The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-01-03
PUB. g SCHOOL SYSTEM
wfE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION SPEAKS
THEREON.
Giving q Forecast of His Biennial Re
I port - the Legislature-Th Legis-
iature Will be Called Upon to In
crease the School Fund as it
is Absolutely Necessary.

fSie State Superintendent association
ltere today gave out the following eX-
nact froD, his forthcoming biennial re.
gort - n legislature:
The last two years have been char
.G.terized by progress among our public
schools. The teachers have continued
filer efforts to improve their methods of
Organization, management and instruc-
+fon with increased earnestness and en-
fhusiasm. The trustees of the schools
Iaye manifested increased interest in
tEeir work by organizing county and state
associations and by more careful and
orderly performance of their duties.
among the people at large the interest
lfhs been deepened and fixed by better
iDdersta nding of the school 81 stem and by
= growing appreciatn of the unqestiOn-
gble excellence of the schools, as is shown
~ the continued increase in attendance
81 pupils.
Two General propositions, now almost
dldver-aily accepted by thinking men.
t:'Msttnte the surcSt supper Of tlic pub
Jic school system.
The first is that under a popular form
pl govern ment the education of the masses
is necessary to lac preservation of the
.tute aud the perpetuity Of free institu-
lions 7 he state, therefore, has deeper
stake in the education of the children Of
the country than have parents. With
larenta It is matter of sentiment of af-
lection, Of family pride; with free state
~ u matter of self preservation.
The second proposition is that pub
lie school system is the only means by
Which the state can make sure of the edu-
cation Of the masses. The state, there
fore must at its own peril provide for the
education of the children at public eX-
pense, These propositions are old but
they are fundamental, and the progress
Of events, the development of history,
the rvulutions of socitey, all constantly
furnish examples to illustrate these ele-
meptary truths, add to their force and
keen them fresh H. the minds of those who
attempt to study the problems Of human
progress.
mo Twenty third legislature enacted a
general school bill revising and re-digest-
ING the school law of this state. The new
law in It's chief features, has given great
satisfaction to the, people at large as well
AZ 10 those deeply interested in
education and most familiar with our CON
dition3 of school problems. There are,
however, imperfections in the present law
that may well engage the serious atten-
iion Of the Twenty legislature.
SCHOOL REVENUES.
OF all the school legislation that may be
proposed, the question of increased funds
will press most urgently for prompt at
tenti0u and wise treatment. Under the
pre- ,ent constitution we have never had
adequate available school funds. The
average term for the country school has
usually been about five months in the
year, sometimes n little longer and some
times a little shorter. OF course, when
the aI erage is five months, many of the
schools continue little longer and many
OF them stop short of five months. 1t will
require no argument to convince any one
that system of schools that provides for
An average school term of only five months
is not adequate to the education of child
rem. lt is true that the cities and towns
have managed, by local taxation, to eX-
tend the average school term to about
eight and onehalf months. The result is
that in almost every city the public
schools are the pride and delight of the
people 1t is believed by many that the
superior school facilities of the cities will
account, in some measure, for the grow
ing tendency Of the people to desert their
country homes and move to the cities, n
tendency that has often been noted of
late years by students of social conditions
and progress as one of the unfayorable
signs of the times.
However that may be- there will be no
disagreement upon the proposition that
our country schools are the first in impor
tnucp and should be the objects of our
most constant and most anxious care. All
the independent districts in the state, in
Guiding not only the largest cities and
towns but many of the small towns and
villages, contain but little more than one
fifth of our scholastic population. In other
words, obout four fifths of our scholastic
population must depend upon the country
schools for instruction. The character of
our Industrial resources, the extent and |
richness of our agricultural and grazing
lands and all our industrial conditions
make il certain that for many years, ut |
least, our population will continue to re-
side chiefly in the country. Hence, the
leading purpose of our school laws should
he to provide adequate school facilities
for the country people.
What is the condition of our country
schools? That the average term is too
short has already been noted. In addi-
ion to this the houses are generally poor
makeshifts, unattractive, uncomfortable
and unheathful; many of the schools are
taught in church houses or rented cabins;
there is II general lack of suitable furni-
ture; the teachers are poorly paid, in cou-
sequence of which many of the best teach
ers drift to the cities or enter more luCra-
tive employments; and while these adj
verse circumstances have not pre-
vented improvement in our teaching tai
ent, they have made progress more diff
ficult and less rapid than otherwise it
would have been. If we are to meet these
difficulties and surround our schools
with conditions favorable To success,
it is evident we must increase our reve-
nues.
Expenditures for school purposes in
the United States are not eXtravagant.
For the year 1S90-91 the total eXpendi-
lures for support of common schools
throughout the United States amounted
no in round numbers $147 100000. In
Texas, for the same year. the cNpendi.
lures. including state county and local
funds, for the same purpose amounted
TO in round numbers S3,0OO,OOO, or
about one forty-second part of the whole.
The population of Texas, according to
the census of 1890 is about one twenty
seventh of the whole population of the
United States. Hence, it is readily seen
that our school expenses are greatly
less. according to population than the
average. The expenditure per capita of
the population was. in the United States,
S2.31: in Texas, S1.60. In other words,
the expenditures for school purposes III
the United States was nearly 90 per cent
more per capita of the population than
in Texas. Comparison with some of the
states well known for the success of their
schools and the prosperity of the people
will make a showing still more favorable
TO Texas.
There are several points to be noted in
reference to the 1888 school amendment
IN the constitution. In the first place, It
reouires the state to provide for a school
FORM ssof NOT less than six months in each