public Instruction,
has been on our table some days, and as
we may not have an opportunity to give
it q closer examination, few of the most
important statistics and statements are
here presented for the information of the
public. As public educator, Gen. Eiton
possesses many essential qualifications.
During the two years he was in office he
performed vast amount of work, and
doubtless accomplished all that a man
could with such meagre resources
and abundant lack of CO. operation.
The system which he partially inau-
gurated is as far superior to
the ancient "old field " system as a rail-
road train is ahead of the old fashioned
stage coach. But whether the system
will be continued and fairly tested, is an
important question. The money which
would have educated thousands Of
bright eyed, promising children was sto.
len, squandered and disbursed for base
partisan purposes, and those children are
growing up in ignorance, and will soon
be the men and women who will govern
Tennessee.
The scholastic population of the State
between the ages of six and twenty, is as
follows: Whites, males, 1857; females,
1924. Total, 1923, 2O6. Colored, males,
45,042; females, 44,46l. Total, S9,5O3.
Total white and colored, males, 2l5, 069 ;
females, 2O3. $50. Grand total, 1872
At the date of closing the report in
September, schools were rapidly opening
where there were none last year, and il
was believed that by the LIST of November
200, 900 pupils would be enrolled; and
| BY the end Of the year the number will
probably reach 100000, out of the
scholastic population, improperly re-
ported, Of Alb, 725. Last year the mum
Der enrolled was, whites, 16O, O27; colored
25,Sl8. Total, 1856, S45.
The expenses of the system for two
years were: Salary of Superintendent
$4,000; salary Of his Secretary, 1920
incidental expenses, printing, etc, 81
5l3 68; total for two years, SS.3l3 6S,
Salaries of County Superintendents Of
the eighty-fsur counties of the Safe
| $58, 3O5; average per year for each
county, 1928 total of approved outlay
for schools by the State for two years
$685., 29l OF. Aggregate of all expenseI
for two years, 1881, 2s2 az. Number o
school houses built, white, 456 colored
| l72; total, 62S. School house sites Sc
cured-white, 226; colored, 60; total
2s9. Number of schools opened-white
1905; colored, 498 total, 1908. Number
of teachers employed one session of fv,
months, 46l3. Number of pupils il
school sttsndanee-white, l1O,O27; col
ored, $3.50; total, ls5.s45. Average
cost of tuition per scholar fer session o
FIVE months In fres school, sl to 81 80
Average pay of teachers per month
males, SIG to 800; females, SIG to S55
Number of school houses built-white
456 colored, III; total, 628.
School houses burnt or destroyed, 81
school houses built wholly OF pestIy by
the Board, A. 0atlay by the State fol
building school houses, s425, 900.
| The schools have had apportioned tc
them the collections from the taxes OIL
| 1866 and 1867, amounting to S645. 07S,
yielding to each pupil sl.6s for the two
years covered by the report. The State
collected from the people also the tax Of
! 1868 for schools, which, added to the sum
Just given, should make total Of 81 no.
| 5S7. Yielding to each pupil So 70, ex.
elusive of any income from the perms-
nent school fund. 224 l55 of the schol.
astic population did net attend the
schools. some OF them, but q small pro
portion, are in private SCHOOLS.