Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-09-15
Commissioner Eaton,s Report.

ton, covering the year 4oi1i n"0 O"s
recently been issued from the govern
ment printing Office. The Commits
sioner states that the demand upon
the Office for information has been
greater than during any previous year.
The printing Of circulars has been
more than double, and yet the number
has not been sufficient to set forth all
the information desired upon impor-
tant phases of education.
The matter Of the report is derived
from the reports of Estates, Territories,
and cities, Of schools of all classes, and
of various related institutions, as
libraries and museums. The number
Of these correspondents increases
yearly; in 1879 the total was 1869 for
the American matter alone.
The total school population in the
States for 1879 is 14,7S2,765; number
enrolled in public schools, 9,328,OO3i
average daily attendance, 5,223,lOO,
six States not reporting.
There are sixteen different school
ages in the States and Territories, Il
years being the longest period and 8
years the shortest. The earliest
age at which children are admitted to.
public schools in any State is 4 years.
In nine States the school age is 6-2l,
and in nine others 5-2l.
The duration of the school year is
longest, viz, above 40 days, in the
following States: Connecticut, Mary
land. Massachusetts,. New Jersey,
New York, Rhode Island. In the
District of Columbia the period is lS9
days.
The total number Of teachers en-
ployed in the public schools Of the
States was go, l63; in the Territories,
1923, Idaho not reporting, and IN
Indian Territory only the Choctaws.
All the States and Territories
save Georgia, Idaho, New Mexico, and
three nations in the Indian Territory,
report the average salaries Of teachers.
In the States the wages Of men vary
from $25 81 q month in South Carroll
ma, to $84 46 in Nevada; the wages Of
women, from S22 SO in New Hamp-
shire, to $S3 in Nevada; of the Terri
tories the District of Columbia pays
the highest salary to men, viz, $89 AZ,
and Arizona the highest to women, viz,
$68. In Maryland it is the same for
both sexes, viz. $43 40, this is also the
case in the Choctaw and Seminole
tribes of Indian Territory, where the
average is $50 a month. The greatest
difference between the salaries Of men
and women is in Massachusetts,, where
the former receive an average of sol A
a month; the latter, $33 80.
In Tennessee by a change in the
school age from 6-l8 to 6-2l) and by
natural increase 65, 726 we're added to
the number entitled to free schooling
in 1888. Yet Of this large increase
only 1856 seem to have gone into the
public schools, though 327 more
pupils we're reported in private
schools. The average daily attend
ance in the former increased, however,
by 1884; that in the latter, only
1729. There were 2l8 more school
houses, 266 more schools opened IA
of them graded, 40 more teachers
and an increase in the value Of school
property amounting to $l11,286. The
points Of LOGS were s days less average
time Of schools, sll9,377 less money
for them, and thus q falling of o.
81 45 in average monthly pay o.
teachers.
In Arkansaw the report from the
State Superintendent for the yeal
shows that, with 20,126 more children
to be taught, there we're 1892 more
gathered into public schools, under
53 more teachers and in l48 moro
school houses. Receipts for free
schools we're $50, 753 greater and ex-
penditures for them So, 056 more. In
the two State schools for training
teachers four years normal courses
were provided.
In Mississippi the Commissioner
says: A good record meets US in this
State: 1880 additional youth Of school
age, an enrolment Of 11,775 more in
| the free schools. and an average daily
attendance Of &97 more, with sll3,-
647 more raised for the schools, and
$48, 743 expended for them. Better
teaching, too, was doubtless had from
the influence Of the 2 State Normal
schools and Of institutes held by the
State superintendent, with good help,
in 4 different cities consecutively. Nc
evidence comes, however, of advance
worth noting in higher and PROBES.
seasonal instruction.
The appendix to the report contains
abstracts OF the official reports of the
school officers Of States, Territories
and cities, 300 pages; statistical table,
relating to education in the United
States, 448 pages; and an index Of 9
pages; total, including the report
proper Of the COMMISSIONER, 987
pages.