The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-09-06
ADVANCE IN EDUCATION.
What is Set Forth In the Report of the I
S. .Commissioner of Education,

; What is Set Forth in the Report of the I
S. Commissioner of Education.
The thirteenth annual report of th
| United States commissioner of educs
ton, covering the year 1888, now neal
/ ly ready for binding in the governmer
, printing Office, gives, as is usual
, these publications, large amount {
information on variety of topics, man
of them interesting to the general read
| er, while especially valuable to teach
! ers and other professional educators
IG is volume of over l, 100 pages, an
comprises three distinct parts, the re
port proper of the commissioner an
an appendix, of which about one-half
! devoted to statistical tables, coverin,
the whole educational field, public an,
private. The other half of the appen
dix gives brief account of the educa
tional affairs of each state and territor,
as CLEANED from printed reports, be
ginning with a summary of educationa
statistics and statement of the mair
features of the school laws, and lnclud
ing, among other topics, an account Of
the school systems in all the principal
cities, of public high schools, acade.
mics, colleges, and universities, OF sci
entific and professional schools, reform
schools, institutions for the deaf and
dumb and blind, and for idiots, and the
meetings of educational associations,
state and national.
The report proper of Ethe commits
sioner begins with a brief account OF
the work done in the office, IN addition
| 70 ha af <h,a -,
cluding, besides large correspondence,
the preparation and circulation of a
number of "circulars of information"
and bulletins. Statistics are then given
of the most important facts connected
with the public schools-6rst for the
country in general and then separately
for each state and territory. 1t appears
that with total school population of
over 16, 900, 900 we had more than 10, ,000-
600 children enrolled in public schools,
and over 5000, 900 in average daily at
tendance, under about 293, 900 teachers,
the whole cost of this immense system
amounting to over S91, 100000. More
than half the number of teachers were
women and the proportion of women to
men in this field continues to increase.
1t is encouraging to learn that there is
an upward movement in teachers sala-
ries, Is states reporting an increase in
the pay of all their teachers, in that
of men only, and in that of women.
The statistics of education in the
south show that, with white school
population of over 100000 and a
colored of nearly 100000, there were
more than 100000 white children and
nearly 803,000 colored attending the
public schools; the percentage Of enrol
ment on the number of youth of school
are ranging from Sc to 73 for white
children, and from II to SO for colored.
The increase in the number attending
school during the year in the south
has not kept pace with the increase
in the number of school age, but
the colored race was far behind the
white in this respect. Still, the COM
missioner thinks, there is no cause to
be discouraged, fora comparison of the
statistics of this year with those of past
years shows remarkable gain in pub
lie school attendance in the south, as |
well as in the funds expended on |
public schools, facts which correspond |
to a radical change in the sentiments of |
the people, who, moreover, show a
general disposition to deal impartially
with both races in the matter of educa-
ton. The much larger proportion Of
white children under instruction is ac-
for by the poverty and irregu-
ar habits of the colored people, by the
ack of school buildings for them, and
he limited supply of teachers; but
more especially by the lack of funds.
n connection with this the need of the
outh for aid from the national treasury
n order to maintain an efficient school
ystem is again urged by the commits
ioner.
The whole number of colored pupils
ttending public schools in all portions
4 the country numbered over 1884, 200. ,
here were also over 5000 colored ,
upils in normal schools, more than
800 in academies, about 1880 in col {.
sges, and over 800 studying theology, /,
wv, and medicines. !,
The number of kindergarten in the !
ountry has increased to 34S and their !
upils to nearly 1900. The principal ;
rowth of these schools is in the largest s
tiles (where also they are most :
eeded), more than one-half of =
lie entire number having been
,arted in Boston, New York,
Washington, Chicago and
an Francisco. Many of these schools ;,
re free-sustained for the benefit of !
oorest classes of people by charitable h
ldividuals and associations. The re- .
ort gives an account of work accom-
ished by several such societies in '.
rye cities, which will be read with :
'ecial interest by all who appreciate p
nportance of taking care of the chill :, =
zen. '
The statistics show about 446, 900, or :,
oward of half million of students, -
lrsuing an education above and be- :, ~
md the elementary schools. Of these :. =,
Early 100000 attended academies, u
lblic high schools, and other schools, q q
eparatorv to college and commercial q q,
hools; about so, 900 were in normal q
hools and departments preparatory -
teach; upward of $4,000 attended ,o
llegiate institutions; nearly 10000 T
ere in scientific schools, and about .,
900 in schools of theology, law and ~
edicine. In all probability the num- ";
r of students engaged in some of ~
, 80 oo1loI a. - | VI