The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-15

term 1t shows that for this period. While
The amount raid for teachers salaries has
| greatly Increased. the amount paid for ether
| purposes has greatly decreased. IL also
} sives m accoun, OF the long standing con.
tTcvcrss IN regard 10 the purchase OF
charts. maps and other supplies. terminal
| ms with the decision OF the court OF civil
. appeals holding all such expenditures I'M
lawful, thereby sustaining the position TAX
| en- by the department Of education.
Fsssins 10 the suhject OF the needed en-
lsTgemont OF school funds, the report shows
HAT the expenditures for schools In Texas
per capita OF the total population are far
below the average In the United states;
| inst the average school term is below the
/ minimum prescribed by the constitution
notwithstanding that the State funds are
Increased by a million and quarter OF
local funds; that the State has rot been
able 10 pay oil It's apportioa,nent for any
wear since is9l-9s; that there was a small
dc'ieii for the last year, Notwithstanding
| the extraordinary efforts made TO pay the
| aNHcrfioamcni ty the end OF the year; that
| the state is confronted with the necessity
oi increasing the funds. cutting down the
| school term or continuing the struggle
| with growing deficiency. II argues that
| the constitution requires the State. Ivy the
use OF State funds alone. to provide a school
| term O. SIX months in each year Tor every
| child OF school age; 1t insists that this re-
| quircineni is not met by an average term
NJ six months. but that no school should
| he compelled 10 stop short Of six months;
vt the average term OF the country Is only
litee over four months. while many OF
| them run only three months or less II
urges The increase OF the school tax from Is
TO 20 cents on the S10o
The report gives surprising piece Of
information In the statement that the coun-
~ collectors and assessors FOR The last fiscal |
wear took out OF tho school funds in the way
Of fees or commissions. S42l.5Sl. II Insists
that these commissions should not be taken
out o. the school fund.
II also points out that certain clerks Of
the general lnud office have been drawing
salaries ont OF the permanent scIool funds
% last year. II is contendei that
n.s IS unconstitutional aud should at once
h prohibited. 1t is also insisted that SaS-
sli0I paid out OF the school funds to coun-
ty superintcndents. ex-oGHeio county super
intendents and county treasurers should be
taken out Of the general county funds. II
Is also ooa,entcd that the appropriations
for the support Of the sam Houston normal
and the department of education should
be taken out nj the general state revenues
The total saving to the available school
funds pointed ont In the report amounts to
about s55f 600
Under the head Of constitutional amend
ments the needs of the country schools are
urged With sneclal insistencc. the Caifor-
MIA law is held M rs model. and the sub
mission Of = constitutional amendment au-
thori2ing county school tax ia urged most
earnestly. In this connection tt is suggest
81 that the use OF the State school funds be
limited to the payment OF teachers saar
ies, but that provision should be made for
local funds 10 eupply nther needs of the
schools. Numerous communications for
increasing the school revenues are made !
4 he discussion Of the problem 81 school
support is followed 10y an outline Of laws
for improving the organization Ct the
school The supply If teachers and the .
means OF their improvement arc Examined.
The university and he Ram Houston nor
NAL are noticed briefly. Tho establishment
Of department Of pedagogy In the univer- c
sity and the building Of one ~ lore addi- +
tona normal schools are recommended. ,
The summer normals and county Institutes
and the Prairie View normal school for col I
orcd teachers receive a share Of attention. t
In correction with Prairie View no; NAL a
summer session is suggested aud the plat +,
form promise Of an appropriation of public
lands as a start toward a branch university !
FOR tho coored youth Is commended At (
ter ion is agaln called to he iuldequacy OF
the existing law IN regard to the scholastic
census and Improvement IN the law is
asked
After 4 brief dscussiosi al The certificate
law, the text book question is taken up ,
The eYiS OF oNisting conditions are OUT
ltood. .ac difficulties in the WY o: effective I
are pointed out. The California
at State publication II described q
md the remedies attempted elsewhere are
acted
The repor, IN discussing this subject IA t
,ors the free book system. The merits Of I
This system arc presented with care; a copy
Il the Nebraska law "a given. as is also
tho Iowa law. The chearness Of books un- a
Ter this plan Is illustrated by an exhibition O
hagl nil lar .,leh ftf
three years In the District OF Columbia. and
, mass ot information on this subject is
presented. Y
Then follows n number OF miscellaneous a
and the report closes
with a good word for the employees of tho
,rhoe and brief note OF thanks for tie !
OF school officers through the r
70