Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1903-01-20

AAD91 WY SOhAd " htaa VI NhANt US
65 per cent. The census of 1890 re-
duced this to 44h per cent, while the
census of 1900 shows it to be only
33 2-10 per cent.
(Here follow tables showing the in
crease and decrease of illiteracy,
greatest illiteracy of school age. per-
centage of gain in population and per-
centage of gain and loss in public
school enrollment.)
The superintendent of public instruc-
ton takes issue with the figures as
given by the census of 1900 and AYERS
that at this time scarce 10 per cent of
our inhabitants are illiterate; that "a
per cent are American born and that
four-hfths of them speak the English
language.
The general interest in the public
schools among the people is constantly
growing, as the good work accomplish
ed by them is seen and appreciated.
The normal schools held each year in
every county are productive of great
good in stimulating the teachers in
their work, and in learning new and
improved methods of teaching. The
act of the last legislature providing for
a territorial board of education and
making attendance on county normals
compulsory has proved of the greatest
benefit, and altogether. our common
school system and its administration
is most admirable. The voluminous
and interesting report OIL the superin.
tendent of public instruction has been
printed for the information of your
body and the people, but unfortunately
there was no money available Tor the
payment of the ame This is one of
the most important documents for the
information of the people at home and
abroad, that has been issued by the
territory, and | would earnestly rec
ommend hat provision be made at
once for the payment of tn same.
Also this very important Office
should have a clerk. The business is
constantly increasing and the law of
the last session entails a vast amount
of additional work upon the superin-
tendent of public instruction, which
it is impossible for him to perform UNI
aided, and while he is absent visiting
the different counties as required by
law, there should be some person in
charge to attend to correspondence
and personal inquiries. | would there
fore recommend that this officer be
allowed a clerk at a reasonable salary
to be provided for in the appropriation
bill.
The superintendent of public instruc-
ton points out in his report many con-
flicts and inconsistencies in the pres
ent school laws which may be rene
died by simple amendment of existing
statutes. These relate to the gather
ing of school statistics, fixing the
scholastic year, charging the powers
of county superintendent, the time
and method of electing district direc-
tors, the collection of the poll tax,
method of enforcing longer school
terms in the rural districts, etc, all of
which | cordialIy commend to your
prudent consideration. Particularly
important is the superintendent sug-
g%estion touching the gathering of sta
tistical information. These statistics
are becoming more important each
year. Their collection and careful
compilation will ever henceforth have
marked bearing upon the good name
of the territory and its people. In the
past, failure on the part of county SUI
nar iptaniont md Dtbnre Il, .,NnIu;,r
such statistics has caused the educa-
tional department much embarrass-
ment and unnecessary expense, and |
therefore cordially approve of the rec
concentration that section 1928, com
piled laws, be so amended as to make
a penalty of fine and Imprisonment,
the former recoverable on the county
superintendent official bond on fail
ure to make report as required by law,
or removal from office. Also an earn
est plea is made by the superintendent
for the betterment of conditions in the
rural school districts, wherein we have
some 10000 children who are espec-
tally in need at this time Of the foster
ing car of the territory.
Under the law our text book con-
tract expires in June, 1903. The super
intendent of public instruction urges
the Importance of providing some sys-
tenn of free text books, at least free to
these children of the rural districts,
and presents a strong argument in
support of his position. 1t is further
pointed out that provision should be
made for the publication and distribu-
ton to proper officials of all laws IN
school subjects Immediately upon their
passage by the legislature, and it is
urged that provision should be made
for a complete compilation of all
school laws to the end that officials
and teachers shall be fully appraised of
their duties, a very great hardship hav-
ing been wrought during the past four
years because of this grave oversight