Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1892-06-09
OF FIRST IMPORTANCE.
Progress of Education in the State
of Tennessee.
Facts from the Report of State Super.
intendent of Instruction.
From the Knoxville Journal.

WHICH the oouth mas long been subject.
ed is the lack Of interest she has given
to public instruction. 1t will have to
be admitted that this criticism has in
large degree been merited, but with the
general awakening of Southern indus
tries and general line of progress, the
matter of public instruction is taking
on thorough awakening, and the man
agement and equipment of public
schools is receiving unusual attention
and is recognized more and more to be
the main channel that will work out
the salvation of the South.
1t is matter of qualification to note
that Tennessee is keeping up in this
line of progress, as is indicated by GER
tain facts obtained from the late report
TO the Governor, by the State Superin.
tendent.
1t is a matter of Importance and con-
graduation to know that for the first
time in the history of the State accu-
rate statistical reports have been OBJ
tanned from every county in the State.
This has been at the cost of unusual ef-
fort, which causes the Superintendent
to recommend in his report that the
school laws should be so amended as to
secure greater promptness and accura-
cy in the report of district and county
officers.
The scholastic population of the
State between the ages of six and twen-
ty one years, for the year ending June
30, 1894, are as follows: White males,
267 1886 white females, $50, ,4S7: total
whites, 5l7, 1923. The colored males and
females are about equally divided, and
number in all 1864 The total in
crease of whites over the past year was
S,127, and of colored 1894.
From the compilation of county re-
ports the increase of average daily at
tendance was Al ,053, an increase of ID
per cent. over the previous year.
The increase in the number enrolled
III elements of agriculture receives spe-
cial notice. This branch of study was
added to the public school curriculum
in 1879, but the teachers were not pre-
pared to cooperate in it's introduction,
and for several years it remained al
most dead letter on the statute book.
-Four years after the enactment the
number enrolled in the elements of ag-
riculture was only 1863. The matter has
been SO urged at teachers institutes
that the number is now increased to
2,772.
The increase in the number of teach
ers employed is 339 and the increase of
the number of schools taught is 457, of
which 1884 are white schools and 70 are
colored. The total number of teachers
now employed is $3.50, of which /, ,745
are colored.
The average number of days taught
during the year is ninety six. The av-
erage monthly compensation is 1871 81,
and the average cost of tuition per pu-
pill enrolled per month, is seventy four
cents.
The number of school houses of all
kinds erected for the year was 251, and
the total estimated value of school
property is $2, ,724, 1903 70.
A summary of the official acts of
county superintendents shows marked
increase of activity in school work.
Forty two more institutes were held
than in the preceding year, and 5,112
more teachers were in attendance. This
is especially creditable when it is re-
membered that this work is mainly
voluntary, and in not few instances
is tax ON the private incomes of the
teachers and superintendents, no pro-
visions having been made for county
institutes by either county or State, as
prevails in most Northern States. The
superintendent adds that 'it furnishes
an example of enthusiasm and devo-
tion to the public service which de-
serves public recognition and graft
tude.n
Referring to teachers reading circles
and teachers library associations, the
Superintendent adds that these associ.
tiations are voluntary, and there is no
general State system. They have not
been established as thoroughly and
generally as their Importance demands.
In Bedford and Knox Counties they
have been in successful operation for
years, and have accomplished useful
results, for which honor is due to Su-
perintendents Allen and Ford, and to
the teachers of said counties. He ex-
presses regret that these important So
cieties are not in vogue in all the coun-
ties.
In this line the State Superintendent
proceeds to give an interesting history
of school work in Tennessee that is not
familiar to the public, nor even to those
engaged in school work. A few points
are the following: The first school or
literary institution in Tennessee was
the first in the great Mississippi Valley.
Itwas founded by Samuel Doak in 1888,
and incorporated by the State of North
Carolina as the Martin Academy, and
in 1895 became Washington College, in
Washington County.
The first incorporated institution of
learning in the State was Davidson
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