ADMINISTRATION. Educational affairs are managed by a territorial superintendent of public instruc tion, county superintendents, and district boards of 3 trustees. The first is appointed biennially by the governor; the others are elected by the people, county officers for 2 years and district boards for 3, with annual change of 1. Provision is made for the education of colored children in separate schools. Instruction must be given in all schools, during the entire course, in morals, manners, and laws of health, with due attention to physical exercise and to the ventilation and temperature of school rooms. Nothing of a political or sectarian nature may enter into the instruction in any school. SCHOOL FINANCES. The schools are sustained from money derived from a county tax of not less than 3 nor more than 5 mills on the dollar, from unlimited taxes voted by the districts, from various fines, and from a fund arising from the sale of town lots previously reserved to provide for the erection and furnishing of school buildings, or for general school purposes when the district shall so elect. The county tax and the amount derived from legal penalties are distributed to the districts in proportion to their population of youth of school age, excluding Indians not under the guardianship of white persons, provided school has been maintained 3 months. PREPARATION AND QUALIFICATIONS OF TEACHERS. GENERAL TERRITORIAL REQUIREMENTS. Teachers must hold certificates of qualification from the recognized school officers, such certificates to be valid for 2 years, and, to receive their last month's pay, must submit an annual report to the county superintendent and a duplicate one to the district clerk. TERRITORIAL NORMAL TRAINING. The law makes no provision for normal instruction. In 1882 a normal course was given in the Helena High School, but no further information has been received. OTHER NORMAL TRAINING. The law requires that teachers' institutes be held annually in every county having 5 or more organized districts and makes it the duty of the territorial superintendent to attend. Such institutes were held in 1883 in every county but 2, and in 1884 in every county but 1. Attendance was generally good, and 3 days were profitably spent in discussing various methods of teaching, the evenings being generally devoted to lectures or discussions of more general questions. The superintendent says the results of these institutes have fully realized the anticipated benefits. The law requires teachers to attend these institutes, but names no penalties for non-attendance. SECONDARY INSTRUCTION. PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS. High school studies are a part of the territorial system. The Helena High School in 1882 reported scientific and classical courses of 4 years each, but no information has been received subsequently of this or any other. OTHER SECONDARY SCHOOLS. For statistics of an institution of this class, see Table VI of the appendix; and for a summary, see the report of the Commissioner preceding. SPECIAL INSTRUCTION. EDUCATION OF THE DEAF AND DUMB. During 1883-84 there were 4 deaf-mutes maintained by Montana at the National Deaf-Mute College, Washington, D. C., and 1 at the Missouri Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb, Fulton, Mo. EDUCATIONAL CONVENTION. MONTANA TERRITORIAL TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION. The Territorial Teachers' Institute for 1883 was held at Deer Lodge, in the latter part of August, in connection with the county institute. The attendance was not large, but good work was done and the interest increased to the last. CHIEF TERRITORIAL SCHOOL OFFICER. Hon. CORNELIUS HEDGES, territorial superintendent of public instruction, Helena. NEW MEXICO. TERRITORIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM. ADMINISTRATION. By an act of the legislature approved March 31, 1584, a system of public schools was established in the Territory of New Mexico. Under this a superintendent of schools for each county is to be appointed by the county commissioners, holding his office till Lis successor is appointed. Each superintendent must within one month after he is qualified, or as soon thereafter as practicable, call a public meeting in each school district, when 3 directors are to be elected, to hold office till the next general election, when the same number are to be elected for 2-year terms. Each of the voting precincts constitutes a school district, in which must be established at least one public school. In these schools the common branches are to be taught, with history of the United States, in English or Spanish, or both, as the directors may determine. The county school funds are to be apportioned to the various districts in proportion to the number of children 5 to 20 years of age residing therein. No reports under this system can be expected until the close of the school year 1884-85. (From report and returns of Hon. L. John Nuttall, territorial superintendent of district schools, for the two years indicated.) TERRITORIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM. GENERAL CONDITION. The statistics of 1883 and 1884 show growth in nearly all particulars, the only exception being in the per cent. of school population enrolled in public schools, the number of school age having increased during the year by nearly 3,000 and that of pupils enrolled by only 638. The average attendance, however, was 1,286 more than the previous year, the per cent. of this to school population remaining about the same; the average term for the Territory was 5 days longer, and the average pay of teachers increased, as did the whole amount expended for public schools and the valuation of school property. The superintendent says there has been a natural and vigorous growth in the schools and a great improvement in the character and value of the instruction given; that there is an increasing demand for good and well trained teachers, as well as for good and well furnished