The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-01-16

Number Of tsaoheru, l2,9OQ Primary
school fund held In trust By the STATE
September a0th. 1876. e3.lz7.9l7. .075.
prodoeing an annual income Of e2l1s-
The statistics here given denote an
annual public expenditure OF IS, 5,000,-
600 for education by the people OF this
State. We have provided schools not
only for our own families, but for the
unfortunate and criminal children.
The log school house and the stately
University share equally our solicitude
and care. We have special colleges
for the farmer, schools in which to fit
teachers, schools for the professional
student, and for one or two technical
pursuits. We seem TO recognize in all
Its fullness the truth Of the old proverb
"the breath OF the school children is
the saving OF the world"
Yet with all this, there are many
thoughtful citizens who ask them
selves the question "Are we doing our
educational work in the best way, are
our schools all they ought TO be, do
they help our children as much as they
should in the practical things Of life
and fit them to be productive, self
helping citizens ?" In times OF fnan-
cial depression like the present, when
we fully realize that the only way up
aud out is through the productive in
dustry OF the people, the question is a
pertinent one. The army of children
who yearly come out from our schools
are 10 recruit the ranks of the industri-
Gus or the idle. That the natural ten
dency is toward the former we do
know, and our system OF education
ought to be an efficient help in that di-
rection.
We need to give this subject our
earnest attention; TO care more for the
than we do for the heighth Of our
school-ht use tower; TO pursue the
substance and neglect the shadow; to
make our schools the laboratory in
which men are made. Idleness is the
cause of more misery and crime than
all else besides,--of $50 men in the
State Prison in 1875, 793 had never
been apprenticed, and of 334 received
in 1876, seventeen only had ever been
aud of 335 received in lS-
76, seventeen only had ever been APP
prenticed. IL our education is not
made more practical the ranks OF the
idle will constantly increase, not from
choice, but simply because they have
no knowledge OF how TO do anything
well.
Our high graded schools need TO
provide more technical instruction at
once. IL it is the province OF legisla-
tion 10 direct or control in this matter,
1 ask your thoughtful attention to the
subject.
The educators of Europe are point
ing their energies in this direction. In
this connection desire to call your at
tention to the special report Of Rev. ID.
G. Jacokes, who had charge of our ed
department at the Centen-
nial Exposition, upon this subject,
gathered from what he saw there of
other systems and other countries.
Give to our special schools, to the
University, to our common schools
every possible assistance in this work
that can consistently be given with due
regard to economy.
NORMAL SCHOOL.
This department OF our system of
education is steadily improving. The
for 1874 was 1876 for 1875,
$50; for 1876, 722. The graduating
class in 1876 numbered seventy-ni
Over 5000 students have attended this
since its opening in 1853.
The condition OF its funds, at the close
of the fiscal year, was as follows:
Trust Funds in Treasury drawing In
est at per cent. ............ a.soi 81
sos.ssi %
The estimated disbursements for
each Of the years 1877 and 1873 are
for salaries of teachers, 800, 100 90 for
library and aparntus $500 90; for re-
pairs, 81 900; other expenses, go, 900
The receipts from interest and tuition
are estimated ut $4,000 per annum.
leaving deficiency OF SIS, 300 for each
year to be provided for by taxation.
The State Board OF Education, in view
OF the crowded condition Of the school,
ask an appropriation OF $780, 900 for an
additional building. They have sub
mitted no plan or estimates, but it
seems to me that n smaller amount
than this would build a very commodi-
Gus and suitable structure. Ii is due
to the management OF the school to say
that it has been very modest in its re-
quests in the past, and very prudent
and economical in the expenditure OF
its appropriations.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
The management OF the finances OF
the college for the past two years has
been careful and prudent. II is out of
debt, and hope will keep out. The
board submit a very careful detailed
estimate Of receipts and expendiiu es
for the coming two years. They esti-
mate the current expenses at $50, OF
per apnum, and the receipts from in
terest and other sources at S2l, $40.
leaving deficiency Of sl6,474 for the
two years They also submit q state
ment Of wants for repairs, new build
ings, improvements, library, etc,
amounting to $40, ,062, making n total
of S36. $50, for which sum they ask an
appropriation. The amount appropri-
ated 10 1875 was S29,7S7. Since this
estimate was made the old Boarding
Hall at the college has been destroyed
by fire, and a new one will need to be
erected Mt once. The accommodations
for the increasing number OF students,
even with this hall, have been Ii mited,
and a new one wonld have become
necessary within two years at least. IL
is proposed in the erection OF new
building TO construct it large enough
TO accommodate 100 stadents. The es-
innate OF its cost is sl5, 900. and 1 rec
commend an immediate appropriation
of this amount, so that work may be
commenced at once and the building
be ready for the spring term. In view
OF the necessity OF this appropriation,
I recommend that the items in the es-
innate Of the board, for construction
OF buildings and gas-works for the
chemical department be stricken out,
reducing the estimate 81. .265, and max
ing a total appropriation, including
that Of the new ball, Of sf2.271. The
boaid agree with mo in this recommen-
dation, though all the items proposed
to be omitted are much needed.
The College Fund. September 30th,
1876, was as follows: Trust fund in
State Treasury, sllS,S27 6S; due from
purchasers Of land, Slll, 1884 65, all
drawing interest at per cent. Unsold
land belonging 10 college at same date,
i64. 799 acres. The number Of students
in 1875, l56; in 1876, l66-an increase
over the preceding two years Of 80.
Graduates in 1888, 33 in 1874, 36.
Inventory Of property, s252. 26s, an in