The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-12

1t Is Justly q HdlteT OIL pIlUc I cNSiy
citizen of Indiana that her system of pub
lie education is everywhere regarded as one
of the most perfect in the country The
laws relating to the public schools and the
common school fund demand your constant
vigilance, that no measure may be adopted
to impair their usefulness, nor the pur-
poses for which created. The common
school fund of the State now amounts to
50, 1867. 0O1. 59. The total enrolment OF scholars,
in 1893, was 76 1868, and in 1894 SOS,261. The
total revenue from all sources for the school
year 1893 was:
Derived from State school taxi s., 9S3, 34S.34
Interest collected by countless. 460. 390.38
Interest congressional fund.-. uSl9.1S
Liquor licenses. 24I,99l.0O
Unclaimed fees and other sources. S9S.56
Total revenue. S, 356, 5S2.@
AS previously referred to, the revenue even
after the reduction in the levy two years
ago of 21a cents, under present assessment
is so much greater than that prior to 1892
that / think this levy could be still further
reduced 2 cents without injury to the pub
lie schools. .a Aff.+ s'
Our school system has now so extended
its scope of teaching that among its best
friends it occasions no little concern as to
its future popularity with the people.
At times the question will arise with
some, and with no unfriendly feeling, as to
whether we are not drifting away from the
original intention when the foundation for
this great system was laid. in the higher
! academic education now introduced into
| many of our schools. almost bordering upon
a classical education. What per cent. of
| the revenue raised for. school purposes goes
| into this higher education I have been UNI
able to satisfy myself, but it is no little
i portion.
1t was intended to place within the reach
of all the children of the State the means
OF Of a nranarn the go ppoun nSeaul ef for q hig amq
education, should it be desired. With the
m thrnapboay t 9f s state II IS e ana for sorieg sse
smaller number of our youth, who have the
desire. to obtain. it almost as cheapiy as
TO go too far in this direction, with the
increased expenditures attached. and the
of the entire number of school children,
may create a prejudice that will cause the
Let us carefully guard against such un-
fortunate conditions, and deal generously
and Justly with this great feature of our
State government.
Under the present able and efficient man
agement the State Normal School is en-
joying a prosperity never before attained.
1t is faithfully fulfilling it's mission ito
prepare teachers for teaching in the COM
of this school has grown from less than one
hundred in 1870 to over fourteen hundred in
1894, with students from all but two coun-
ties OF the State.
From this school there have gone out as
teachers $40 graduates and over ten thou
sand undergraduates, the majority of whom
are engaged in teaching. The excellence
in the Grade of teachers has. been vastly
increased since the openi # this school,
and every township has he influence.
The officers of this schoo Ike their re-
port to you. and will doubt be examined
PURDUE UNIVERSITY.
1t is gratifying to note the continued adj
vancement of Purdue University in the
enrolment of students. in it's wider field of
labor and in popular favor. 1t is a great
school and accomplishing a great work.
In 1875, beginning with an enrolment OF
sixty-four students, 1t has, In 1894, 6S2. To
meet the growing demand of the present
for higher technical education, Purdue Uni
versity, about ten years ago, added to its
course of study a department of mechan-
ical and special engineering. This depart
ment has had a constant and rapid growth,
equaling the demand.
A new building, complete in it's equip
ments for this purpose, was erected and
dedicated Jan. 10, 1894. Four DAYS later
this magnificent structure was a mass OF
ruins, having been destroyed by fire. But
rising above all obstacles. scarcely had the
smoke cleared away from the ruins unit
the indomitable pluck and energy of the
president and his coadjutors were llyins
the foundation for a new ediice. SO little
OF study that IL was rendered unnecessary
for the students to seek other universities
So great has been the growth of this
technical school that it has overshadowec
all other departments, causing a regre-
that one of the original features of thi.
uniyersity-the agricultural-is fast being
lost sight Of. There should be. more i'm,
portance attached to this department Of
the education than seems to have been the
case for the past few years
Connected with this university are tht
farmers institutes. which have been pro
ductive OF much good. The present appro
priation for this work, IL wisely admins
tered, will probably accomplish better re
suits than If increased. With a larger sun
appropriated by the State It is possible tina
the same efforts would not lie put forti
to enlist and secure local talent at places
where these institutes are held, and Their,
would be a greater inclination to keep II
the field only professional lecturers. TIL
greater benefit comes through the DRAWN,
cllt and developing home talent and inter
est. These institutes should be continues
and the present appropriation for that pur
pose kept III force.
THE TAT UNIVERSITY.
This institution started in the preseE
school year with an enrolment of 633 stu
dents. The advance in this university ha
been gratifying. both in regard to the mum
Der of the youth awaiting themselves o
Its teachings and the steady extension o
its work. 1t has been a great institutio