neglect of one district renders all reports incomplete and places it beyond the power of those charged with the duty of preparing statistics to do so in a satisfactory manner, some remedy should be provided by the Legislature.

"Ours is a 'district school' system, the affairs of each district being under the immediate control of a board of three trustees, elected by the people of the district, and whose duties are to employ teachers, fix their salaries, and to visit the school once each mouth, together with the other duties usually incident to the office named.

66

Each county of the Territory has a school superintendent, to whom the trustees must annually report, and who, with the county auditor and treasurer, manages the school fund. He has the usual powers of county superintendents in the Eastern States; must visit each school annually, examine candidates for teachers' licenses, and enforce the provisions of the law concerning the carrying on of the school affairs of his county. He must render annual reports to the Territorial superintendent, showing the condition of the schools of his county. Such reports are not due until the first day of November of each year."

SCHOOL-HOUSES.

"Since my last special report for 1887 I have reason to think that there has been an increase in the number of school-houses, the title to which is vested in the district. So far as reported, however, there is still one-third of the districts which do not own their houses. The same reasons exist for this as given in that report:

"(1) New districts are frequently created by the county commissioners, and such districts as a rule do not erect houses until some time has elapsed after their organization. "(2) Many of the houses have been erected on non-patented lands and are not reported by the trustees as belonging to the district.

"(3) The title to the land not being on record, and the houses used for holding the schools having in many instances been erected by neighborhood subscriptions and being used for both school and religious purposes, they are not reported as district schoolhouses. I have, as far as possible, urged the districts to secure the title of the houses, but, for the reasons above given, have not, except in a few instances, succeeded to my own satisfaction. Aside from the fact that certain communities are opposed to the public schools unless the control thereof can be held by the church whose members are the most numerous in the district, I find that in districts settled by people who have entered Government land there is a feeling of both willingness and helplessness in the matter of erecting new school-houses. Until the lands are patented the school tax is not levied on anything save the personal property and improvements of the entryman. We have no general fund provided for the building of such houses. Our law provides that a special tax in each district may be levied for such purpose when a majority of the resident freeholders and heads of families shall vote in favor of such tax; and it has been my observation in many instances that while the majority of the people have been willing, yet the interests of the more wealthy have led to the defeat of the proposed tax. I believe that so long as the doctrine that the public schools are a part of the 'police power' of the land is maintained, the property qualification of the voter should be abrogated; if this is not done, the many will be helpless against the few. The long interval between the time when the settler proves up and gets his final receipt and the time when his patent is forwarded from the General Land Office allows the entryman to enjoy all the privileges of a freeholder without helping to bear the burden of the public school system. The special tax, if voted, must be levied upon such property as is upon the assessment roll; therefore the tax is often unjust and unequal, enabling the wealthy land-holder to escape from paying his due proportion so long as the land he owns in the district remains unpatented, and compelling others, who have perfected their title and have the same on record, to pay the amount of their assessment. For this reason adequate funds often can not be raised to provide suitable buildings. No special tax can be levied exceeding one per cent. on the dollar of taxable property in the district as shown by the assessment roll. The law of Congress forbidding the incurring of indebtedness exceeding four per cent. of the assessed valuation tends, in my opinion, to prevent many districts from issuing bonds for building school-houses, inasmuch as the limitation is too strict. Increase in wealth will hereafter remove this bar, but we need the houses now.”

COMPULSORY EDUCATION.

"The parents and guardians of all children between the ages of eight and fourteen years are required to send such children to school for at least twelve weeks in each school year, eight weeks of which must be consecutive. This act applies only to those residing within two miles of the school-house. A failure to comply with the law subjects the guardian or parent to a fine of from five to fifty dollars. Under the exceptions in this law many parents are avoiding its operation by setting up the excuse that their children are taught in private schools or at home, which is a valid excuse but affords an opportunity to those whose religious belief opposes the employment of Gentile teachers to

keep their children away from the public school of the district. I have not heard of a single fine being collected, and believe that such a law is of no benefit until thoroughly amended."

ILLINOIS, INDIANA, AND IOWA.

See

The School Reports of these States were not received in season for use in this connection. If possible, digests of them will be given at the close of the volume. Index.

KANSAS.

[From Report for 1886-87 and 1887-88 of State Superintendent J. H. Lawhead.]

FREE TEXT-BOOKS.

