Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1891-07-29
oar ras,,s schools.

public school system of Arizona from interpretations recently made in the east. He writes as fellows:
 The Rev. $. $. Matthews, agent for the New West Educational Com mission. is soliciting aid for Western schools through New England.
 During his remarks m Woodstock Vermont, which, according ,o the local paper, "wege chiefly devoted to setting forth the need of New Mex leo, Arizona aud Utah, for educa- tional and religious instructions, he said, there is room for the school master in that part of the world. Not very long ago vote was taken in Arizona whether public schools should be established, and 1t stood B in favor to about 5OO against. That difficulty has been in some measure overcome, but the miilen- ium is q great way of.
 It is passing strange that al this period of our history, any one hay ing the means of procuring infor- nation on such generally discrimi- mated subject as the ecommon schools of the United States should be guilty of such an assertion, deliber- ately made.
 It is still more strange that the one making it, should be the agent of an association evidently, from its name. maintained for work in the particular field so misrepesented.
 do not know what the "New West Educational Commission" is, but whatever its plans are for, the amelioration of our condition, it certainly has been unfortunate m the selection of an agent.
 It is customary for the agent of an association, whatever its purpose may be, to inform himself thorough ly of the conditions surrounding his field of work. No man, after day spent in this Territory, could pos sibly make such a statement as this, without deliberate falsifcation, or if his main field of labor be in New England, and his main duties the collection of subscriptions, printed matter with full detail of statistics is readily obtainable.
 It may, however, be necessary to | ignore the truth in the painting oi a picture sufficiently horrible to con iure the shekels from our pitying Yankee friends.
 Churches are admittedly more liberal to foreign than to domestic missions. If then We can be unfa- vorably compared to South Seq Islander, the greater will be the harvest.
 In proportion to increase in popu lation this is equaled by but tive States or Territories, viz: North and South Dakota. Col. Geo. T. Balch auditor board of education of New York, who is preparing an exhaust i've record of public school work fol the decade, writes me that ''in i'm proyement all around Arizona rank. with the first" During the schoo year 1890, 1889 of l2,sS2 children between and Is years of age, or 6 per cent, were enrolled in the pub lie schools.
 Does that look as if school sys tenn was e.tablished'
 The Vermont report l have not d hand, but in Maine, an improving state, the corresponding figure was 67
 Arizona is a young and new coun try struggling with limited resour ces to maintain aproper government and a good credit.
 The expenses of her school system have been heavy but cheerfully born as duty to her children and thei posterity. During 1890 she expende, in the maintenance of her schoo system, and in addition to the build ing of number of new school houses over $lS0,00O, and $5.99 per child De month based upon the average dail attendance.
 The corresponding figures in Main were $l ,0s9, GOO, and $3.23.
 Arizona had in 1890 2l9 school, ninety-three male and l47 femal teachers. An average school year C six and three-tenth months, an school property of an estimase value of $26S, coo. Is that an estat lished school systemi
 The New West Educational con mission may be very meritoriou institution, and with perfectly laut able ends. do not remember ha, ing heard of it before, but whateve its place of work, no offer has bee made to act conjointly with the @, tablished system. Nor do I thin that Arizona desires or needs an system excepting that established b her own law and supported by hs own funds.
 But whatever the purpose of tn association I can consider it by tn simple duty of officers of the publ school system and every citizen ( the territory to deny in unmistal . able terms such aspersions on or name and repute. If this gentlema has made this assertion in ignorano his lack of knowledge units him fc such position. If he has made , for effect, knowing it to be false, is unfit for any work in life.
 I have already furnished him wit figures and suggested the simp ! iuStiea of a raf raof ,an ,s ,>,,hI:.l