The Daily Texarkanian., 1896-12-29
ARKANSAS SCHOOLS.
Biennial Report Of the State superin-
tendent Of Public Instrue-
tion Filed With Gov.
Clarke.


Clarke.
Little Rock, Ark, Dec. 26.-The
biennial report of Prof. Juuius Jor-
dan, State Superintendent of Pub
lie Instructions, has been filed with
the Governor. He says: 'Iu 1884
the school population was 323, 943,
the number of teachers 1850 the
number of districts 1887 and direc-
tors 10,089. In 1894 the enrolled
school population was 436, 1886 and
the number of teachers 6,286, num-
Der of districts 1851 and number
directors $4,000 Yet the Office
force of his Office is the same now
as it was then, necessatating the
use of the contingent fund for ad-
ditlonal clerical force. He enlarges
upon the benefits of visiting the
schools by the superintendent, the
filed work, so to speak.
Superintendent Jordan's review
is clear for the abolition of the
county examination and the crea-
tion of the Office of County Superin-
tendent, which has brought the
schools of other states to such a
high degree of efficiency. 1t re-
quires a man at the head of the
schools OF each county who can and
must devote his entire energies to
the duties of the office. He points
to the success of the county super
intendency system in other states.
He recommends that the Office be
made an elective one, shutting out
the evils of the appropriation sys-
TEN, when parties and prejudice too
often interfere in the selection of
proper officers. He urges an amend
ment to the law regarding directors
to cover their failure to perform
the duties of the Office properly.
of this matter, he says.
"While the statutes place pen
atty against directors for such fail
ures, we have yet to hear of a sim
gle instance wherein the fine has
been JudiciallY imposed. This is
due to the Indifference of the voters
in not fling complaint. The law
should be so amended that the prop
er officer would be authorized to
adjudge the fine and issue execution
Immediately on the report to him
by the County Examiner or State
Superintendent that the distrlct t
electors had failed to discharge
specific duties authorized by the
statutes. Where the electors feels
so little interest in securing school
privileges for his children that he
will not require the enforcement OF
the law, then the law should as
sumo the position of guardian for
the schools in such particular in
stances, and thereby maintain it's
sanctions. The delinquent director
delays the system of reports in the
hands of the County Examiner and
thereby delays the State Superin-
tendent in making his report"
The statistics as reported by con-
ductors of normals and County Ex-
amlners show that in the year 1895,
out of an enrolled teaching force of
6,286, white and colored, $500 were
enrolled in the county normal
schools. In the year 1896, out of
an enrolment of 6,673 teachers,
white and oolored, 6,799 we're en-
rolled in the county normal schools.
OF this latter number 1926 we're
white teachers and 1854 were coll
ored, The advantages given to the
school children of the State by hav-
ing the teachers improved in meth
DDS and in systematical training for
two months, one month in 1895 and
one month in 1896, are beyond CAL
culation.
Rest seml-gnthracite coal for