Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-02-18
Daily Asnnsbet Aournal
AU q u g T A.
TUESDAY MORNING. Feb. Is. 1873.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
OF COMMON SCHOOLS.


is an instructive aud valuable document
Every page contains matter OF Importance
concerning our schools Although last
winters legislation was not satisfactory to
the friends of education. there appears to
have been no discouragement on the part
of the Superintendent, who has pushed
work with such resources as he had.
The whole number Of scholars in the
State between the ages of four and twen-
ty-onc in 1872 was 226,75l; in 1871 the
number was 225,50S. The number reg
istered in summer schools in 1872 was
11S, POP; in 1871, the whole number was
1883; average attendance In 1872, 92,-
$50; in 1871, s. ,29o. The number reg
istered in winter schools in 1872 was
1876. Sll; in 1871, l2G, 1i7 average atten-
dance in 1872, l02 AS; in 1871, 1ol.l77.
The percentage Of average attendance to
the whole number was, in 1872, 40; in
1871, so; to scholars registered, in 1872,
80; in 1871, 70. The probable number
of truants or absentees was, in 1872, H.
4s7 in 1871, 1890 These figures show
an increase Of the number of scholars in
the State, and small gain in attendance.
The average length Of schools for the
year was, In 1872, 10 weeks days; in
1871, 10 weeks 8 days: loss Of one day
in 1872. There was an increase in gra-
ded schools the last year, the number in
1872 being 4G2 and in 1871, 420. Last
year 12l new schoolhouses were built,
against 1l9 the previous year. The val
ue of school property was. in 1872, ST.
GA ,264; in 1871, go 4Ss, 529. The nor
NAL schools furnished 270 teachers last
year. and 2Gl the year before. The aver
age wages Of male teachers were per
month excluding board, in 1872, $33.l7
in 1871 $50 "A; OF female teachers, per
week, excluding board. in 1872, $500; in
1871. S3.43. Amount Of school money
raised in 1872, $1l7.7l9; in 1871, S719,-
COZ; amount raised per scholar in 1872
was S2.s7; in 1871, $780,; amount paid
for tuition in private schools, academic:
or colleges in the State, in 1872, was S55,
425; in 1871, S4s,774; am cunt paid foi
school supervision in 1872. S24, 1889; in
1871, S23.625; amount of school fund in
1872, $3l7,9O2; in 1871, $780, JOG. The
rate of aggregate school expenditures to
valuation the last year was five and four
ffths mills. The total sum expended in
1872 for educational purposes in and out
of the State was 1907 1872, in 1871, the
sum expended was 1866, 29s, percentage
of increase in 1872 of %.
1t is estimated by the Superintendent
that the annual tuition Of the pupil at the
public school amounts to 2l2. He calls
attention to the fact that 1t would cost no
more to educate all the children in the
State than it does to educate those who
attend the schools, emitting the truants
and others who fail to attend.
There are now six sources of school
revenue in the State Interest on Per-
manent School Fund; Savings Bank Tax !;
School Mill-tax; Per capita Tax; Pro-
ceeds from Local Funds; Voluntary Town
or School District Tax. The permanent
school fund amounts to S317,9O2. No
addition of any amount can be hoped for
to this fund from the resources of the
State, but it is anticipated that some adj
dition may be made by the general gov
eminent. The interest of the present
fund amounts to Sls,77s, or .0s3 per CEN
sus scholar. The interest is apportloned
July LIST annually, by the State Treasurer,
and is payable to any town whenever the
State and county taxes are paid by the
said town. The savings bank tax is a
semi-annual tax of one quarter of one per
cent on the total amount of deposits in all
the savings banks OF the State according
to returns made TO the State Treasurer in
May and November of each year. The
amount from this source as returned last
May was S51 1884 80. The school mill-tax
is a tax of one mill per dollar upon all the
property in the State, according to valua-
ton, for the support of common schools.
On the present valuation this yields an
annual revenue for the schools of S224,-
$50. The sums to be disbursed from the
State Treasury win be nearly as follows.
for the year 1879: Interest on permanent
school fund, $4,000; Savings bank fund.
Sl20 900; School mill fund 1924 $50; max
ing total Of 1868, $50, or about SLIGO per
census scholar. The amount payable
from the State Treasury in 1871 was 3d.
Al: in 1872 it was $300.Gi3. a table ac-
companying the report shows the sum
to every town in the State.
A few pages Of the report are taken up
with the discussion of the mill tax ques-
ton, showing that it is not a new or I'M
common measure and not demonstrations
al. The Superintendent calls attention to
the manner In which the school fund is APP
poruoned for distribution, suggesting