The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-24


rrs Exceeds $4,000 - schools in
the New InsuIar Possessions
| The annual report of William T. Harris,
Commissioner of Education, for the school
year of 1S9S-99, contains some interesting
statistics. The report shows that during
| the scholastic year there were enrolled
| 103,251 students in the undergraduate and
graduate departments of universities,
which is an increase of 2,193 over the pre-
ceding year. During the year 1889 there
| were enrolled in the schools and colleges
| of the United States, public and private,
16, 7SS,S62 pupils. which was an increase of
50,l19 pupils over the previous year. The
number of persons engaged in teaching in
the United States exceeds $4,000. The
number OF students preparing to enter the
army of teachers on the Both of June 1899,
was 93,6S7. In addition to the pupils in
public and private institutions there were
pupils enrolled in special institutions as
follows: City evening schools, 1885, 900;
business schools, 70,6s6; Indian schools,
$500; schools for detectives, 2S,691; re-
form schools, "a ,925; orphan asylums and
other benevolent institutions. $4,000:
schools in Alaska, 1859; kindergartens,
s3.ISI; miscellaneous, including schools of
music, oratory, elocution, cooking, and OF
various arts, $4,000.
Contributions for higher educa ton
amounted to SCI 1926, 43G, of which amount
Sl1,o0O,O00 was received by the Leland
Stanford, Junior, University and 81, 544, $50
by Harvard. The income of institutions
for higher education amounted to $27,-
I3S, l54, of which amount 1892, Ais was
derived from tuition and other fees of
students.
In 1Ga schools of theology there are en-
rolled S,261 students; in the ninety-six
law schools, 1854 students; in the ISL
schools of medicine, 23,77S students. There
are fifty schools of dentistry, with 1854
students, and fifty-one schools of phar-
macy, with 3.551 students. In the ten
years from 1859 to 1899 theological stu
dents increased only Is per cent, while
law students increased 204 per cent. The
pupils in nurse training now number
lo,0lS, in 1888 schools, nearly all of which
have courses of two years. In review of
the school year the Commissioner says:
me year Just passed has been marked
by reaction against some OF the tend
encies and methods that have been con-
spicuous for several years past. What has
been termed the new education has been
subjected to more criticism and attacks
than in any previous year. From the first
the new methods have been consistently
and earnestly opposed by a large proper
ZION OF the members of the teaching pro-
iession, but for the most part the public
at large has remained in an attitude of
indifference. During the last year. how.
81 mt nrtl 60
tests and the criticisms have come not
IRON school men principally. but from the
press and from the patrons of the schools.
There has been, too, a great deal of
marked this year than
usuai-to the further extension of GER
tam Kind OF supervision, namely. that of
special teachers One city, Milwaukee.
mas entirely discontinued such supervi-
sion; others have materially reduced the
number OF specialists employed, and in
stlii others recommendation of superin-
tendents to the same effect will updoubt
edly result in still further reduction in
the near future Questions of economy |
nave naturally had their part in this |
movement, but such consideration would |
scarcely have had much weight in this |
tihe OF improved financial conditions and |
prospects were ii not for the belief that. |
with the better preparation of teachers !
no" demanded, special supervisors are |
Oh distinctly less value than formerly
Inc lack OF the usual yearly increase |
in school enrolment and attendance in |
cities is noteworthy phenomenon de-
Velopec by the statistics of 1885, '99. Some |
OF the cities show an actual decrease. and |
in nearly all the rest the increase &c con-
sidere bly, below the usual rate Private
schools have grown at a relatively greater
rae than public schools but not enough |
10 bring the total increase up to its &C.
customed proportions.
The reason for this relative falling of
is not easily found A few of the super
intendents have suggested causes that
seemed to them adequate In their re-
spective cities, but none are sufficient to
cover the whole ground. They refer gen.
and the like-incidents of child life which
may be considered as uniform in the
country at large from year to year.
If only the total enrolment were coz
1t would be reasonable to sup
pose that the return Of prosperous Zines
has increased the opportunities for en-
ployment and caused the withdra wal of
many school children On that account
That was undoubtedly to be expected. and
has probably happened in many cases.
But If that were the cause of the gen.
In school attendance, then the high
schools would shaw the effect most since
The Oldest children are the first TO be
withdrawn under such circumstances But
n nearly every case the high schools
nave grown at greater ratio than the
elementary schools That fact would seem
% set aside the explanation under con-
;ideration
THE only remaining supposition that
ha ~,
broad enough to cover the case is that
there has been a temporary check in the
growth of the cities themselves. In view
Of the history of the movement of pop
llation for the last hundred years that
would seem violent presumption, but
here is reason 10 believe that il is well
founded. The school censuses available
show but little increase as rule. and in
several cases the evidence of the city di-
'ectories tends to the same conclusion"
The report also tells of the progress Of
popular education in the Philippines
'ince the American occupation in Septem-
Der, 1888. The report adds: There were
hirty-five public schools in Manila with
IN attendance of over 5000 pupils. Sew
'ral school buildings had been burned.
tut they were replaced by others fur
lished throughout for the reception of
he pupils. The teachers were nearly all
american men and women, who had
earned Spanish enough to make them
elves understood. A report for October,
500, showed an attendance Of 6, 7C6
The superintendent of schools in Cuba
ar. Alexis Z. Frye" the report says,
has stated that there were not over 200
clOOlS thaD 8 OnO attendants