The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-08-07
Report Of the Commissioner Of Educa.
ton.

The complete report of the Commissioner of
Education and its appendix has just been re-
ceived from the Government Printer and plac-
ed in the hands of the Commissioner for distri
button. The delay in its publication was caus-
ed by the extra amount of labor imposed on
the Bureau incident to the preparation of edu-
cational statistics for the Vienna Exposition
The statistics of illiteracy in the United States
show that seventeen per cent. of the adult
males of the country, who are essentially all
voters are illiterate, and that nearly one-fourth
of the adult females lover % per cent? are in
the same condition. The census does not give
those under ten who cannot write or cannot
read; but making an estimate on the basis that
the same percentage holds good as in the case
of those over ten, and the fact is developed that
out of the 1858, 81 of the population of the
United States of all ages, II, 135,799, or 31.47
per cent. of the total population must be ex-
Guided from any estimate which would ascer-
tain the number who are able, through reading
and writing, to exchange information with 9TH
ers for the guidance of their conduct.
The total school population of the thirty four
States reported is II, $40, 751 that of the seven
territories being 88,097. The enrolment in the
seven Territories 52,241. The average attend
ance in the twenty-eight States reported was
4 OS1 500; in four Territories IS, 956. The num-
Der not registered in the thirty-four States re-
ported was 1863, 127; in six Territories 1866.
COLLEGES, ETC.
Under the caption of superior education 29S
colleges are reported, of which 80 report only
preparatory students, and III report collegiate
students. The 217 colleges report 19, 200 stu
dents in the collegiate course, of whom 1419
are females. The number Of institutions re-
porting for the superior instruction of females
is IT'S, with 1917 instructors, of whom 449 are
male and 116S female, and total of 1925 stu
dents The theological institutions number 1OS
seminaries, with 435 professors and 1857 stu
dents, the Baptists heading the list with II;
the Catholics and Presbyterans next with Is;
the largest number of students, Cos, attending
the Presbyterian seminaries. There are AZ law
schools in the United States, with 151 instruc-
tors and 1876 students. The table of medical
and kindred schools gives a total of 81 institu-
tons. Of these 81 are known as Regular, with
6O7 instructors and 1887 students; 3 as Eclectic,
with % instructors and 259 students; there are
dental schools, with IS instructors and 1879 stu
dents; and 10 pharmaceutical schools, with 81
instructors and $50 students.
LACK OF TEACHERS,
Speaking of the insufficiency of teachers, the
Commissioner argues that there are Il, 507, 65S
youth due at schools, and that, allowing 40 pu-
pills to teacher; there should be 362,691 teach
ers. Hence the inadequacy of the normal
training of the country, for, allowing the whole
number of students in the normal schools to
complete the curriculum we should have, at the
largest reasonable estimate, only 1000 trained
teachers to enter the profession annually, while
the changes by death, retirement, etc., require
900 new teachers.
HEALTH OF SCHOLARS.
T.. H. - I,o1c
port shows by data furnished through the GER
sus, that in 1870, 26,329 children died between
and years of age; 5979 between ten and four
teen years of age; 2O,262 between fifteen and
nineteen years of age; and a total Of IS, SOL be-
tween the ages Of five aud 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 while
studying, cause distortion of the eye, and num-
erous maladies are directly traceable to unfav-
orable conditions of ventilation, heat, clean-
ness, exercise and the habits of study. He
emphasizes the necessity of public sanitary
measures.
VETERINARY INSTRUCTION.
With reference to veterinary instruction the
report says: The epidemic which recently visit
ed the horses, which represent 500, 0Oo, 900 or
$800,000,000 of our property, awakened the
public mind to the necessity of class Of well
educated veterinary surgeons. In this respect
we are far behind the countries of Europe,
which have twenty-five veterinary colleges,
from which the Bureau has information. In
this country we have only one or two. at the
most, regular colleges of this kind and ''horse
DOCTOR is spoken of in contempt. 1t were as
reasonable to look with contempt upon the
scientific man who inquiries into the causes of
fbo fo rot tha iOnti of xr-1,a
as of the one who studies the diseases of do
nestle animals upon whom depends so large
portion of our wealth and comfort. Besides
this, the study of the best means for preserving
the health of animals often developes facts and
principles of no slight value in reference to the
health of the human system. The only pre-
ventive against another disaster lies in the es-
tablishment of veterinary schools in connection
with existing institutions, and let men be edu
Gated at the expense OF the State, as In Europe.
A COMPOUND RAIL.-Michael r. Perkins,
formerly of this city, but now of Portsmouth,
arrived in town this morning and exhiDlted TO
us model of the patent compound ran whlch
IS 10 be used for railroad purposes. 1t is most
ingenious and useful invention inaSmuch as 1t
IS intended to and doubtless will lessen the cost
fully one-third as compared with the rail in
present use throughout the country. The
patent rail Is quite simple i'm its construction,
and called compound from the fact that
while being in form precisely like the one now
IN use, 1t is divided horizontally in two parts,
and very nicely adjusted to each other with an
elastic cushion between the two the entire
length of the rail. The top is of steel and when
worn out is easily replaced without disturbing
IN the least the sleepers, body of the rail or
us tastenings We learn that the Eastern and
old Colony roads, always foremost in enter
prlses promising safety, ease and convenience
10 their patrons as well as increased dividends
to their stockholders are soon to adopt them
to sufficient extent to give them a thorough
test, and should they prove satisfactory their
entire length of line will be laid with the
"Patent Compound Rail- "-Doper Democrat.