Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1892-02-03
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
Extracts from the First Annual Report
Of the Territorial superintendent
Of Public Instruction.
ings of .he New School Sy stem
Readable Facts for the
Progressive.

The 6rst annual report OF Hon. Amado
Chavas, superintendent of public instruc-
tiop in New Mexico, and addressed to
the governor under date of December 81
1891, has just been issued in pamphlet
form and is now ready for distribution.
Marking as it does momentous epoch
in the modern history of New Mexico
this document is worthy OF more than a
mere passing notice. 1t consists of a
pamphlet of iorty-four pages repete with
| statistical data and iufor nation touching
the educational interests OF the territory
and the progress made undar the new
order of things, so satisfactorily inaugu-
rated by the passage of the common
school law by the last legislative assem-
bly,. 1t is not, however, as explained by
tile superintendent Of public instruction
at the beginning OF the pamphlet, true
AMI correct exposition of the condition of
the schools as they staud to-day. They
are pronounced by Mr.. Chaves to be now
very far ahead Of his official report; but
in making mp this, his first report, he had
to be guided by the law, and this, it
appears, brought out some obstacles
which could not be overcome at this time.
although in future no such difficulty will
be contended with, as the schools open
ing November ! will find a place in all
f,tr,e ,on,,ts ub;,.,, ,ho, oo,i, o. L..
49,: wy ~0''' NV i'a'e
Id ''iS one owing 10 the TACT that the
various county school uperintendents
are reuujrsd by law TO submit thair an
nual reports 10 the superintendent of
public instruction under date of Ortober
i, While the snperiutendent of pubIir
instruction is reonired to prepare his re-. !
port on the last day of December based |
on the information derived from the re-.
ports of these county superintendents.
In eyps ining this matter the snperin- |
tendent saws that hundreds of schools
have been opened since the first dav of
November under the Management of |
good teachers and attended by numerous
scholars, of which no note appears in this
his first annual report. In the course of
his report Mr.. Chayes saws:
"N1 opposition has been encountered
in any part of the territory in the matter
of introducjnp Enolish sneakinu teachars
in districts where heretofore Spanish alone
has been taught. In this connection. I
have to say that it is yery pleasing to me
" 10 ahia in state f-e-.~ pc, Sv,iai Ubovr,a-
ton That the greatest interest is being
shown, IN the Spanish speaking eounties,
IN behalf OF the new law, which requires
that the English language shall be taught
In all the common schools OF the terri.
tory.
The law has not been in operation
long enough to show its effects fully, but
great progress is being made in every one
OF the counties. number OF new and
substantial school houses have been erect
ed, better teachers have been employed,
and the adoption OF uniform series OF
BOOKS has improved the work, also reduc-
ng expenses considerably. In several OF
he counties bonds have been issued and
sold Tor the erection OF new school houses;
his is especially the case in the county OF
san Juan. regret that more satlsfac-
ory showing OF the financial condition of
some OF the counties can not be made at
his time. Heretofore district treasureis
we're required to make ANNUAL reports in
he month Of December Of each year.
Jnder the present low the offices of dis
ret treasurers are abolished, and many
VI the present directors have not yet come
o understand fully the workings OF the
lew system.
Under the provisions of the present
aw no person can teach in this territory
Without being IN lawful possession OF
proper certificate, Such certificate is
ssued only to persons who have passed a
atlslactery examination before board OF
HAMMERS composed OF the county super.
and OF two leading citizens OF
ach county, selected and appointed by
he district Judge. The result OF this
PROVISION has been that every one OF the
Common SCHOOLS OF this territory is now