The farmer and mechanic., 1912-07-30


biennial reports of the state SuDeElii-
tondcnt nf public instruction Tor the
decade closing June, 80. 1910. lndl-
Gates some Of the progress IN the ru-
raj elementary schools. the figures Tor
tn. next biennial period ending June
80. 1922 are. of course. not yet avail
sble bat they Will indicate a cOnun-
uation Of this progress
l. The annual expenditures or ele-
mentary rural schools has been IN
creased from s1.O18. 8.i51.34 to S2.126,-
695. 50--more than doubled.
2. The average term OF the IuTai
white schools has been increased from
7t to 93 days. nearly one school
month.
3. The value Of rural schoolhouses
and grounds has been increased from
Sl.14t,oOO to S3,094, ,416, nearly
trcbiad.
l. Three thousand four hundred
and nfty-six new schoolhouses have
beer built since 1902. more than one
:, day for every day8in every year.
). Expenditures for salaries OF
white rural teachers have been IN
creased from S621, ,92..97 TO S1.126,-
C5o.S3, nearly doubled
g. The average monthly salary or
white rural teachers has been increas-
ed from $2539 to $344T, and the
average annual salary from $751; to
s159.79, an increase Of more than 60
per cent in the annual salary.
!. The enrolment in the white
schools has been increased from 293,-
S6S 70 360.12 an increase OF - per
cent The total white school popula-
tion of the State has increased less
than ! / per cent.
s. The average daily attendance in
the white schools has been increased
from 166,500 to 235,S72, an increase
Of more than Al per cent
8. Since 1901 the number of rural
White school teachers has been in
creased from $50 to 7,1S9, an in
crease Of 1919.
10. The expenditures for salaries OF
county superintendentS have been in
creased from s23.596.So to $78,011,75;
the average annual salary of the
county superintendent has bee in
creased from s2A;.27 to s796.65.
IL. The number Of special local tax
districts has been increased from IS
70 1.325. In 1911 about $349,219.75
was raised by local taxation for the
rural schools. s976,567.O6 was rails
ed in 1911, by local taxation for the
rural and city schools.
Il. Since 1905 the number of rural
schools having more than one teacher
has been increased from 851 to 1855.
Ne report Of this previous to 1905.
-. The number of rural libraries
has been increased from 472 to 2772.
IL addition, GA supplementary Ii
braries have been established. These
libraries contain 265. 1853 volumes Of
well-selected books. costing $96.870.
IA. Since 1907. when the rural high
school law was passed. 2O2 rural
public high schools have been estab-
H-1z ~ hs<Ho
enrolled in 1911 neary 1000 country
boys and girls.
There has been corresponding
progress in the city schools along al
these lines. but lack Of space forbid!
summarizing the facts as to these.
AS will be seen from this summary
there has been a continuous increass
in the salaries of teachers. annual ant
monthly: in the salaries of count.
superintendent, requiring them to de
Vote more time to better supervision
Of the schools; large increase in tn
enrolment and average daily attend
ance in the rural schOols-much larg
er per cent of increase in both enroll
ment and attendance than in tn
school pOpulation-clearly indicatin
growth in educational interest an
sentiment. The number Of rural whit
teachers has been increased 1,47
and the number OF schools havin
more than one teacher has bee
rapidly increased each year. This. {
course. means a decided increase i
efficiency Of instruction. There ha
been decided increase in the aver
age length OF the rural school tern
The reports, however. for 1911 an
1912, when compiled, will show
much larger increase in this on Q,
count Of the increase Of the tax Il
elementary schools from eighteen
twenty cents on the one hundred do
lars valuation of property in 191
which. according to the report of II
corporation commission. ought to il
crease the elementary school fund T.
the year ending June 80. 1912. at lea
$350.0O0.
Supervisor OF Rural EleIne.nta
schools Added to State Departnaen,
For the further improvement of Il
elementary schools we have. thrOul
the generosity OF the Peabody Boa
and the Southern Education Roar