That the right of appeal from decisions of township superintendents and trustees be

extended.

That county superintendents be required to report to the State superintendent as to the renting of school lands.

That probate judges be required to report abstracts of the assessments of poll-tax to the auditor instead of to the State department of education, and that by the last day of July, or as soon as settlements are had with the collectors, the auditor shall certify to the department of education the amount of poll-taxes paid into the State treasury to the credit of the school fund of each county and school district receiving its school fund

direct from the State treasury.

"That county superintendents be required to send to this department but one payroll, retaining a duplicate, which, together with the original, when returned with the funds for payment of teachers each quarter, shall be signed by the teachers and retained by the county superintendent and filed in his office.

"That tax collectors, at the end of each month in which they collect any poll-tax, shall make report of the same in duplicate, sonding one report to this department and the other to the county superintendent. That the collector shall first deduct the commissions allowed by law to the assessor and himself from the amount of poll-tax colleeted for each race in each township and school district, and report only the net amount paid into the treasury to the credit of the school fund for each race in each township

and school district."

ARIZONA.

The Legislature of Arizona failed to make any provision for the printing of the report of the superintendent of public instruction. For whatever information relating to education in Arizona is contained in this Report consult the Index.

ARKANSAS.

[From Report for 1886-87 and 1887-58 of State Superintendent Woodville E. Thompson.]

GENERAL STATEMENTS.

That the schools of Arkansas have made great advances in the last few years is acknowledged by all. This has been caused by the interest manifested by the people in the schools and their efforts to place them in a better condition, and by the faithful work of an earnest corps of teachers. The superintendent says "that no State in the Union is doing more for public schools in proportion to its taxable property than Arkansas" a statement which many may be disposed to accept cum grano salis, but which he says will be found correct upon investigation. The taxes for school purposes are cheerfully paid by the people. During the last few years many valuable schoolhouses have been built, and now it is probable every county in the State has one or two school-houses which cost from three to five thousand dollars. No distinction is made in the schools between the children of different classes, but the children of senators, representatives, and day laborers meet in the same room and are treated in the same

manner.

There is still room for improvement, however, especially in the country schools, where three-fourths of the children are educated. The term of the schools should be longer, and means should be provided for a better equipment of the schools.

GROWTH OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

In 1827 Congress gave the Territory of Arkansas seventy-two sections of land for the purpose of establishing a seminary of learning, but afterwards this grant was modified so as to allow the lands to be used for the benefit of the common schools, In 1836 an additional grant of the sixteenth section of every township, and seventy-two sections, known as saline lands, was made for the benefit of the common schools. From the admission of Arkansas as a State, in 1836, excellent constitutional and legislative provisions were made for the common schools, and there was a large revenue from the sales of school lands, but we find no evidences of the progress of the schools, and very probably little was accomplished.

The Legislature of 1866-67, composed of the best and most intelligent men of the State, passed an act providing for school revenues and for the proper administration of the system, under a State superintendent and county commissioners, and for the examination and licensing of teachers. From this time the schools began to make some improvement, which was steadily kept up, except during the two years from July, 1873, to 1875. From 1875 the expenditures for school purposes have gradually increased until, in 1888, we find the amount nearly one million dollars.

COUNTY SUPERVISION.

Superintendent Thompson again calls the attention of the Legislature to the importance of having a county superintendent for the public schools. No private corporation having so many, persous engaged in its work and such interests involved would neglect to provide some one fully acquainted with the work by experience to see that it was properly and faithfully performed. The State is spending many thousands of dollars every year upon the public schools, and these schools are determining to a large extent what shall be the intellectual development and moral qualifications of its future citizens. When these considerations are taken into account, the necessity of competent and faithful supervision is so patent that all must acknowledge it.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

In the reports of the State superintendent for the years 1884 and 1886, attention was called to the advantages to be derived from abolishing the school districts and instituting township districts. Superintendent Thompson thinks that it is absolutely necessary to the proper administration of the schools that the change be made. There are at present four thousand two hundred and eight school districts, and more than twelve thousand directors, many of whom are not competent to discharge their duties, and others often neglect them. If the directors were chosen from the entire township much better officers could be selected, and there would be less probability of designing men getting control of the school affairs in order to defeat a school tax, or to give a teacher's place to some dependent relative, as is too frequently the case at present.

