El Nuevo mexicano., 1916-12-21

length Of the school term, in the mum,
Der OF teachers and in the number of
schools. M
Mr.. White calls attention to the
census of 19f6-1g17 which shows 49,.
4s6 pupils Of school age. an increase
of 16,368 over 1913-1914. and then he
summarizes the statistics for I914s1915.
He is unable to give all the detailed
information he desires for the year
1~9151916, for lack Of reports, but ten
counties having responded out Of 26,
SO far.
OF special interest in Mr.. Whites
report are his recommendations which
summarized are as follows:
Raising of compulsory school age
limit from IA to 16 years.
Better school supervision and funds
to pay for it.
The passage Of a free textbook law
which has worked well in more than
l20 states in the union.
Creation Of office of state school
librarian to manage travelling school
libraries.
IA statistician for the department Of
education.
An assistant clerk and two addition
al stenographers for the department
of education.
Al rural and high school Inspector to
visit 1900 schools in the state.
Increase of present appropriation Of
$4,000 for department Of education to
$4,000.
Increase salary Of state industrial
supervisor to $1,000 with $1,000 travel
ing expenses, an office contingent ex-
pense Of $1,000 and 5000 for a steno-
grapher.
Creation Of a commission on Hitter
acy to assist in work Of wiping out IL
literacy in this state by 1920.
An appropriation by legislature for
an educational survey.
Submission to the people of con
stitutional amendments to make office
of state school superintendent and
county superintendent elective for
four years with removal Of limitation
as to terms and succession in office.
In regard to suggested changes IN
school laws Mr., White says that he
will leave that subject to his success
sor.
Thanks For Cooperation
In concluding his report Mr.. White
extends his hearty thanks to the gov
ernor for his hearty cooperation and
support, saying:
"All along you have aided greatly
the educational programs outlined by
this office and as chairman of the state
board of education you have rendered
distinguished service to the cause Of
education in this state. l. assure you
that all of this has been duly appre-
ciated by me and my department and
your services in this regard will be.
as I am convinced, more and more
appreciated by the people Of our state
as the years go by"
General Conditions
In beginning his report, Mr.. White
takes a glance at educational condi-
lions in the state. saying:
ITO all persons who have given
thoughtful study to u educational af-
fairs, it must be apparent that our
higher educational institutions, public
elementary and high schools, the Unit
ed States Indian schools, s~ectarian and
private schools, which embrace the
classes of schools in this state, have
all increased their activities during
the past two years. Better teachers,
a heightened school term, larger and
more regular attendance. greater ex-
penditures more judiciously expended,
increased salaries for teachers, more
suitable school buildings, especially
in the rural communities, greater in
terest and closer supervision OF our
Industrial system Of education, and a
united effort upon the part Of all citi-
zens for better school facilities are
the notable accomplishments in educa-
tional matters during the past two
years.
There has been an earnest desire
upon the part of our teaching
force to reach better qualifications and
to this end a good percent have at
tended our state normal schools, Ell
Their for the regular term or the eight
weeks summer session. Our county
institutes have. also, been a means of
giving better training to our teach
ers, while engaged In the service. AS
evidence OF the increase in school
term. l beg to quote you from my an
nua1 report to the q. S. Commissioner /
Of Education, for the year ending 7,
June Both, 1915. as follows: Number +
Of districts maintaining school not ex- !,
ceeding 60 days. n: 60 to so days, (,
"a; 81 to 100 days, 1859; 101 to 120
112; 121 to 140 days, 604; 141 to !
I6O days, 2O4; 161 to $50 days, 754;
1871 days and over. 81. In other words
he number Of days the public schools
we're in session averaged 1924. or an ]
average term Of 7.62 months. / am Of I
he opinion that our average for the /
rear 1856 is about 8h months. !
''The grand total Of payments for :
III school purposes, for our elemen. !
airy and high schools. for the year !
was $1,54s, 825.65. leaving a :
for the year 1856 of $409..
The grand total of payments
or all school purposes for the year +
915-I6 viii probably reach close to !
wo million dollars. Our total enroll /
nent, for the year 1915, reached u.s. +
QS, with an average daily a~ttendanceA
4 53,409; for that year, 1886 teachers a
we're employed: the average annual I
alary for all teachers was S507.54; N
hrrn uro~o 1ooo ~rL--r h-- a4oo1