The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-08-19

Wahpeton Globe-Gazette The an
nuaI report of the county superintend-
ent Of schools, which will soon be
filed with the state superintendent
contains much that is of interest to
parents and taxpayers.
The report is based on the teachers
n district school officers reports
n takes about q solid month of the
time OF one of the superintendent's
deputies in the making. 1t contains
data regarding the school buildings,
libraries, text books, b~lackboards,
trees, fences, wells, means Of ventila-
ton, consolidation, enumeration of
children of school age, reasons alleged
for non-attendance, visits of inspec-
ton of the schools, the enrolment of
school children, attendance, length OF
terms, enrolment in the various
grades of common and high schools,
cost Of tuition, number of teachers
employed, their wages, expenses of
school officers, warrants drawn on the
school funds and for what urposes
such as payment for schoolhouse sites
n permanent improvements, equip
ment, teachers wages, services of
school officers, interest on bonds and
warrants, tuition paid other districts,
transportatEltgof pupils in consoli-
dated districts, redemption of bonds
and various incidental expenses. The
income Of the various districts must
be tabulated; such as from apportion-
ments Of the state n county tuition
funds, direct levies OF the district
boards, sale of lands, and tuition re-
ceived. The assessed valuations OF
the districts must be listed, and the
physical valuation Of the school prop
critics. Note is also made of any de-
nominational and national schools or
colleges. data regarding the teachers
certificates are compiled, the county
superintendent's office, teachers meet
ings held, the teachers training
schools, the teachers reading circle
and a report made Of the general con
dition exceptionally in the county.
The school census totals 6,622, the
largest in the history of the county, an
increase Of 122 over last year. Each
name enumerated draws about So for
the ensuing school year from the state
tuition fund, which is made up from
interest on school land money, etc,
and is in no sense taxpayers money.
Each name also brings in from the
county tuition fnnd about the same
amount. Hence in most Of the dis
tricts a lively search is made by the
school clerk each June for eligibles
for the enumeration. They must be
living in the district and be between
6 and 20 years old.
The next largest enumeration was
in 1906, $3.50; in 1901 1t was 5,S2S;
1904, $3.50; 1903, 1920; 1910, 6,166, and
in other years below 5000. In 1909 il
was 5,642, or $50 less than at present.
Thus the county receives practically
IS, 900 more from the state tuition
fund han it would have If the school
census had remained at its 1909 total.
On the other hand it was losing about
5000 from this source which 1t would
have received If the census had been
kept up to the figure which 1t was in
1905, namely $3.50. The rise and fall
is due much to the work or lack Of
work of the school elerkes.
North Dakota's annual income from
the state tuition fund is the largest in
the United States, being over $1,000
900 annually. The fund itself will
eventually reach about $40, 900, 90 to
$45, 000, 900, and the principal can new
err be expended, only the income, and
that for the common schools.
Two hundred and forty-two inspec-
tons of schools were made during the
past school year, besides many con-
f~erences with school offices and pa
irons Of schools; and twenty -eight
~steriopticon lectures were given, prin-
try schools regarding the actual edu-
cational conditions In this county.
In respect to school visitation the
county superintendent of schools field
Of work is about ten times as great
as that of a city superintendent, as
for instance, In Wahpeton. On the