Arizona republican., 1899-03-31

let in the territory and by the aid ot
 county superintenC6 ats soon had dis
 tNcts formed, houses built, schools or
 ganized and teachers employed, and So
 the work of the free schools was fairly
 begun. Changed conditions seemed
 to require further changes in the laws,
 for in 1879 and in 1881 others were
 passed but these were again repealed
 in 1885, when the present law was en-
 acted, which with slight amendments
 has governed the schools until the
 present time The main features Of
 the system may be briefly stated as
 fellows:
 From the beginning the educational
 unit of the system has been the neigh
 borhood school district, as it is the
 only one possible when population is
 sparse. homes far apart, villages and
 towns few, and long stretches of coUn-
 try without roads and facilities for
 travel. It is a good unit in many
 ways, based upon home rule and Self government carried down to the leasI details of life in the rural community. The district is governed by three trus- tees who are chosen by those residents Of the district without regard to sex, who lave paid a school tax or are par
 Cnts Of children of school age. The trustees have general control of school matters; they hire the teachers, con- trol the property, etc. The districts, however, are not independent commit mites but are subject to the supervis- ion of the county superintendent, and indirectly to that of the territorial board of education and of the super iutendent of public instruction. The county superintendent, with two other competent persons, examines the teachers; visits the schools, estimates the amount of money needed to carry them On, for the information of super Visors, who levy the county school tax: apportions the money among the dis tricts, when it is collected and in gen- eEal srperintends the schools of his county. The territorial superintendent Is secretary of the board of education, which prepares the rules for the gov c:nment of the schools, adopts text books, grants diplomas, adopts the course of study, etc. He is also chair man of the board of examiners, which prepares the eXamluation questions for the use of county hoards; he appor- tions the territorial school money, pre- pares all the blank forms for use of schools, etc., and exercises general su- pervisiOn over the schools.
 As no revenue is derived as yet fram the school lands, except a small rental for tkeir use, the schools are supported by taxation. A minimum rate is fixed in the counties at 30 cents on each $100 valuation, and levy of 3 cents on each $100 of value is made on all prop erty in the territory for school pur- poses. The amount derived from these sources is increased by poll tax. by fines and fOrfeitureS, and escheated estates. There was received for school purposes during the year last past the sum of $250, 0,278 and expended for the support of the schools during the same period the sum of SG24 1855.
 The schools are divided into primary. grammar and high schools. The subjects taught and the methods pursued are similar to those of like grades in most of the states. Graduates of the high schools are prepared for admission to the university. At the close of the last school year there were 226 primary and 121 grammar schools, and one bigh school in successful operation in the territory, with a total attendance of 14,713. A uniform series of text books is adopted and their use is compulsory in all of the schools, so that children in changing residence from one dis trict to another can enter their proper grades and use the same books. 4 compulsory law has just been enacted l which requires the attendance of all | children between the ages of and If years, for a period of twelve weeks | each year.
 The teachers in charge of the schools l are ill number 435, of which 69 are | graduates of normal schools, 40 hold | territorial diplomas and 191 first grade |
 .rtif1cates. The salaries paid to mal | Rverage $75.23 per month and to wO
 zen $63.17. Our teachers seem to Ee |
 lily conscious of the onward and up- |
 trd trend of the times, of the larger |
 rVlce demanded, and evince a most |
 aiseW Orthy desire to avail them
 hes of every opportunity to add to rrrsfr professional equipment. Nearly all of them take school journals oA other like literature. Mary have forme& reading circles, and teachers associ tions and meetings are well attended. There is also a mark increase of interest in teach insti tutes, and steps are htaken toward forming tcachei ries which would do mo1 rds advancing the teachers sssion than any other agency.
 The school library has T 6ved rec Osnition as a factor in ucatiOn. Nearly one-half of the d cts have school libraries. The booI re either purchased by the trustees to are ai- lowed to expend $50 per for that purpose, or by money ra Id by the schools mainly through th efforts Of the teachers.
 \ most important adjur ft of the public school system is tie normal school, located at Tempe, nd which has been in successful cpd eAation since lAS6. At present the attenA nee is 175, with representation from lery county n4 the territory. The cc SC covers -hree years and the subjec taught are such as fit it's graduates ft succeoSful As a recognition ri the sue tess of the institution, present legislature has esJablishd another NI1n