Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-08-30

lhciuClDS LnOse uD0er ten years OF age,
babies and all, the Commissioner estimates
that out Of the 3S,55S37l population of the
United States, of all ages, 12,135,799, or
31.47 per cent, must be excluded from any
estimate which would ascertain the number
who are able, though reading and writing,
to exchange information with others for the
guidance Of Their conduct. Ths total
school population Of thirty-four States that
have reported directly to the United States
Bureau is l2,740,7 51, and that of the seven
Territories SS,097. But the enrolment in
the States was 1927, 4s5, ard in the Ter
ritories %, 1856. The State reports sre very
deficient in many important details. Seve-
raj States, Tennessee among them, do not
give the number of children enrolled nor
the duration CT schools, the amount raised
by taxes nor the total from all sources
expended for school purposes. The
Commissioner states That Massachu-
sets has not yet levied tax ~ the State,
nor is there any school supervision, save
that in the cities and larger towns, subordi-
nate to that of the secretary and other
agents of the State Board of Education.
In Connecticut and Nevada compulsory
school laws have been enacted. Delaware
and Kentucky make no provision for edu
eating neg'o children, except in the larger
towns. A lack of means is said to be uni
versally encountered in the South. The
number Of normal schools in the country is
101, teachers 773, and students l1,77S. Al
lowing forty pupils to each teacher, there
are not enought teachers for go per cent of
the scholastic population and there are g.
6s5, 97s persons Of school age fo- whom no
teachers are employed.
Schools Of science to the number of thir-
ty-eight have been organized by means of
the Cover ment land endowments. There
are los theological schools in the country,
having 495 professors and 1851 students;
AZ law schools, having Isl instructors and
1915 students. The table Of medical and
hAhoiOO SNi1OOlo gives . bO1'l Vi %. vi
these 81 are known as regular, with COZ in.
ssracsors and 4, 1857 students; 8 as eclectic,
with Sc instructors and 259 students; there
are dental schools, with So instructors and
100 sudente, and Is pharmaceutical schools
with SO instructors and $50 students.
In regard to the health Of the scholars,
tI,a Nor,rnise;onar eb0vs fro,n date fnr
nished by the census, that in 1870 26,S29
died between five and nine; 1919 between
ten and fourteen years of age; 20,262 be-
tween fifteen aud nineteen years of age, and
a total of 1851 between the ages of five
and twenty-four years. School furniture
he considers responsible for much of the
curvature of the spine. Bad print, bad
light, and bad position of the head viii g
studying cause distortion Of the eye, and
numerous maladies are directly traceable to
unfsvorable conditions of ventilation, heat,
cleanliness, exercise, and habits of study.
He emphasizes the necessity of public sani-
tary measures, and commends public parks
IS sanitariums.
The Commissioner alludes TO the epizo-
otic of last winter, and urges the establish
ment Of veterinary schools at Government
expense, as in Eur pc. In conclusion be
repeats his recommendation that the whole
o. portion of the net proceeds arising from
the sale Ct public lands shall be set aside as
special fund, and its interest be divided
annually, pro rata, between the people of
The several States and Territories.