Arizona citizen., 1874-02-07

houses and furniture is: In Pima $12OO; in
 Yavapat S2l75; in Yuma S1047: in Mari cOpa 5000; in Mohave S5O-in all S6472.
 The number of children in the Territory l between the aS2G Of six and twenty-one | years is lGS0; and the nun bers attending public schools are: In PimG 'e; in Yuma | 75; il Maricopa, G1; in Yavapai 5; i1 Mo l have l-in all 2i3.
 i Under all the circumstances, there hos been gratifying progress in the promotion 1 cf education in Arizona during the past 1 year. Tho last legislature imposed a tax ] of 25 cents OF each S!00 of taxable property in the several counties for school purposes, and 8 like taK on all the property of the Territory to be collected and paid to the T2rl0rS counties in proportion to the num- Der Of children within each But a small pOniOn Of the taxes derived from these two sources was paid until late in 1873, and therefore the benefits of this wise statute are only beginning to be realized. It is believed that there will be sufficient reve- nCe ;r the future to maintain free schools | ln each of the districts in the Territory for at least six months Of the year. AS our schools are all primary in their character, the policy of employing female teachers has been favored, and put Tn practice so far as practicable. The experience of the most eminent educators throughout the land, IS in favor of female teachers. It has been the purpose of the officers in charge Ot our schools to procure the services of the best and most thorough teachers, and believe that in the main such have been secured. The people speaking through their representatives have said that free schools must be provided whereby every child of sound mind and proper age can receive an education free of individual cost and that the children of poor parents ln our Territory may as readily acquire an education and have an equally intelligent start 1E life 2S those of rich ones. Agreea- ble to the demand of the people, means for this purpose have been provided and the schools are in successful operation. The census shows that many children do not attend school, but an increase of at tendance IS gradual and equal to reaSona- 5le expectations. To the end that chill dren Of every religious faith may con- slstently attend these schools, the legis- lature wisely prohibited the use of Secta- rian books and religious teaching in them. Therein children of parents of any and every faith can meet in harmony and SHp-| on an equality in all respects. BaSedup0nl &lyOther character of law, the free scll6oIl system WCIld and should soon be destroy-| ed: Were one religious doctrine taught, children of other religious doctrines would surely be driven from the schools. Tn this age of science, learning and religious and political independence, it will not do to promote any sect at the common expense The finds which maintain the grand free schools, are drawn from people of every creed, and it is but just that all shall be equally benefited without the least at tempt to iEeulcGte any of the many religi- OuS beliefs. Religious instruction peculiar iv belongs to the family circle and church. The most cruel and bloody warS recorded in the pages of history, show that they were the Of1spring of the intolerance of religious sects. Bigotry has brought untold thou sGrCS of innocent men and women to tor ture and death. The cloak of religion has been used to cover such dire crimes against mankind, but happily for poor and rich of all beliefs and conditions, the time for such cruel intolerance has pGSsed away. | Under the benign influences of our free republic, every one has and can exercise the inalienable right, free from threats and oppression, to worship God in his own l way; and cur public schools constitute 1 the safe foundation upon which the pros l perity and endurance of our beloved country rests and our rightful liberties are | secured and assured. In the public school | room, the children of every creed are | gathered, not to despiSe and hate each 1 other as in olden times under sectarian l teaching, but to love and respect manly l and wOmanly virtues wherever or in ! whomsOever found, regardless of the faith l one or the other entertains. Very respect | fully your obedient servant.
 4. T. K. SAFFORD,
 GCYerncr and eX-OfficiO Superin-
 tendent of Public Instruction |