school-houses, with a determination on the part of school officers and people to do all that is possible towards securing these. ADMINISTRATION. The territorial superintendent of district schools, elected for 2 years, has general charge of public school affairs. The local officers are county superintendents, elected by the people for 2 years, and district school trustees, elected for 3 years, with annual change of 1. There are also boards for the examination of teachers, comprising 3 members, appointed by the county courts. The territorial and county superintend ents, in convention, determine what text books are to be used in the public schools. The law requires district trustees to take an annual census of school youth and to report to the county superintendent the condition of the schools. SCHOOL FINANCES. Public schools are supported from a tax of 3 mills on $1 of ordinary taxable property, from taxation of railroads, sale of estrays, and a special district tax not to exceed 2 per cent. a year. The school funds are distributed in proportion to the number of children of school age (6-18), as reported annually by county superintendents. PREPARATION AND QUALIFICATIONS OF TEACHERS. GENERAL TERRITORIAL REQUIREMENTS. Teachers must hold certificates of the required qualifications, signed by the board of examiners; these certificates are valid for the term of 1 year. TERRITORIAL NORMAL TRAINING. The University of Deseret gives free tuition annually to 40 normal students, in addition to the 40 annually provided for by the Territory. There was in 1883-84 a much larger attendance in the normal department than ever before. In 1883 the course was extended from 1 year to 2 years, and the president of the university expresses himself as being thoroughly convinced of the wisdom of the change, and recommends that a model school be established in connection with the normal department, having the 3 grades of primary, grammar, and high school studies. Five students were graduated from the 2-year course in 1883 and 20 in 1884. OTHER NORMAL TRAINING. The Brigham Young Academy, Provo City, offers a 2-year course of normal instruction, but does not report full statistics. Utah County provides for a permanent class of 10 students in this institution. TEACHERS' INSTITUTES. The County Teachers' Association holds 10 sessions annually at Provo, Utah County, and among the minutes of these meetings is found the discussion of the following subjects: (1) That the grading of schools is economy of means, time, and labor; (2) that the employment of non-progressive and transient teachers is not a remunerative investment; (3) the encouragement and support of proficient teachers is a public benefit; and (4) that the school should be made a pleasant place of resort instead of a purgatory for boyhood. Other institutes were held during the year in Box Elder, Cache, Sevier, and Wasatch Counties. SECONDARY INSTRUCTION. PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS. There is no information regarding any public high schools in this Territory othor than the academic department of the University of Deseret. ACADEMIES AND SEMINARIES. For statistics of academies and seminaries reporting, see Table VI of the appendix, and for a summary, see a corresponding table in the report of the Commissioner preceding, SUPERIOR, SCIENTIFIC, AND PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION. UNIVERSITY OF DESERET. The University of Deseret, Salt Lake City, provides scientific, classical preparatory, normal, and preliminary courses, the first covering 3 years and the classical preparatory and normal 2 years each. The studies include chemistry, free hand, mechanical, and architectural drawing, physiology, geometry, surveying, botany, music, French, German, Latin, &c. A series of lectures is given upon the elements of law, intended to be preliminary to a fuller course of study in the future. CHIEF TERRITORIAL SCHOOL OFFICER. Hon. L. JOHN NUTTALL, territorial superintendent of district schools, Salt Lake Oity. [Term, August, 1881, to Angust, 1885.] (From report and return of Hon C. W. Wheeler, territorial superintendent of public instruction, for the two years indicated.) TERRITORIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM. GENERAL CONDITION. The territorial superintendent in 1882-83 reported a prosperous condition of the schools throughout the Territory, the educational interests keeping pace with the rapid advancement of the Territory in other respects; that the number of school districts and school-houses had increased in proportion to the great increase of population; and that the school buildings were of a better class than formerly and largely supplied with improved furniture. The figures for 1883-84 show a large increase in the number of pupils enrolled in public schools and a still larger one in the average daily attendance, more school-houses, a larger number built during the year, more teachers employed, and an increase in expenditure corresponding to the advance in other respects. The superintendent says that within the past few years there has been a strong and steadily increasing demand for a better class of teachers and as a consequence great improvement had been made in this direction. ADMINISTRATION. The chief school officers are a territorial superintendent of public instruction, appointed for 2 years by the governor and confirmed by the legislature, and a territorial board of education, composed of the superintendent and 1 person from each judicial district appointed by the governor for 2 years. County officers are superintendents, elected by the people for 2 years, and boards of examination for teachers, comprising the county superintendent and 2 teachers chosen by him, who must be holders of the highest grade of certificate. District school affairs are in the hands of a board of 3 directors, elected for 3 years, 1 being changed each year, and a district clerk. Women are eligible to school offices and may vote at school meetings. |