Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-11-20

EHoHI oi the COMMISSIONER OF y
TION.

EEiuAT ut the COMMISSIONER OF FuuCA-
rI0N.
From the Hartford touraat
Tho report Of 1873 Of the United States
commissioner of education, which has ust
been issued, derives its chief interes. from
The abundant special tables which it con-
tains, and the light which they throw upon
the various branches of education in the
country 1t offers a multitude of interest
ing topics for future seperate consideration,
bat covers 50 wide a field that anv at
tempt in an article Of ordinary length to
treat it in its entirety must be Of necessity
incomplete and little else than a running
repetition of its most noticeable facts and
figures.
The recent financial troubles If the cOun-
try have had a naturally damaging effect
upon the progress Of education, affecting
teachers As regards their pay, and scholars
in the ability To attend. But, in spite Of all,
there have been some substantial improve
ments made Every state now but Delaware
has some method Of periodic reports, and the
various states are slowly conforming to
common pattern. 50 that the report of the
commissioner is made up with yearly i'm
proving facilities The southern states re-
=
states, save Florida and Mississippi, show
little advance. Alabama had many free
schools closed during the year in Arkan-
sls the public school year was reduced to
three mouths, and the teachers then could
not collect half Of their pay; in Texas the
public school system was essentially broken
up. and in Louisiana it was little better.
But in the others the attendance has gained
more or less, and the systems are being I'M
proved steadily. Kentucky, indeed, Is ex-
ueriencing an educational revival, and two
large Methodist universities at Knoxville
and Nashville 1.-THE latter Vanderbilt's), are
evidences Of d progress 0: Tennessee. The
middle, western and Pacific coast states
give very satisfactory signs Of good inten-
lions in the improvements of buildings. IN
creased attendance and heightened school
year. while of New England the report
Savs
.. As rule, throughout the New England
states. the condition Of secondary, scientific,
and collegiate instruction appears to be not
only fully up to the standard of proceeding
wears. but even in some respects beyond 1t,
the colleges and'scientifc schools endeayorlng
tlmoet the current call for higher culture,
and the academies and high schools striving
80 come uPto the rising requirements oil the
.o,lcgues.'
The school population Of the country IS
estimated at about l0i millions. As regards
the per capita cost Of educating these Massa-
chusetts leads, it costing there S2l.14 year
for each. and North Carolina occupies the
other end Of the line with per capita elu-
cltianal outlay Of j5 cents. Few OF a
In {
cut the rate Is ll.G0.
Allowing 40 pupils to q teacher, the eoun-
try needs 260 900 instructors Tor its children
# between G and lG years OF age In Mas
.a,huselts the teachers average term ot ser
is three years, and this Is too long term fol
an average of the country, yet, taking 1t a
such, it appears that s. 600 new teacher
have to be had yearly. The normal schools
Of the country prepare about 5,20O teacher
annually. and where the 10000 or more
come from is an interesting problem on th'
Unfortunate side Of the case. Ihe repor
recommends a universal incorporation OF tn
normal school, in.o the free school system o
the status.
Last year they were 33,S7j persons pre-
raring for college, of whom 2,965 were Il
The public high schools, l0,745 in academies
and .. .lG5 were in the preparatory depart
ments Of the colleges themselves. Neari
$500 more were fitting for scientific schools
Oi the preparation by colleges OF student
for college and the superior position OF thoS
Of New England in this respect inc fepol
Avs e..
In the SIX New England states the cit
high schools are preparing 664 students, III
academies are preparing 9o5 students an
tie special preparatory schools and prepar'
tory departments2 >. $50 students, while Il
colleges themselves are preparing only Il
In other words. the academies of New In!
land are preparing 3.57l, or more than
in 100 Of students being fitted for super.
classical instruction. The case is very d
lerent in other portions Of the Union. +
eyamnIe in the states Of Ohio, Indian
Illinois Michigan, and Wisconsin the ci
high schools. are preparing l,2lS students
the ordinary acamedies, 19l ; other prepar
t9ry schools. 73l, and the preparatory d
partmeuts of the colleges, 9,412; that Is
say, l2A per cent. of this work Is done
the academies and preparatory schools al
ia per cent. by the colleges themselTe
only 10 per cent. are preparing IN the ci
high schools. Ii thus appears that out
every 100 students preparing ior c
lege in New England, the colleges Oh NJ NJ
England are only burdened with the care
one. while SO out OF every 100 students ?
pairing in the northwestern states mentor
must be drilled by the colleges 1t Is %
Gus that until institutions oil secohusry
structions are able to supply a suIcl'
aumber of prepared students to the co... cGlieg y
OF until the city high schools regularly 9
opportunity for acquiring the rudlmen'7
classical training, American colleges IN
south and west must, directly or indlrec'
prepare at least IS per cent. OF their S
dents. Of course there are exceptionai "a
in which this necessity does not exist,
this burden Of secondary instruction % %
bv institutions chartered as colleges, 'ho'
unavoidable under existing circumst stances S
certainly very grieyous one. sucn = coi "a
ton Of afaiIs tends to low standard
scholarship in the colleges, ,mpairs r.,
energies OF the teachers, and faiis 10 u.
and foster love of high and thorough =
ture among students. Of the sis sIu''
in New England reported as preparing