New-York tribune., 1901-05-06
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
SUPERINTENDENT SKINNER REVIEWS
THE WORK OF THE LAST YEAR

Albany. May 5.-Superintendent Charles r. Skin
of the State Department of Public instruction,
in the forty-seventh annual report Of his depart
ment, issued to-day. points out the fact that no
change has been made in the annual appropriation
for the free school fund since 1890, and that since
that time the increase of school teachers, espe-
cialy in cities, has been great that the money
apportioned for teachers nearly eXhausts the fund
leaving nothing for apportionment on the basis OF
population. He recommends the increase Of this
fund by the next legislature from $4,000 to
100000
In the treatment of the normal schools the su-
perintendent refers to the course of study put
into operation last September. and to the diff
ference in field be covered by normal schools
to-day and that benefited by their efforts twenty
or even ten years ago. The qualifications OF nor
NAL graduates most desired to-day training in
the most improved methods OF instruction and dis
cpline and the possession of professional spirit
To give the normal schools opportunity of do
ing thorough work under these qualifications, IL Is
necessary that students be well grounded In sub
tect before entering the normal schools. and
the responsibility for this will rest more and more
upon the secondary schools Of the State.
COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE.
The Compulsory Attendance law Is being Judi
ciously enforced. and the steady growth In the
total enrolment and average daily attendance is
the best criterion of the wisdom of the law and the
efficiency Of its enforcement
Reference is made to the educational exhibit OF
New-York State at the Paris Exposition. and
list of the awards granted the schools and educa-
tional institutions situated in New-York State Is
added New-York had in Group l. Education.
enty-three exhibitors and these exhibitors received
Il grand prizes, p gold medals, 10 silver medals )
bronze medals and honorable mentions
The superintendent emphasizes the necessity OF
thorouEhness In elementary studies and expresses
the conviction that the most urgent need OF our
public school system to-day is more thorough work
in elementary subjects. such es language, arith-
metc. history and geography. The demands upon
pupils time excessive, and II more subjects
to be crowded into the curriculum follows, as
principle of natural law, that something be
displaced
After briefly referring to the question OF uuiCa-
ton, and to the quiet and harmonious condition
which has prevailed since the agitation OF a wear
the superintendent states that whatever rrta-
ton and friction may have existed in past years
can never be fully avoided until the law OF 1853
is repealed.
The Superintendent urges the necessity of enlarg-
ing the powers OF school commissioners particularly
In reference TO the consolidation OF school districts
and the transportation OF school children who live
remote from school houses. The tendency of the
rural population toward the cities forcefuIly illus
trated by the figures quoted and it is demon
strated that the rural school problem changing
and the question of furnishing adequate school
facilities in such districts is rapidly becoming COM
plicated