Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1892-12-23

Advance sheets of the annual

Advance sheets OF the annual re-
port of DR.. d. j. Waller, Jr., Super
intendent of Public instruction, are
out. Some interesting statistics are
exhibited, and the figures for the
past year show that the number of
pupils in the public schools was
977, ,52S. an increase of S,022; the
number of schools was 23,426, an
increase of 522; the number of
teachers was Is ,339, an increase of
414. The total expenditure, includ.
ing that upon building was $l4,-
329, l4O. 46 an increase of $SlO, ,431.4s.
The estimated value of school
property was $40,242,6 ,664, an in
crease of 81, ,765,72O. The State ap-
preparation for the year was not five
millions, but two millions of dollars.
The great appropriation of five mill
lions of dollars first became avail
able on the first Monday of June of
the current year, 1892.
DR.. Waller says the indirect ef-
tects of the great appropriation
have already manifested themselves.
School boards have made much
needed improvements at the cost of
the districts. Free text books have
been introduced, the term has been
heightened, salaries have been rails
ed, and school buildings have been
erected liz all respects worthy the
cause. Improved apparatus has al
so been introduced. In 2,4Sl school
text books were supplied free OF
cost, while in others the boards
adopted the policy of supplying part
of the books annually with a view
to general introduction.
DR.. Waller is against the division
Of the school year into a summer
and winter term, as was once the
general practice, and presents strong
reasons in favor Of the single term.
The superintendent also thinks
the minimum school term should be
longer. Now that school boards
can lengthen without additional cost
to themselves, all receiving State
aid should be required to have an
undivided term of at least eight
months.
1t is stated that the experience oi
another year has emphasized the
need of closer supervision. The
greater the number of schools the
greater the need of supervision
This number has grown from 10000
in 1854 to $4,000 in 1892.
The proposition to attach salary
to the office of school director, the
superintendent says, implies an i'm
mense expenditure of public money
and also such change in the char
acter of the men chosen as would
portend great harm to the schools.
He thinks they should be paid wher
they are in attendance upon the
triennial convention for the election
of superintendents, as directors
should not accept the hospitality o.
candidates. He is also of the opin
ion that the directors should be paiC
on directors day at the county in
stitute.
On the subject of compulsory
education he says that in addition
to the reasons given in the last re-
poport in favor OF such a law in
Pennsylvania, it may be added that
at least twenty-seven States and
Territories have compulsory educa-
tion.
DR.. Waller observes that the
twelve State Normal Schools have
won the confidence and support Of
the public to decree that has made
their usefulness almost inestimable.
There are gathered annually in these
institutions about eight thousand
of the youth of the Commonwealth.
Respecting the colleges and high
schools he says the gap that has ex-
isted between the higher institutions
OF learning and our public schools
is steadily closing
The legislation most needed is-for
a single term, for an increase OF
the minimum term, for closer super
vision, for the Limitation of the pro-
visional certificate, for recognition
of college diploma under the
proper restrictions, for meeting the
actual expenses of directors and the
tri-ennial convention and for one
Il h.