The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-01-09

Mr.. Nelson opens his report with the
comment, that the proceeds from the
sale of lands are not increasing fast
enough to furnish sufficient money for
the schols. Both the revenues and the
school population, he points out, are
increasing. In 1905 the expense of
maintaining the common schools of the
State amounted to Sl,7S4 ,354.15, with
school population of 9l,6S2. This
was cost OF Sl9.49 per capita.
In 1906 the school population was
92,ST7. while the expense was Sl,976,-
l2l,42, 4 per capita expense of S21.2s-
Praises Utah's Record.
Mr.. Nelson says that only six States
in the Union spend more money per
capita for common school education
than Utah. These States. in the order
Of their expenditure, are, New, York.
North Dakota, Colorado, Nevada
Washington and California
Along this line Mr. Nelson asserts
that a greater percentage Of the entire
population of Utah are within school
age than the population of any other
State, In 1905 for every 100 school
children there were only 74.5 male
uadlts.
Taking up the question of high
schools. Mr. Nelson SAYS that there are
says that commendahle efforts are be
ing made in various parts Of the
State TO establish and maintain such
schools. AS an evidence of the in
creased sentiment for high schools he
cites that few years ago Utah county
had only forty high school pupils,
and that today it has between 400
portlonment Of State school funds for
high school purposes, in accordance
with the constitutional amendment
adopted at the last election
Work OF State Teachers.
On the subject of the teachers of
Utah, Mr. Nelson says that the law
requiring uniform examination of teach
ers throughout the State has been a
success IN eliminating incompetents.
He says, however, that salaries are too
low all over the State. and emphasizes
the fact that the average salaries of
male teachers, outside the cities of the
first and second classes, is $6017 per
month, with an average school year of
seven and a quarter months
The report declares that all the high
er educational institutions of the State
are ably conducted. and that some of
the best educators In the country are
In Utah. lie recommends that the Uni
versity of Utah and the State Agricul-
tural college be given fixed proper
tion of State tax for their maintenance,
and declares that if his recommended
tlon in this respect. first made in 1902.
had been carried out. II would have
eliminated much friction and bitter
ness between the two institutions.
The private schools of the State. Mr..
Nelson declares, are of high Standard,
and that there is no conflict between
them and the public schools
Value of School Buildings.
The value Of the school buildings of
the state, the report says, is approx
mately S3,000,000. During the biennial
period covered by the report, he says,
buildings TO the value OF 1886, ,70ol2
have been erected
Mr., Nelson advises that courses of
study he made absolutely uniform
through the State, and to that end rec
ommends the creato nor commission
on course of study 60 serve without
compensation. He commends the work
Of the county teachers institutes, and
says that the free text book law has
operated we'll
Mr. Nelson SAYS that the present law
does not provide for the taking of the
sehool census in the cities and in the
country at the same time, which. he
declares frequently results in duplica.
hon He further urges that il should
be taken when the children are all in
school, instead Of during the summer
vacation as at present. He recon-
mends, therefore, that the census be
taken during the first two weeks in Oc.
.ober
Mr.. Nelson advises the creation of a