The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-01-05
RepOrf ON Rduca. ion.

|
command so much popular attention as that
of the superintendent Of public instruction,
which goes forth for general distribution
this week. It stands, almost, side by side
with the auditors report in business point
Of view, and, as an index to the growth of
| the state in the higher elements of mental
and moral progress, it risfs in importance
/ tar above all. The preparation OF this
report for the press and the completion
ofits details fell upon the present incum-
bent, Prof A. g. Hopkins, who succeeded to
the office of his lsmented father by appoint
ment, August %, 1874. But the report in
It's sentiments and recommendations may
be accepted in the fullest sense as the
| final legacy of the late HON. Milton B. Hop
kins. 1t may be safely presumed that
his views and, wishes have been
interpreted and expressed with the strictest
fidelity by one who stood in such relations
to him as to render mistake on these points
| impossible. Yet, with reference to one i'm
portant feature of the report to which the
Sentinel would call particular attention the
whole credit should be- cordially ascribsd to
the present superintenh dent. That feature is
| the presentation of Information. In this
respect, the present report possesses an in
trinsic value TO all officers, teachers, legis-
lators and patrons of schools, and excels
most similar reports ia perspicuity, system
attic order and accuracy. The author beng
a mathematical geninls, so to speak, has put
| his qualifications TO good purpose in pre-
! senting Ineligible and exhaustive state
ments of this stupe hdous business of the
school funds and system before the public
1t is pertinent also TO remark here that the
state of Indiana Holding in trust and
| in management the immense sum OF
S,7ll, 3l9 90, has all its affairs well
| in hand, safe, | clean from waste
and the corruption which pervades the
times and well take IN care of. 1t is a matter
| for congratulation and confidence. The re-
port is the most vbluminous one ever is
sued, occupying 344 pages, besides an ap
pendix OF statistical tables and index of rs
pages, making a book of 400 pages. The
frontispiece is an excellent likeness and
autograph of Milton b. Hopkins, deceased.
The first page after the title contains ex-
plicit instructions for the distribution of the
work which snoiuld be carefully carried
out. The increase of the school fund in
1874 is S73, 1872 ii, exceeding the increase of
1873 by the sum of 1851 II. Another point
Is that the fines and forfeitures collected in
1874, amount TO 49,, O9l H. against S43,l7l 81
in the previous year, and about double what
they were seven years ago, a fact which is
due not so mudh to the increase of that
source of revenu @ as to industry in collect
ing exercised by the attorney general and the
county superin tendents. The increase in
the number Of enrolled pupils during
1874 is reported TO be IA, 407. The language
of the report p@intedly and emphatically
urges the doctrine of compulsory education
in these words: "Ii moral and religious in
fiuences fail, if persistent efforts of county
superintendent accomplish this desirable
object only in part, ii then becomes the duty
of the state tot adopt coercive measures"
The strong doctrine of the report indorsing
county superi8tendency has been presented
in part by the sentinel, which published an
extended extract from this chapter. Yet
the full argument, as well as the remarks
upon county Boards and township institutes
are worthy Of attention, especially by all
members of the legislature. The important
subject of drawing in schools is well pre-
sented and sustained by high quoted au-
thorities. "A brief report OF the city schools OF
Indianapolis is appropriately inserted from
the city superintendent, Prof. George p
Brown. The work of the State Board of Ed.
ucation and its plans are very fully reported.
Among the plans for the future of the first
importance is the copy of bill which has
been prepared by the state board, providing
for board Of regents for state university.
to be composed of all the educational insti-
tutions SUPPORTED by the state. This bill
will, of cou rise, be presented in the legisla-
ture, and will come up for further discussion
in due time. 1t has been carefully drawn
and needs only to be read to understand and
appreciate the wisdom of the board in the
action which they have taken. The state
board have also taken in hand arrangements
to have the educational agencies of the state
properly represented in the state exposition
Of 1875. Excellent though brief reports are
presented of all the state institutions, edu-
cational aud eleemosynary, the whole giving
to those seeking information, both within
and without the state, full, clear and con-
cise view OF the education of Indiana A few |
pages are very properly devoted to short |
biography of thelate superintendent, with |
the action of leading official bodies in rela-
ton thereto. A large portion OF the volume
is filled with reports, one from each county
in the state, by the respective county super
intendents, giving al outline of the condi-
ton of the school work Of the county board,
institutes, ETC., which are of local and gem
eral value. Should the present system re-
main undisturbed, these reports will grow,
by being more frequently made, to great
value, exertiDg salutary influence at all
points in the field of operations. Finally, it
may be said that no man is prepared to ex-