Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-01-06
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
of Prot. Ogden and Deputy
CathrO.
Synopsis Of the Auditors Repor'
Showing the Condition of the
States Finances.
The Insane Hospital and Its Wants
Condition of This State
Institution.
superintendent OF Public ln.,ru ton.


intendcnt of Public instruction for the
two years ending October 81. 1892, is now
printed and ready for distribution.
The report is voluminouS, containing
over eight hundred pages of reports, cir
cular letters issued from the office. copies
OF blank forms, statistical matter, and IN
exhaustive resume of the work of the office
and the condition Of educational affairs in
the State.
The report of superintendent Ogden
gives a brief history of the school law,
public schools, State normal schools,
teachers Institutes, reading circle. uni.
ver>ity. normal schools, agricultural col.
lege, State educatioua! library. and kind.
red topics, which makes it interesting and
instructive.
Under the head Of "Legi>lative Recon-
mendatlons' the professor urges complete
separation of the office of Superintendent
"t Public Instruction from political in
ttuencr; a system of free high schools; uni.
form free text books; a thoroughly prac-
teal test in the examination of teachers
for certificates instead OF merely requiring
answers to a list of questions: State aid in
full for defraying the expenses of conduct
ing teachers institutes; a separate depart
ment, or land commissioner, whose duty it
shall be to superlntend the sales and
rentals OF school lands and to keep a full
set of books, maps, plats. ETC., of the same,
and a more thorough and intelligent sys-
TEN of school house sanitation.
The reports of the county superintend-
ents are full and complete, showing COM
mendable interest and rapid growth along
all lines of educational work in the State.
The present school system meets with
universal favor n its harmonious work
throughout the State is highly gratifying.
A very few changes will give it rank
among the first and best in the union.
The statistical department shows that at
the close of 1891 the number of organized
districts of all classes was 975. with SO
graded schools of POP rooms, and l,5O5 TN.
graded schools, making a total of 1907
schools or departments in schools.
The total number Of school houses was
1854, with seating capacity of $685., and
the whole, including sites, furniture and
apparatus, valued at s., 1873 2S6.
The total amount of money paid to
school officers for services and expenses
was S44 1929 70, while the teachers drew
from the public eXchequer 1917, 9e45 IS.
The enumeration returns showed 1905
children of school age with an average
daily attendance of 21,413.
The total value of assessable property
was S75,478, 1893 SO, from which and from
other sources was derived a revenue of
1865, 756.24. Of which 1882, 229A3}. 9S was ex-
pended in sustaining the work of educa-
ton.
The grand total of warrants outstanding
at the beginning of the school year and
issued thereafter up to and including end
of school year, 81, O06, 253.74; total amount
of bonds outstanding at end of school year
aggregated S1,OlO,428.25 making of the
warrants remaining unpaid a grand total
of Indebtedness Of S1,2l3 ,4l9.12. The cash
in the hands of county and school treas
urers available to meet such indebtedness
amounted to 1928, OPP q.
The adoption Of the new school law
made the issuance of numerous forms and
circulars imperative in order to secure uni.
form reports and to give needed %instruc-
ton to school officers relative to tEeir
Official duties. Considering the large
amount of work this department alone EN-.
tailed, together with the expenses of print.
ing, etc., it was not only managed salts
factOrily to the work in hand but eco
nomically to the State.
With but $1,000 for dcputy's salary and
$500 for clerk hire the Office managed to
bring the new school law into general
favor and harmonious operation.
During the year ending October 81, 1891,
the department prepared anu distributed
ten circulars and fifty.ninc forms, together
with three sets OF examination questions,
teachers registers, course of study, poll
BOOKS, etc. During the year ending &c.
tober 81, 1892, seven sets of examination
papers were distributed, catalogue OF
library, teachers registers, institute man.
ual, poll books, etc, together with eleven
circulars and thirty.eight forms.
The expense of furnishing schools and
school officers with these blank forms. cir.
culars OF information and misceIlane0u.
publications was $l,45O:9l for 1891 ano
S2.f6l.4S for 1892, the average cost DC,
school being about 81. 1t is estimated
that the cost under the former system o
allowing school boards to procure nj
needed blanks, etc, was about $3 so pei
district or 81 pc. school. There is evi
IDENTITY a clean saw. 4 to the taxpayers o.
at least 0nc-half the former expense. be
sides the benefit accruing from a uniform
! supply and an improved system Of furnish
ing information ~rclativ" to the administra
ton OF schOOl air"ir.
The report cl,-r. y':h decisions of Tin,
State Supcrjn" iM.,.. on appeal; digest o
opinion, on interpret ton OF the schOD
law; and syllabi Of .>orth Dakota Suprc,n,
Court decisions affecting School matters
together with reports of PRINCIPALS an,
superintendent Of graded ana higl
schools and other educational, genera
ana statistical matters Of interest.
Auditors Report.
StntA ~ s.