Superintendent Lawhead suggests that the schools be placed still further within the reach of the poor by the adoption of free text-books, the districts buying and owning them, and allowing the pupils the use of them under certain regulations. The plan has been tried in a large number of places, and in some placesfor quite a number of years, until it can no longer be considered an experiment; and it has given satisfaction wherever tried, few, if any, returns being made to the old system. The testimony of several educators is given as to its success and the benefits to be derived from it. Some of the advantages mentioned are: (1) That the pupils are supplied promptly with books, no delay of a week or two occurring at the opening of the session as under the old plan; (2) it secures complete uniformity; (3) it is much less expensive, as is shown by the reports from those places where it has been tried, a net saving of from $1 to $1.50 per pupil being reported; (4) it largely increases the attendance upon the schools, especially among the poor where the purchase of a large number of books for several children at the beginning of the term frequently deters parents from sending some of their children.

GRADING OF THE COMMON SCHOOLS.

The superintendent suggests the following as an outline for the grading of the schools: "That each common district school in the State of Kansas shall be divided into three departments; viz, Primary, Intermediate, and Grammar; and the following branches shall be taught in said common schools:

"In the Primary Department.-Spelling: All words on charts or equivalents, first and second readers, by letter and sound. Reading: Through second reader. Writing: Blackboard and slate exercises, forms of letters, and general drill. Arithmetic: Notation to one thousand, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division tables to the sixes. Language: Write simple sentences, observing capital letters and punctuation; constant drill on correct forms of expression in all recitations. Geography: Oral lessons on points of the compass, county, State, shape of the earth, and geographical terms.

In the Intermediate Department.-Spelling: Oral and written; new words in third and fourth readers; complete first half of speller. Reading: Third and fourth readers completed; all new words defined; use of diacritical marks. Writing: Continue drill on form of letters, and write short sentences with pen. Geography: Elementary completed; map drawing. Arithmetic: Complete fundamental rules; compound numbers; longitude and time; factoring; the G. C. D., L. C. M., and common fractions. Language: Teach subject, predicate, modifiers; analysis of simple sentences; letter writing. History: Introductory lessons in history.

In the Grammar Department.-Spelling: Oral and written; all new words in readers and other books used; proper use of diacritical marks; speller completed. Reading: Fifth reader, sixth reader, or historical, biographical or literary reader. Writing: System completed. Arithmetic: Text-book used completed. Geography: Common school edition completed. History: Common school edition United States, completed. Physiology: School edition completed. Book-keeping: Common school edition completed. Philosophy: Elements completed. Civil government: Primary completed. General lessons, including the effects of narcotics and alcoholic stimulants upon the human system, shall be given in each department."

The pupils shall be examined at the opening of the session by the teacher, school board, and assistant district examiner upon questions prepared by the county superintendent to determine to what grade each pupil shall be assigned, and the same persons shall be the examiners for promotions, and graduation from the grammar department. When any pupil shall have completed the course in any of the departments and passed the examination, he shall be given a certificate to that effect, and shall be entitled to enter the next higher grade in any like school in the county.

SCHOOL TAXATION.

It is stated that to secure anything like equal school advantages, some districts that are financially weak are required to tax themselves almost to the point of bankruptcy. To obviate this injustice a county school tax not exceeding five mills should be levied in each county in the State, cities of the first and second classes being exempted, the proceeds of which should be distributed to the districts in the proportion in which teachers are necessary to supply the schools. If this were done, the levy for school purposes by the county and district should be limited to twenty mills. It is thought that the one-mill levy by the State should be restored, and the amount distributed in the same manner as the present State school fund is apportioned.

KENTUCKY.

For information contained in this Report relating to education in Kentucky, consult the Index. The State School Report was not received in season to make an abstract for use in this place; if possible, one will be given at the close of the Report.

LOUISIANA.

[From Report for 1886-87 of State Superintendent Warren Easton.]

STATE LICENSES TO TEACH.

It is suggested by State Superintendent Easton that provision should be made in the school law for a State board of examiners whose duty it should be to examine candidates for teachers' positions. The certificates should be good for four years and confer the right to teach in any parish in the State without further examination.

URGENT NEED OF EDUCATION.

The reports of the parish superintendents show that there is urgent need of education in the State, that "more than one-half of the voters who go to the polls are unable to tell from their tickets for whom they are voting." One of the main causes of this is the small amount of public school funds, which is only sufficient to keep the schools in operation for four or five months in the year, and even then the pay of the teachers is inadequate. This has caused thousands of young men who could afford it to go to institutions in other States to secure an education. A great many of the people, however, are not even able to send their children to pay schools near them, and hence must depend entirely on the public schools. Strong efforts have been made to induce immigration to the State, but so long as the educational advantages are so deficient immigrants will likely go elsewhere.

