The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-02-13

about stll better era for human OK.
( perience a time when the soul Of the
creature will 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 wont to-
acknowledge that as far MS the state
/ is considered. its chief agency Is taat
of the public school system,
Even before the establishment Of the
public school system in our country
I il was declared that "wc must edu.
cate. We must educate, or we must
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 it's many
deftes and shortcomings, it ranks to-
day among the best in the world
With our aspirations To reach out
after abe 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.. Will
: liam T, Harris The report shows that
during the last year there were en-,
rolled in the public schools of our land
t5,925.SS7. or over 90 per cent of our
entire population The average daily
attendance was 10,99927S, being 60
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
/ Ii to the above is added the attend,
ance on all other Institutions including
private schools. colleges and univer
stiles the number reaches 100000
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 1SoS0.0o0 nearly one,fourth
Of our population,
The value Of the school property Of
the high schools alone Is placed in
the report at $125,000,o 900 and that Of
private schools Of the same grade at
$50 600. GOO, making a grand total Of
I sl90000,000 These figures are be
yond our comprehension in magni-
tude, but the show the educational
pulse Of our people; for they con
slider nothing too good for the boys
sad girls OF oGr land. am re.
minded just here "a remark made by
HE late Governor OgleGby. on the oc
casion III the dedication Of the pres
ent main building Of the Southern
4 Illinois State Normal university, II was
I during his address on that occasion;
\ Ia looking about III the large audi.
forum. then one Of the largest as
sembly halls for q 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
d the ceiling remarked; This is
beautiful, this is grand, bat II Is not
too god nor too grand fro the young
people of southern Illinois, This re-
mark Of Governor ogleshy illustrates
/ the attitude Of the people toward the
education Of their children,
I The late report Of the superintena
emit Of public instruction Of our own
state gives us some interesting data
1t shows thta during last year nearly
one million pupils We're enrolled en-
rolled IN the public schools, the exact
figures being 9G94l4 TO these may
be added 55,2G7 in attendance In the
private schools. making the total at
I tendance 1o24,G71 There are in all
t2sS0 school buildings, IA being
erected during the last year Of the
entire number 1873 are built Of stone.
1868 Of brick and t0,So3 are frame
structure
OF all the schools. 2,17l are graded
and 1878 ungraded 1898 OF the grad
ed schols are high schools. A total Of
27.1O0 teachers were employed. IA
70s in graded schools, and 1888 in
ungraded schools.
The average wages paid to the male
teachers was $65,S3. to the female
teachers was $5562, the same ranging
from $3.50 to $500 per month,
The financial exhibit Is equally inter
esting. The total receipts FOR all mon
eys shows the total amount to be $685.
Gi4.57t90, the expenditures s209S0,-
9S5 80. leaving balance of 1881
1874 in cash, and $26,l577S loaned.
The school buildings are valued at
$50 .Gl2, 207. The county institutes were
held at cost of s25,59176.