Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-12-28
EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS.
state Superintendent Edwards Ad-
dress Concerninx Public schools
Before the state Teachers Asssocia.
tion at Springfield.

the most important feature of the meet,
ing so far was the address of State Supt
of Public Instruction Edwards. Thursday,
during which he gave the following in.
teresting statistics:
The school law was enacted in 1855.
Attempts had been previously made to
establish a system Of free schools. A
law was passed for that purpose in 1926,
but the law was not effective. The law
of 1855 was drawn up by the first SUPER
intendent OF schools. Ninian W. Ed
wards. 1t is substantially maintained to
this day, though with many amendments.
Since that time there has been great pro-
gress. Taking the two years 1857 and
1887, and comparing them We find.
among others. the following facts:
The total amount paid to teachers in
the state IN 1857 was 81 ,003, 006; in 1887
II WAS st. 335. 275 So. In 1857 the total
expenses incurred for public education in
the state was $2,270. 010 SO; in 1887 that
total was $40, 800, 1877 so. In 1857 the
total number of public schools in the
state was 1856; in 1887 that number was
1913. In 1857 the number of pupils
enrolled was 365, 407; in 1887 it was
74S, 961. In 1857 the number of teach
ers employed was 11.217; in 1887 it was
2l,097. In 1857 the average wages of
male teachers was 500 Is per month. of
female teachers $40 6S per month; in
1887 the average wages of male teachers
was $51 40 per month, and of female
teachers S42 II per month. In 1857 the
amount paid "a expenses of teachers in
stitutes was 1851; in 1887 it was S27. =
$50 Oh During this period the popula>
ton of the state had increased from
about l. 5000 to 3. 200.0
In some respects these figures are en-
couraging. In 1855. to induce the dis
tricts TO tax themselves at all, the state offer
ed a bounty of nearly 50 for every dollar
voluntarily raised by the districts. In
1887 for every dollar distributed by the
state and received from interest on coun-
ty and township funds. the districts them
selves by voluntary election raised lit
tie more than IS 3. The amount paid to
teachers in 1887 was more than six times
what it was in 1857. Tue total amount
paid for schools in 1887 was nearly FIVE
times as much as that paid IN 1857 The
wages OF teachers, as we have seen, have
more than doubled in that period. The
cost of teachers institutes is fifty times
what it was in 1857. During the thirty
years named the states increase in wealth
has been one of the marvels of history
But the tables show that our increase in
wealth has only kept pace with the in
crease in our school appropriations. We
have grown liberal towards schools as
fast as we have grown rich.
In 1857 the county school officers were
known Us commissioners and we're very
meagerly paid. They are now known as
superintendent and their compensation
Is much more liberal.
This officer. the county superintendent.
has very important duties to perform. On
his skill and fsithfulness depends In a
large degree the success of the schools.
Many other changes have been made
during the period. The establishment Of
township high schools was inaugurated in
1867 by special act A general law
providing for such schools was passed in
1874 and amended in 1888 The town,
ship high school is one of the very fav-
orable agencies in carrying on educational
work
During the last session of the legisla-
ture the school law was codifed, which
makes it much easier of consultation.
In his biennial report for the years
1918 ,, DIR. Newton Batemsn. the super
intendent OF public instruction, urged
upon the Legislature the necessity OF a
law compelling the attendance of children
upon school. where such cOmpulsion was
necessary to secure them reasonable
education. He treated the matter under
the head of The Educational Rights of
Children" The superintendent assumed
that where the child was not sent to
school, the child himself was the chief
loser. The principal thin g to be thought
of was the securing of his rights. think
this was an eminenlly just view of the
case.
In 1883. during the last session of the
legislature, a bill was reported and passed
to secure this end. Its provisions have
been made known and discussed in every
part of the state. This of itself is a
promising fact. The first thing to be
achieved in a matter like this is to secure
for it the public consideration. But a
more encouraging statement than this
may be made. In majority OF school
districts of the state. so far as | am in
formed, the law is executed, wisely,
humanely and effectively. II is not made
odious and offensive, except in a few
localities, by an unnecessary display of
mere brute force. The penalties in most
cases are lost sight of because the officers
have presented the subject in a sensible
way, and the people have as rule cheer
fully obeyed the laws acquisitions.
Objections have been made to the law
in some quarters. Among other things
a question has been raised about the pos
sibility Of executing it. After careful
examination it is concluded that this OBJ
lection is not valid.
DIR. Edwards denied that compulsory
education interfered with the personal
liberties of the people, any more than did
the common law. 1t did not require any
particular religion to be taught, but at
the same time was not aimed against the
religious schools, as children can attend
private OF parochial schools instead Of
the public schools, provided certain
specified subjects in the English language
be taught in these schools. and there can
be no one who can justly find fault with
such requisition. 1t does not prohibi,
the learning of other languages OF the
teaching of religion. 1t does not pro.
hibt or even embsrrass the existence OF
private schools. You may cover the
state with them from Cairo to the Wis.
consin line and the law will not touch one
of them. 1t only declares that this min
imum of knowledge in the English Ian.
guage must be acquired by those who are
to be the future citizens of the republic
! The law was enacted in obedience to CALI
| from many citizens of this state. Prom
inent among these calls was that which
came from the labor organizations of tn,
state. Facts were presented showing tn,
great and crying need for law of thi
kind. The legislature was given to I'M
derstand that IN the city of Chicago ant
in other of the larger cities thousands g.
children who ought to be in school wei
growing up iu idleness and vice. Thes
facts have since been abundsntly sus
tanned. and there can be no doubt that !
enacting the law the legislature showe
its desire to serve the people as well a
the cause of civilization.
DR.. Edwards stated that the law wa