The Republican journal., 1892-05-26

leading to the increases shown in the S ia
tistics, is sustained by the decrease shown
in the number of schools in which 9th er
studies than those prescribed by law, were
allowed to be taught; for towns are not
obliged to furnish books on these latter
subjects except in schools in which they
may have become legal studies by pre-
scription of local authorities: and hence
free books not being furnished, the natur-
al tendency would be in the directions
shown.
s'6. School districts and school houses
| While many persons hold to the theory
that the unit or town system of school
management is good thing for the schools
in some towns but not in all, that for pure
ly rural and sparsely settled towns the
district system is preferable, yet such
theory is not backed by actual experience.
| There is no class of towns in the State that
have not their like among the 142 towns
whose schools are now managed under the
town system; and among these towns
there is not one. how rural and sparsely
settled soever it may be, whose schools
are not on the whole better and in the way
of more rapid improvement than those in
| similar towns still adhering to the district
system. That the number of towns and
plantations which have either abolished
schools districts OF organized without dis
trict divisions, has increased during the
year from 127 to 142; and that as result
! III Of these worse than needless agencies
in school management, school districts,
have been wiped out, is evidence that
| there are to be better schools and more
equal educational privileges in fifteen
more towns.
THE decrease of AS shown in the num-
| ~
with the decrease already noticed in the
number of schools. 1t is another proof of
| that consolidation of weak schools to
which attention has elsewhere been called
as indicating improvement.
''School- houses, so far as to the number
reported in good condition, remain practi-
cally the same as tor the preceding year.
In their condition so far as indicated by
estimated value, there must have been
material Improvement OF the S214. APO es-
| timated increase in their value, a consider
able part is due to the amount expended
for new buildings, but the larger part
must he attributed to expenditures for inn
provements in old buildings. OF these
expenditures, the larger portion was made
FROM current school appropriations, thus
reducing the amount expended for the
maintenance of schools, and cutting down
their length as noticed elsewhere AS the
proper housing of the school is a material
factor in their improvement, the improve
ment here Indicated may be considered as
in some considerable measure compensat-
| ing for the decrease in their length.
~ AS to supervision. In this regard
the exhibit made is in line with that in
most other regards. Under present con-
ditions supervision by one man is more
prompt. vigilant and efficient than that
| by three, Hence the increase shown in
| the number of towns whose schools We're
| under the direction of supervisors instead
| of school committees. is indicative of IN
/ creased efficiency i'll supervision This is
further evidenced by the decrease shown
in the number of schools not visited us the
law requires and by the increase in amounts
( paid for local supervision.
This increase in cost of local supervi-
sion is exceptionally large While in this
particular for the last preceding ten years
! increases have been constant such increases
have averaged annually less than 81 100.
/ That shown for this year is within a small
traction Of five times as large. But the
cause of this exceptional increase is not
far to seek 1t will be found in the larg-
Ell duties imposed in putting the free text
book plan into operation. 1t was there
fore, to have been expected.
IS As to resources and expenditure
Most of the items grouped under this head
have already been considered in their re-
lations to other groups of statistics. 1t is
sufficient to say, that far as increase in
resources and expenditures for ordinary
school purposes is indicative of improved
conditions, the facts here shown are thus
indicative. But they do more. They in
dictate the public esteem for the public
schools, and the public growing purpose
to push them to higher efficiency.
80. Summary conclusions fairly
deducible from the foregoing statistics re-
garding the comparative condition of our
common schools, may be broadly stated AS
follows
a. As regards quantity of work done
measured by attendance, there was mark
ed improvement; as measured by length
of schools, both average and aggregate,
they We're not equal to those of the pre-
ceding year.
80 In quality of work done as indicat-
ed by character of teachers. by scope OF
studies pursued, by supply and character
OF textbooks and appliances used, and by
character and efficiency Of local supervi-
sion. there was also marked improvement.
-. AS affected by consolidation of
small and weak schools, by improved
school buildings, and by adoption by a
better system of management, their gen
eral condition was noticeablv improved.
~. As affected 10y growing public
interest in and appreciation of their work,
manifested in larger local appropriations
and increased expenditures for their sup
port, there was substantial improvement,
and is promise of still better things.
FREE HIGH SCHOOLS.
''Our common schools exist by fiat of
law. Every municipality must maintain
them and the minimum amount to be ex-
pended for their support is fixed by law.
Our free high schools exist only where
communities will their existence No law
compels their maintenance; no law fixes a
minimum amount to be expended in their
support If the people of any community
want these schools, they may have them
but they must voluntarily provide for their
support and maintain them, before the
State will intervene with its aid. Because
of these conditions of existence the
growth of these schools measures more ac-
curately than that of any other part of our
educational system, the growth of popular
interest in public education.
''ln this connection the record made for
the last ten years ought to be a matter of
State pride. For the year 1SsO-1 these