The Cairo bulletin., 1904-02-13


about a still better era for human ex
/ perlence; a time when the soul Of tho
creature win appreciate more fully
the nature and spirit OF the Creator
While the formative process is be
ing carried on by various agencies,
many Of them Under the heads Of
/ benevolent societies, we are won't to
acknowledge that as far as the state
( is considered, its chief agency is that
Of the public school system.
Even before the establishment Of the
public school system in our country
\ it was declared that we must edu
cate, we must educate, or we must
1 perish by our own prosperity Our
+ people have taken hold of this, the
right arm Of our Republic, and given it
much enthusiastic endorsement and
support, that notwithstanding its many
/ deFtcs and shortcomings, it ranks to-
day among the best in the world.
With our aspirations to reach out
after the best in condition and at
( attainment, we shall soon lead the
nations of the globe in this respect
To show in some measure to what
extent the great work has grown /
quote from the late reports of the
commissioner of education, DR.. vii,
: liam T. Harris. The report shows that
during the last year there were en-.
rolled in the public schools of our land
/ l5.925.SS7, or over 90 per cent of our
entire population. The average daily
attendance was 10,999,2 ,27S, being 50
per cent Of the total enrolment;
/ showing how thoroughly our people at
( tend to the matter of having their
children in school II is claimed that
( the above attendance is the largest
/ average attendance ever before shown.
/ If to the above Is added the attend,
ance on all other institutions including
/ private schools, colleges and univer-
stiles the number reaches 174O0,OO0.
I Then to this enormous number is ad-
+ ded those in attendance on the evening
schools. state schools for detectives,
orphans, etc, it reaches the grand
total OF 1S,0S0,000 nearly one-fourth
Of our population
The value of the school property of
the high schools alone is placed in
I the report at $l25,o0o.000 and that Of
{ private schools of the same grade at
G5,0O0.0O0 making a grand total Of
I Sl90,000.000 These figures are be
yond our comprehension in magni-
/ tudc, but the show the educational
pulse Of ouN people; for they con
slider nothing too good for the boys
aad girls OF orr land | am re
minded Just here o ia remark made by
4 HE late Governor Ogleaby on the oc-
4 casion Of the dedication OF The pres
ent main building Of the Southern
/ Illinois State Normal university. 1t was
during his address on that occasion;
in looking about in the large audi
torium. then one of the largest as
sembly halls for school in the land
too good nor too grand for the young
In looking for a school in the land
and scanning the beautiful frescoing
Of the ceiling, remarked: This is
beautiful this Is grand. but il is not
too god nor too grand fro the young
people Of southern Illinois" This re
mark Of Governor Oglcsby illustrates
TIE attitude Of the people toward the
education of their children.
The late report of the superintend-
ent Of public instruction Of our own
state gives US some interesting data
1t shows thta during last year nearly
one million pupils were enrolled en-
rolled in the public schools, the exact
figures being 9G9,4li To these may
be added 5j.2G7 in attendance in the
private schools, making the total at
tendance 1,O2i,671 There are in all
1880 school buildings. 214 being
erected during the last year. Of the
entire number 1873 are built Of stone,
1863 of brick and 10,803 are frame
structure
OF all the schools, 2,17I are graded
and 10.7S3 ungraded 393 Of the grad
ed sehols are high schools. A total of
/ 27.10O teachers were employed. a.
I 70S in graded schools and 1888 in
ungraded schools.
The average wages paid to the male
teachers was s65.S3, to the female
teachers was s55.G2, the same ranging
from $l25O to $500 per month.
The financial exhibit is equally inter
esting The total receipts for all mon
4 eys shows the total amount to be $28,-
4 GN.5719O. the expenditures S20980.-
$3.50, leaving balance of S7837,-
/ 1874 in cash, and s2G,1577S loaned.
The school buildings are valued at
s5G,G12. 207. The county Institutes were
held at a cost of s25,5917G.