Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-10-06

EERoRT OF THE l.. S. COMMISSIONER.
The Commissioner of Education in his latest
report upon the school system of the United
States. has the following about the New Eng
land States. The comparisons are, as rule,
made between the school years ls75-lS76 and
ls76-ls77:
MAINE.
Here we find considerable decrease in the
reported number of youth of school age, with
like decrease in the number registered in
summer schools; but the average attendance
in these summer schools was in 1876 greater
than in the preceding year, while in the win
ter schools there were 29G2 more enrolled and
1917 more in average attendance. Then, not
withstanding diminished receiptsfor schools,
and constant dimnution in the pay of teach
ers. the number engaged in teaching was
greater than in 1S75-'76, and more of them
were graduates of normal schools, an indica-
ton of improving quality. The number of
such normal graduates engaged it appears,
might have been considerably greater had not
a mistaken parsimony led to the engagement
of poor teachers at low rates in preference to
givingmore skilled teachers reasonable wages.
New HAMPSHIRE.
According to returns from the selectmen in
this State, the youth between and - years,
appear to be II, l59 less than at the last report
while there were 1886 more enrolled in public
schools, 246 more in private schools and 266
fewer attended no school. Male teachers were
more numerous, and the proportion of teach
crs trained in normal schools was greater -
while the number of schools increased by "a,
one of them town high school. Fewer school
houses were reported unfit for use, and the
number supplied with blackboards was ten
greater. At other points there was decline !;
smaller average attendance in the schools
smaller number in the higher branches, "a
fewer graded schools, slight decrease in the
average term of schools, diminution of teach
crs' wages, and falling off in receipts and ex
penditures.
VERMONT.
With lj2 fewer youth of school age (5-20)
we yet find 695 more of that age in public
schools, an increase of Pops in the total en-
rollment and of 1914 in average daily attend
ance--a most creditable record. With 90
more public schools, the average school
term was increased by one day and tenth,
and a larger proportion of male teachers
was employed in the schools; there were al
so greater receipts for the support OF the
school system-an unusual thing in these
hard times. With the exception of the num-
Der of children Of school age, the only fall
ing off was in the number of female teach
ers, largely made up by the increase of males
in the wages paid teachers, and in the gen
eral expenditures on the schools.
MASSACHUSETTS,.
Advance in most respects continues to be
the order of the day. Notwithstanding IA
decrease of 1859 in the number of her youth
of school age, Massachusetts, enrolled 205G
more in public day school and had 3s0l more
in average attendance than in lS75-7G; ac-
commodating this increased enrolment and
attendance in II more ordinary day schools
and four more public high schools although,
from some cause unexplained, there were
l3l fewer teachers reported in the day schools
than in the previous year The evening
schools were fewer by -, and yet had s more
teachers and 2l92 more pupils than in 1875
16. The unincorporated private schools in
creased by A, and the estimated average at
tendance on them by rs; but the incorpo-
rated academies seem to have lost in number
of schools as the others gained, and to have
had upon their rolls 1887 fewer pupils the
tuition fees Of both classes of these private
schools fell off very considerably.
RHODE ISLAND.
Advance here, too, is apparent, the public
schools enrolling 63l more pupils and having
- more in average attendance, besides high
proportionate increase in the enrolment and
attendance in evening schools. There were
also 10 more school buildings, 81 more pub
lie day schools 10 of them ungradcd), u
more teachers in the day schools, and u more
in evening schools, with only slight falling
off in wages, and, what is unusual in these
| times, an increase in the expenditure on the
schools Notwithstanding a slight decrease in
the income.
CONNECTICUT.
| Connecticut had 1910 more youth of school
age, l02 more of them enrolled in public day
schools and 36i more in other schools, more
public school, more graded schools, 30 more
school houses in good condition, 20 more
teachers in winter and q more in summer.
with l2i more continued in the same school
the only dimnutions were in teachers wages
and in the receipts and expenditures for pub.
lie schools.
In the latest report of the Bureau of Edu
cation there are statistics showing the relation
of average Of scholars to the school popula