THE POLL-TAX AS A VOTING QUALIFICATION.

It is recommended by Parish Superintendent Lipscomb that the payment of the polltax be made a prerequisite to the right to vote, and that the tax be increased to $1.50. By this means sufficient funds would be raised to keep the schools in operation much longer.

EXAMINATIONS MORE RIGID.

As a

In the parish of Avoyelles all teachers are required to stand an annual examination. The percentage required in order to pass has been raised from year to year until now the teachers are required to make eighty per cent. in a maximum of one hundred. result, the teachers must keep up their studies, and a higher grade of teachers is secured, many incompetent ones being deterred from applying.

FREE TEXT-BOOKS NEEDED.

In some of the parishes great difficulty is found in getting the pupils supplied with text-books, as many of the parents are unwilling or too poor to purchase them. Especially is this the case with the colored people; and, in many instances, the teacher had to furnish the books himself in order to retain his position.

SCHOOL BUILDINGS NEEDED.

In Terrebonne Parish, and very probably in many others, only a few of the schoolhouses used belonged to the school authorities; most of them are church buildings. or else erected by private parties. A great many of them are rough frame buildings, without sashes, fire-places, flues, or cisterns. The seats often have no backs, and boards nailed up by the walls are the only desks. Even if the school officers had the means to buy the proper furniture, they would not feel justified in furnishing rough, unsuitable buildings which belonged to private parties.

COLORED PEOPLE WANT COLORED TEACHERS.

Parish Superintendent Lipscomb says there is an increasing disposition on the part of the colored people to have colored teachers. The school boards furnish them colored teachers whenever they can secure competent candidates for the places, but in some cases they are unable to find competent colored teachers and then have to furnish white teachers.

NEW LEGISLATION.

The Legislature, at its session in 1888, adopted act No. 81, revising and consolidating the school laws of the State and repealing all laws conflicting with it.

The State board of education.--By this law the board of education shall be composed of the Governor, State superintendent of public education, attorney-general, and six citizens to be appointed by the Governor, one from each congressional district of the State. The six citizens so appointed shall receive sufficient compensation to cover their actual travelling expenses and per diem for the number of days that the board shall be in session, "the same as members of the State Legislature, payable on their warrants, approved by the president and secretary of the board, out of the school fund." "The board shall meet on or before the first Monday of December of each year, and at other times upon the call of the State superintendent." The State board may require reports to be made by the parish superintendents whenever the interests of the common schools demand it. Parish boards. Each director of the parish board shall receive payment for his attendance at school board meetings, when the board shall hold regular sessions on the first Saturday in January, April, July, and October; "provided, that the amount be not : fixed by the said board at more than two dollars per diem, and provided that the whole amount expended annually shall not exceed one hundred dollars."

Parish boards may remove parish superintendents.—"For sufficient cause, the parish board of school directors may remove the parish superintendent, subject to an appeal to the State board of education, provided this appeal be taken within ten days after his dismissal. The appeal shall not have the effect of suspending the board's action of dismissal during its pendency, but the parish superintendent shall be reinstated if the State board of education decides that he was dismissed without cause, and reverses the decision of the parish school board."

Parish boards may establish graded and high schools.—“The parish school board shall have the authority to establish graded schools, and to adopt such a system in that connection as may be necessary to assure their success; central or high schools may be established when necessary. The ordinances establishing such schools adopted by the parish school boards shall be submitted to the State board of education, and no high school shall be opened without its sanction, and no such school shall be established unless the amount be donated for the site and suitable buildings are provided for without any expense out of the school fund; provided, that the board of directors of the parish of Orleans shall not require the sanction of the State board for the purposes aforesaid." The State board had previously authorized the establishment of academic schools for the instruction of youth over fifteen years of age.

Provision for fuel and other expenses.-"The school boards shall have the authority to assess and collect one dollar per annum on each family, surviving parent, or guardian, who actually sends a child or children to the common schools of the district, to be collected in such manner as said board shall determine, which amount shall be used in providing the school-house with fuel and defraying the expenses necessary for the comfort of the school."

School district in two adjoining parishes.-"The parish superintendent of two adjoining parishes, where the division line intersects a neighborhood whose convenience requires it, may lay off a district composed of parts of both the parishes; such district shall be reported, together with the census of school children only as belonging to the parish in which the school-house may be situated, by the parish superintendent of the parish; and report shall be made by the assessor and parish superintendent as though it lay entirely in the parish."

