Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-01-10

to tue feasibility OF educating aud pro.
viding for the blind within our own bor.
ders. am inclined to the opinion, how.
ever, that the epupils from this territory
have been well cared for, and have made
due proficiency in tleir studies at the ill.,
stitution referred TO.
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
An act was passed by the last lesisla-
tive assembly authorizing the location
and organization of an agricultural col.
lege at Brookings, upon the compliance
by the citizens of Brook,pgs with certain
conditions in regard to furnishing a
suitable site. These conditions have
been complied With. aud the officers OF
the college duly appointed. As the To-
cation at Brookings, Brookings County,
is comparatively central, and the coun-
try adjacent rich and productive farm.
ing region. suggest that the legislative
assembly memorable congress for q
grant Of land to enable the officers of the
agricultural college to commence Its
bene6cent work.
NORMAL SCHOOLS.
Provision was made by the last lepis.
lative assembly for the organization of
several normal schools, on condition
that suitable parcels OF land for their 10
cation should be decided to the territory
within a given period. But one or two
OF these proposed institutions have COM
piled with the requirements of the law
for their organization, and but one SO
FAR as am aware has been put in opera.
ton.
While / would cheerfnlly recommend
donations of lands by the general gov
eminent to aid reasonable number of
normal schools, 1 cannet approve of leg
islation looking to any other use of the
lands set apart by the general govern
ment to establish grand common
school educational system, than that
contemplated in the act of congress.
regard it duty of the highest i'm.
portance devolvlng upon the executive
to guard with jealous care the munifcent
grant of the sixteenth and thirty-sixth
sections of land in each township, which
will become rich legacy TO the people
OF this territory when it becomes a
state.
The Dakota university established at
Vermiliion under the laws of the terri.
tory, and the Yankton college located at
Yankton, are both 80 far approaching
completion that they will be ready for
occupancy during the next season.
In view of the probable opening up
for settlement of q considerable portion
of what is known as the Big Sioux reser-
vation. would suggest that the Iegisla-
ture memorialize congress for grants of
land to aid these important educa-
tional institutions.
PURL1C EDUCATION,
The report of the territorial superin.
tendent OF public instruction presents 9
brief summary of statistics, and of the
system now authorized by law, with re
concentrations for q new and better
code Of laws for our schools. By the re
port 1T appears that several important
counties have failed to make any returns
and the reports received are imperfect
BY these reports, including that iron
Pembina county, received since the sup
erintendent's report was printed, it ap
pears that the total school revenues TO
! twenty-five counties for the year ending
March 81, 1882, were S363,620, which the
superintendent is satisfied full repor
would have increased to $5OO,OOO. rhi
sum is raised almost wholly by direc
taxation, since it does not seem from The
reports that proceeds of bonds, issued tt
enable districts to erect and furnish
school houses, were included in receipts
to any considerable extent.
There were in all SO organized coun
ties, from forty-six of which reports fol
that school year were due. More or lesi
full reports from SO counties show th,
following statistics:
Total school districts organized, 1925
Total graded schools. 40: Total un
graded schools. 965: Number of schoo
houses, 1893: Value of same, S525, SIT
Amount paid county superintendents
SS.616: Average wages paid teachers
male, S33: Average wages paid teach
ers, female, $26: Total expenses of the
office of.superintendent of public instruc
ton for salary, mileage, Office, print
ing, books, stationary and postage, $3.50
The defects in our present school sys
tenn are pointed out briefly by the report
and among these the chief are, the in
creasing tendency to local and epecia
laws which isolate and localize our bes
schools; and the irregularities and great
inequalities in the area, population anc
property of school districts, with the
evils arising from their frequent chang,
of boundaries. As cure for these it il
recommended that one general law au
thorize and govern boards of education
in all incorporated cities, towns an.
villages, which shall be treated and re
quired to report as class; and tina
another general act provide for the OF
ganization of civil townships as schoo
corporations througout the territory
which shall be of adequate area, ant
which shall assnn,e the place of schoo
districts in The control Of schools. Thi
recommendation is in entire harmony
with that urged in my message tw,,
years ago, aud it now meets my heart
approval. HAas the full endorsement
OF tie most experienced and able super
intendents in the Uuited States. 1t j
urged for adoption in many states now
1t has the very warmest support and in
tellIgent recommendation Of the abl
and experienc commissioner of educa
tion of the United States, who favors j
from knowledge Of the experience 0
the entire country.
The plan has the merit also of goins
i back to the foundation Of the school sys
ten, which had its origin in the town
ships of New England. The most sue
cessful administration Of school affair
now, is where the system approache
nearest to that model. The transfer ca
be made now in Dakota without grea
Inconvenience. The differences betwee
districts that are merged into schoc
townships can bs easily adjusted
There are undoubtedly many Irregular
ties, inequalities and wrongs CROWN
out of the district system. In the ole
! est counties these are not yet avoided
There is also often a lack of care and re
sponsibility in their business methods
On the other hand the township systel