SCHOOL SYSTEMS OF CITIES WITH 7,500 OR MORE INHABITANTS.

ADMINISTRATION.

Cities of more than 15,000 inhabitants have elective boards of education of 3 members from each ward, with annual change of 1; cities with from 1,500 to 2,000 have similar boards of 2 members from each ward, 1 of the 2 liable to annual change. The larger boards may and the smaller ones must choose a superintendent.

Lawrence in 1882-'83, with an increase of 242 in school population, shows no addition to its school roonis, now numbering 25, in 10 buildings. Of these, 3 rooms were occupied by the high school, 5 by the grammar, and 17 by the primary schools. The accommodations were insufficient, the average daily attendance being far in excess of the seating capacity of the rooms. The board decided to add 2 rooms to one of

the school buildings, thus giving some relief.

Leavenworth in 1882-83 increased its school buildings to meet an increase of 554 in school population, affording 2,500 sittings. There was an outlay of $584 to supply the new buildings with furniture and apparatus, with an advance of $11,600 in value of school property, it being $189,600 as against $178,000 the year before. There was an increase of 191 in enrolment and of 45 in average daily attendance. The 8 schools are classed as priu ary, grammar, and high, the high and primary having each a course of 4 years and the grammar one of 3.

Topeka in 1882-183 reported 12 school buildings, with 3,248 sittings, valued, with other property, at $176,900. There was an increase of 637 in enrolment and of 482 in average daily attendance over the previous year. This, with an increase of 1,329 in school population, called for the employment of from 6 to 10 more teachers (the number given being 50) and a large addition to the school rooms, including 2 new buildings. Schools are classed as primary, grammar, and high, the last having a course of three years.

PREPARATION AND QUALIFICATIONS OF TEACHERS.

GENERAL STATE REQUIREMENTS.

In this State no person may teach in the public schools without a diploma or certificate from the State board of education,1 from a county board of examiners (of whom the county superintendent is the chairman), or from the examining committee of a city board of education. The diploma of the State board is valid in any county, city, tbwn, or school district in the State during the lifetime of the holder, unless revoked by the board. Its certificates are valid in like manner for 3 years or 5 years, according to grade, unless revoked. Those from county boards are good only in the county in which they are issued and for a term of 2 years, 1 year, or 6 months, according to the ascertained qualifications of the holders. Those of city examining committees hold usually during good behavior.

A diploma from the State Normal School has nearly the force of a State diploma; a certificate of graduation from the normal department of the State university, about that of a State certificate.

STATE NORMAL TRAINING.

The State Normal School, Emporia, in its report for 1883-'84, shows a faculty of 11 instructors, with an attendance of 534, of whom 283 were in the normal department. There were 35 graduates, of whom 32 engaged in teaching. The full course covers 4 years, 3 of them academic, the other professional. There is also a model school for practice. Candidates for admission must pass a fair examination in the common branches and present satisfactory evidence of good moral character. No one is admitted to the professional year who has not completed the academic work of one of the courses. Children between the ages of 4 and 8 are admitted to the model school and preparatory course, in which the lowest grade is a Kindergarten department. To graduate, a student must reach an average of 80 per cent. in a final examination and must have taught in the preparatory and model school at least 20 weeks. The diploma granted is by law a life certificate to teach in the schools of the State. There is a library of 1,600 volumes. The appropriation by the State and the income from endowment amounted to $15,000. In the second year's work there were 26 teachers, of from 2 to 11 years' experience, who had left salaries of from $50 to $80 a month to take the advanced English and Latin course.

The normal department of the University of Kansas, Lawrence, shows 3 courses, classical, modern literature, and English, each of 3 years. Its certificate of graduation authorizes the holder to teach in the common schools of the State without further examination. In 1884 there were 64 students and 14 graduates from its 3-year course. It received from the State $1,500.

OTHER NORMAL TRAINING.

The Kansas Normal College, Fort Scott, reports for 1883-'84 391 students and 11 teachers. The "teachers' class" numbered 58 men and 51 women.

The Kansas Normal School and Business Institute, Paola, prepares for teaching in a 3-year course. The special feature of this school is its training department, in which are enrolled several hundred children in eight grades and a model district school.

The Campbell Normal University, Holton, in 1882-'83, had among its 7 courses one of 5 terms, of apparently 10 weeks each, in which it aims to meet the demand for trained teachers. The course shows fair academic studies, including a training class. Diplomas are granted to those who satisfactorily complete the course. Students, 10. Both sexes are admitted on equal terms.

Normal departments appear in 1883-84 at the Atchison Institute, Atchison, and at the Freedmen's Academy of Kansas, Dunlap. Total attendance at the former, 305; at the latter, 175, without distinction of normal students in either.

Salina Normal University, Salina, was to open September 2, 1884, and to offer with other courses a teachers' course not yet defined. Women are to be admitted on equal terms with men.

NORMAL INSTITUTES.

Institutes for the instruction of teachers and those desiring to teach are required to be held by the county superintendents in their respective counties for a term not less than 4 weeks, 2 or more counties uniting in sparsely settled portions of the State to hold an institute.

In 1883 there were 74 institutes held, with an enrolment of 6,770, at an expense of $21,075, of which $3,700 were from the State and $17,375 from local funds. In 1884 there were 78 institutes, enrolling 6,956: a gain of 4 in institutes, of 186 in attendance, and a corresponding increase in expenditure.