It sometimes occurs that in one of two school districts adjoining each other the school term will be eight or nine months, there will be an excellent teacher and a comfortable school-house; while in the other the opposite conditions prevail, the school term possibly being two or three months. Under the township system such differences would not occur; there would be no trouble in transferring a pupil from one school to another, the number of patrons attending each annual meeting would be much larger, and the interest correspondingly greater. The testimony is given of quite a number of superintendents of States where the system has been partially or entirely adopted, showing its advantages and a general desire on the part of school officers to abolish the district plan.

TEXT-BOOKS.

How to secure uniformity of text-books at the least expense is a question which has been very generally considered, and the superintendent of education of Arkansas thinks that the Legislature should take some action to secure this end. The plan suggested is State and county adoption, or else the furnishing of books by the school district.

REVENUE.

The amount of funds received for school purposes in 1887-88 was sufficient to secure in average school term throughout the State of only four months, and hence the possibility of longer terms without increased taxation deserves careful consideration. In 1674 and 1879 there were destroyed by mistake large amounts of interest-bearing State serip, which with the accumulated interest up to the present time would exceed $300,00), all of which can easily be replaced by the State, and the permanent school fund Would thus be increased to more than $500,000. Besides, the Legislature in 1875 passed an act granting to the school fund ten per cent. of the net proceeds of all sales of public school lands, but the schools have received nothing whatever from this source.

f the addition from these sources could be made to the school funds, there would be a sufficient amount to maintain the schools for a month longer than at present.

RECOMMENDATIONS.

The following changes in the school law are recommended by the State superintendent: That the State apportionment shall be made by the second Monday in September of each year, and that the auditor be required to report on the first Monday the amount for apportionment in the State treasury on the 1st of September.

That the county examiners and district directors be required to make their reports by Jaly instead of September.

That the State board of education instead of the State superintendent be authorized to examine applicants for State licenses, and that each applicant be required to pay a fee of $10 which shall be used in paying the examining committees.

That the returns of the annual district elections be made within ten days after said elections.

That the directors be required to select text-books from the list recommended by the State board or by the State superintendent.

That the county treasurer shall receive two per cent, commission on all money paid out by him on warrants drawn by school directors.

That certificates of election shall be given to those persons elected district directors within five days after the election.

CALIFORNIA.

[From Report for 1886-87 and 1887-88 of State Superintendent Ira G. Hoill.]

GENERAL STATEMENTS.

It is thought that at no time have the people received more and better work for their money expended upon schools than in the last two years. The teachers have been well qualified for their business and have taken great interest in it, and the county superintendents have made every exertion to put the schools in a condition of the greatest usefulness. Two hundred and five schools report that they have not sufficient school grounds, while a large number of others report that their houses are badly ventilated and that they are not supplied with good furniture and other apparatus.

The latest census returns show the population five to seventeen years of age to be 270,500, which is apparently a decrease from the number of the previous year. This is occasioned by a discrepancy in the returns from San Francisco for the two years. None but strictly honest and faithful men should be selected as school census marshals, and they should not be selected as a reward for party service; and a law should be passed forbidding that they be paid at so much per capita of the children listed, as this offers a great temptation for false returns.

The State superintendent recommends that kindergartens and county high schools be made a part of the public school system of the State, and thinks that the establishment of manual training schools will be of great benefit to the State.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS,

The number of children five to seventeen who attended private schools during the year 1887-88 was 20,768, or 7.68 per cent., which is about the same proportion as for several years past. The principals of all private schools should be required to report both to the census marshal and to the State superintendent, so that the exact number of children in the State attending school may be known.