Laws of health to be taught, and the French language may be used.—It is required that the "laws of health" shall be taught in every district, and it is provided that the "elementary branches may be also taught in the French language in those parishes in the State or localities in said parishes where the French language predominates, if no additional expense is incurred."

The State superintendent may have a clerk and porter.-The State superintendent may appoint a clerk and a porter; "provided, that the entire expenses of his office, including salaries, postage, and incidentals, shall not exceed the specific appropriation therefor, payable in monthly instalments, out of the current school fund."

Parish superintendent allowed $125 for expenses.-The parish superintendent, whenever his services are quite efficient and satisfactory, may be allowed a sufficient sum, not exceeding $125, to defray his necessary expenses in visiting the schools.

Institutes for the improvement of teachers.-The parish superintendents may devote the first Saturday of each month the schools are in session to holding institutes for the improvement of teachers; and any teacher failing to attend or to take such part in the exercises as the superintendent may direct shall forfeit one day's salary unless a satisfactory excuse is given to the parish superintendent in ten days. No teacher living at a greater distance than ten miles or who would have to travel "otherwise than by land" shall be required to attend. Three hours shall constitute a legal session of the institute, and the parish superintendent shall forfeit $5 for each institute he fails to conduct, unless physically unable to attend, or for other excuse satisfactory to the school board. The institutes may receive as honorary or active members any citizens of good moral character who may desire to attend. The parish superintendent shall cause a roll of the members to be called twice during each day's session of the institute, and a record of the attendance of the teachers shall be kept. All funds of the institute shall be collected by the superintendent and expended only in the interest of the institute. The superintendent shall be paid $3 a day out of said fund for each day he shall cause the said institute to hold, under his personal superintendence, and for each day's attendance as provided for in section 34. These regulations do not apply to the parish of Orleans, but the school board of said parish may establish such institutes.

Other institutes may be held.—Other institutes may be held between the first day of April and the first day of October, when ordered by the State board or under special laws. Any teacher failing to attend and not rendering a satisfactory excuse to the parish superintendent shall forfeit two days' pay. The sessions shall not be held for more than four days, during which the schools shall have vacation, but no reduction of a teacher's salary shall be made, provided he was present during the entire session. At each session all the common school studies, the school laws, and the work of the teacher shall be considered. The parish superintendent in his annual report to the State superintendent shall give full information as to the institute.

Teachers' examinations.-Before being examined, each teacher shall pay one dollar to the parish institute fund, but it shall be returned to him if he does not receive a certificate. Whenever two or more teachers apply for the same position or positions, a competitive examination shall be held, and the position given to the most competent.

Revenue for schools. --A levy of not less than one mill and a half may be made by the police jurors of the several parishes, or legal representatives of towns, for school purposes. This shall be provided for in their annual budgets. All fines imposed by the district courts and the amount collected on forfeited bonds in criminal cases, after deducting commissions, shall be applied to the school fund.

The schools of New Orleans.-All the public schools of New Orleans shall be under the control of a board of directors of twenty members, eight appointed by the Governor and twelve elected by the city council. The mayor, treasurer, and comptroller of New Orleans are entitled to take part in all deliberations for maintaining the schools, but shall not have the right to vote. The board may elect a secretary, who must not be a member of the board, and who shall receive a salary of not more than eighteen hundred dollars. His duties, in addition to those prescribed by the board, shall be to make a quarterly report to the State superintendent of the cost of maintaining the city schools, and to keep the accounts of the board in strict accordance with such budget as they may adopt. The board of directors also appoint a superintendent of schools at a salary of two thousand dollars. The certificates of teachers shall be good for three years, after which another examination may be taken, and if the applicant is found competent to teach a higher grade school than the one for which the first certificate was issued, he shall receive a certificate good for five years.

MAINE.

For information contained in this Report relating to education in Maine consult the Index. The State Report was not received in season to make an abstract for use in this connection; if possible, one will be given at the close of the Report.

MARYLAND.

ARBOR DAY.

According to the proclamation of Governor Jackson, Wednesday, the 10th day of April, 1889, was "Arbor Day" in Maryland-the first one of the kind ever observed in the State. It was a bright, warm spring day; and the boys and girls were glad to go out and breathe the pure, fresh air, and to hear recitations about trees and flowers; and the parents and friends of the pupils, too, were easily induced to go with them and to help dig holes and plant trees. Everybody was attracted by the novelty of the scene.

In Baltimore the pupils of all the public schools assembled in their different buildings where they spent an hour or two, before going out, in exercises appropriate to the