CONTENTS. Graded and district schools. REMARKS ON THE SUMMARY. The tables directly following were prepared after the remainder of the report was printed. Since it is highly desirable that the governor, the legislature, and all others interested, may have the latest information available, this plan of summing up the statistics by years has been followed. The itemized reports by counties are found in the appendix, in full tables from which these totals were taken. Attention is invited to a close comparison of some of the more important items. The increase in the number of schools, of teachers employed, in the compensation of these teachers, in the number of scholars enrolled, and in the average attendance, compares very favorably with the increase in the total number of school age in the State, These totals, and the averages derived therefrom, on page 8, show a general advance, while the average cost of tuition per month has diminished. The falling off in 1888, in enrollment and attendance was the natural result of the very severe winter. A like inspection of the items of receipts and expenditures indicates the very gradual but moderate increase in the several items, while proving clearly that no single interest or necessity of the schools is neglected by our people. The conclusions given in the tables on page 13 will prove interesting to those who desire to trace more fully the relation of special particulars in the cost of our school system. The tabular exhibit of pages 14 and 15, brings together the leading features in such a form as to make them easy of comparison. Page 16 supplies the opportunity to contrast the larger cities and towns, in several important particulars. If a critical examination of these comparative tables affords the reader the satisfaction their compilation has given us, we shall feel repaid for the extra labor, and the pains taken to make them concise and yet reasonably complete. |