NON-ATTENDANCE.

The number of census children not attending any school during the year was 61,345, which is apparently a very large number of children growing up in ignorance; but it should be remembered that a large part of these are children under seven years of age who will probably attend afterwards, while many others are temporarily withdrawn from school for various reasons and will attend again. Still, the number is larger than it should be, and every school district should be required to furnish accommodations for every child desiring admission, or else forfeit its part of the State school money; and then the compulsory school law should be strictly enforced.

TEACHERS.

No

There are now 1,112 teachers in the State holding life diplomas. In the matter of teachers' compensation California stands among the very first States of the Union; and she allows the same compensation for like work, whether done by men or women. person should be employed as a teacher who is not possessed of a strong and healthy physical constitution by which he is enabled to throw life and animation into the work of the school-room, and to endure the nervous strain consequent upon teaching.

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS.

Only the very best men should be chosen as county superintendents; progressive, earnest, and practical educators; and when such have been chosen, they should be paid a reasonable salary. The salaries of county superintendents now range everywhere from $100 to $4,000, showing that while some are paid well others receive mere pittances. Each county superintendent should be required to send in a brief report of the condition and progress of each school in his county, such reports to be of the same size that they might be bound together.

TEXT-BOOKS.

A constitutional amendment was adopted in 1834 for the compiling, printing, and publishing of a series of text books for the common schools of the State, which books should be sold at cost and should not be changed for four years. The Legislature of 1885 appropriated $20,000 for compiling the books, and $150,000 for the necessary plant, ma

terials, and labor. The books to be printed were: Three readers, one speller, one arithmetic, one history of the United States, and one geography. The following persons were entitled to make orders for books: County superintendents of schools, principals of State normal schools, secretaries and clerks of school districts, and retail dealers.

The present State superintendent states that when he came into office "no adequate means had been provided for the distribution of the text-books, and no provision whatever had been made for producing additional books after the first appropriation should become exhausted, the first editions of the books sold, and the money paid into the State treasury.'

In 1857 an amendatory and supplementary act was passed making provision for the following text-books, in addition to those previously mentioned: One elementary arithmetic; one elementary grammar, or language lessons; one elementary geography; one physiology and hygiene, including a system of gymnastic exercises, and special instruction as to the nature and effects of alcoholic drinks and narcotics. One hundred and sixty-five thousand dollars, together with the unexpended balance of the former act, were appropriated to cover the expense of printing the books, and $15,000 for compilation.

"The poor binding of the first edition of the readers and speller has been the principal cause of complaint concerning the books. Fortunately, however, the first editions of these books were not large, and the superintendent of State printing was requested to notify the then foreman of the bindery that no more inferior work would be accepted or passed by the board of education. No complaints have been made concerning the binding of subsequent editions, and we doubt if any publishing house can be found which turns out better press work and better binding on text-books than that which is now done at the State printing office at Sacramento, under the superintendence of Mr. J. D. Young.

One of the important results of publication by the State is that uniformity of textbooks is secured throughout the State. The State superintendent says:

"Having been one of the earliest advocates of a State series of text-books, it has not only been my duty but my purpose and pleasure to aid in giving the scheme a fair trial, and bringing the experiment to a successful issue. Since some of the books have been issued and gone into use I find many persons who, being opposed to the undertaking at first, have now become convinced of its feasibility and economy. Some of the books have been pronounced the best of their kind, and I am of the opinion, judging from my observations in various schools which I have visited, and from the expressions of superintendents and teachers at institutes, that the experiment thus far has fully met the expectations of its most ardent friends, and that the books themselves are giving a good degree of satisfaction.

"If the books are as good as others, or will answer the purpose as well, then the question which most concerns the parents is, Which will cost the least? It may be claimed, and must be admitted, that it costs the State more to manufacture the books than it would est a private publishing house. The State pays better wages than the private publisher, and works its help eight hours a day, while the private publisher works his help ten hours a day. But the consumer is interested not in the actual first cost of the books, but in the cost to him.

"Since the State charges no manufacturers' profit, no jobbers' profit, and the retail dealer is allowed by law to charge no more than it would cost the pupil to have the books sent to him by mail (the retail dealer making only the difference between postage and freight, it follows that the consumer, or pupil, pays the private publisher, or his retail dealer, from thirty to sixty-six per cent. more than he is required to pay the State for his text-books."

COLORADO AND CONNECTICUT.

The School Reports of Colorado and Connecticut were not received in season to be considered in this part of the Report, but abstracts of them may be found at the close. See Index.

DAKOTA.

[From Report for 1886-87 and 1887-88 of the Territorial Board of Education of Dakota.]

GENERAL STATEMENTS.

The progress made in the educational affairs of Dakota, as shown by the statistical summary of the last five years, given in the report of the Territorial Board of Education, has been very rapid. This progress has been made by all grades of the schools, from the ordinary ungraded schools to the colleges and universities; and it has been a general progress, an increase in attendance and in amount of expenditures, a better quality of work, and longer school terms. School officers and teachers have worked harmoniously together to place the schools on a higher plane of usefulness, and we now find the outlook for the future most promising.

Less than one-fourth of the county superintendents made their reports within the time required by law, the difficulty being caused by a failure of township and district clerks to forward their reports promptly, and in many cases then they were inaccurate. If a Territorial fund were raised to be distributed among the districts when full and accurate reports had been made from them, it would soon remedy the evil. It would also be of much assistance to poor and unimproved districts. The annual salary of the district clerk should not be paid until he presented a receipt for his prompt report from the county superintendent.

Instead of a report being made by the board of education only every two years, it should be made annually, so that the matter contained in it might be fresh and of greater interest.

FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE SCHOOLS.

The finances of the schools are generally well managed, and in this respect the schools are in a very prosperous condition. The amount of warrants outstanding is not large, and generally sell for almost their full value, while the bonds always sell for their face value and frequently above par. The warrants draw interest at eight per cent., and the bonds at from seven to eight per cent. The board of education has endeavored to get the schools to operate on a cash basis, and has discouraged the issuing of bonds, so that fewer bonds were issued during the last year than for many years previously. The interest on those issued is usually paid promptly, but in some cases it was neglected and caused complaint. On account of recent changes in the school law some uncertainty exists as to who is authorized to issue the bonds, and unless some action is taken on the matter by the Legislature the bonds will not command as good prices as they should.

DISCREPANCIES.

An examination of the reports of county superintendents for the last five years shows quite a discrepancy in the amount of money on hand the last day of the school year and the first day of the next year, although the amount should be the same; in most cases, too, the amount of money on hand is less than that reported as left over. The balance on hand June 30, 1884, was reported as $296,000, but the amount on hand July 1, 1884, the next day, was $262,000, showing a loss of $34,000. The next year there was a loss of $218,000, and the next year a loss of $145,000, but on July 1, 1887, there was a gain of $27,000. It is thought that these discrepancies are mostly due to carelessness and imperfect book-keeping, but it is quite probable that among the two thousand officers there are some dishonest ones.

As the amount of public money paid out for school purposes is larger than that for any other purposes, it should be required that a perfectly accurate account of it be kept. At present the township and district treasurers receive the money from the county treas urers and pay it out on the order of the clerk and chairman of the school board; but it would be better if it were the duty of the county treasurer himself to disburse all the school funds of the county, as that officer is usually a good financier and is placed under bond to discharge his duties faithfully.

SCHOOL LANDS.

The subject of school lands is one of the most important connected with the schools of Dakota. The number of acres is about two millions, with an estimated value of about ten millions of dollars, and as the time is drawing near when Dakota shall become a