EDUCATIONAL JOURNALS.

The Educationist, published at Emporia by a former State superintendent of public instruction in Indiana, George W. Hoss, continues to be the official organ of public instruction and the chief medium for the diffusion of educational information throughout the State. The Industrialist, published weekly at Manhattan, is the organ of the Kansas Agricultural and Mechanical College and is devoted specially to industrial education. The former was in its sixth volume in 1884; the latter in its tenth. To these may, perhaps, be added The University Register, organ of the Normal University, Salina, published quarterly and devoted to practical education, the first number of which was issued June, 1884.

SECONDARY INSTRUCTION.

PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS.

By authority of the board of regents of the State university, any high school adopting a prescribed course of study is "recognized" by the university and applicants for admission to its freshman class from such schools are admitted without examination. The number thus authorized in 1883 was 17. Others are said to be contemplating an early adoption of this plan.

Of the schools thus authorized, the high school in Lawrence had an attendance of 138, that in Leavenworth of 230, and that in Topeka of 125 during 1882–83.

OTHER SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

For statistics of business colleges and private academies, see Tables IV and VI of the appendix; for summaries of them, corresponding tables in the report of the Commissioner preceding. For preparatory departments of colleges and scientific schools, see Tables IX and X of the appendix.

SUPERIOR INSTRUCTION.

COLLEGES FOR YOUNG MEN OR FOR BOTH SEXES.

In the University of Kansas four departments are organized: (1) science, literature, and art, (2) elementary instruction, (3) law, and (4) normal training. The first department comprises a general scientific, a Latin-scientific, three special scientific, a classical, and a modern literature course. There are also an optional course of 2 years; a music course of 4 years; a graduate course of 3 years; and a preparatory medical course of 1 year, which, by an arrangement with the leading medical schools of the West, is to be counted the first year of a regular 3-year medical course. For other courses, see Scientific and Professional Instruction, below. Faculty in 1883-'84, 17; students, 521, or 61 fewer than in 1882-83.

For the other collegiate institutions reporting in 1883-'84, see Table IX of the appendix; and for a summary of the same, the report of the Commissioner preceding. All show preparatory courses, mainly of 2 and 3 years, and classical courses of 4 years. For their scientific courses, see Scientific, below, and for normal courses, see Table III of the appendix. St. Benedict's, St. Mary's, and Washburn Colleges show commercial courses; St. Benedict's and St. Mary's Colleges, Baker and Highland Universities, musical training; St. Benedict's and Lane University, ministerial instruction; while Washburn College offers a ladies' course of 4 years. All but St. Benedict's and St. Mary's admit both sexes.

INSTITUTIONS FOR THE SUPERIOR INSTRUCTION of young WOMEN.

The College of the Sisters of Bethany, Topeka (Protestant Episcopal), is the only school of this class reporting in 1883-84. Its schedule of studies embraces a Kindergarten and a primary department, a preparatory course, a collegiate department of 3 years, with courses in instrumental music, vocalization, drawing, painting, elocution, French, and German. It had 24 instructors and assistants in 18-3-84, with 334 students, a gain of 75 over 1881-82. For other statistics, see Table VIII of appendix,

SCIENTIFIC AND PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION.

SCIENTIFIC.

The University of Kansas, Lawrence, continued to offer a general scientific, a Latinscientific, and three special scientific courses in chemistry, natural history, and civil and topographical engineering, each of 4 years and leading to the degree of bachelor of science, in which were 67 students in 1883-84.

The State Agricultural College, Manhattan, had in 1883-84 an endowment fund of $474,305. The last legislature appropriated $20,000 to finish the main college building and it was approaching completion. The college has shared in the general prosperity of the State, the inventory of its property having within the last 2 years grown from $109,109 to $145,858 and attendance from 312 to 395. The 4-year general course in agriculture and science, offered to both sexes, involves industrial training, to which each student is required to devote at least one hour a day. Young men may take farming, gardening, fruit growing, carpentry, cabinet making, iron work, printing, or telegraphy; young women, sewing, printing, telegraphy, floriculture, or music. Special and graduate courses are also provided. Military drill is optional. Each winter a series of 6 farmers' institutes is held in as many counties, in which the fac ulty meet with the people in discussions on topics looking to the improvement of farming. The degree of bachelor of science is conferred on those who complete the full course of 4 years and sustain all the examinations. Instructors in all the departments in 1883-84, 21; students, 395, of whom 135 were females; graduates, 17. The library contains over 5,000 volumes.

Of the 7 collegiate institutions, Baker, Highland, Lane, and Ottawa Universities and Washburn College show scientific courses of 4 years each.

PROFESSIONAL.

Theology. St. Benedict's College in 1883-84 reports an ecclesiastical department for boys who intend to study for the priesthood, with special instruction adapted to the vocation.

The Kansas Theological School, Topeka (Protestant Episcopal), continued its 3year course, which by the canons of the church is ordinarily to be prepared for by a collegiate course or its equivalent. There appears to have been in 1882-83 but 1 candidate and 1 ordination.

Law. The law department of the University of Kansas aims to furnish a complete course of legal training covering 2 anunal terms of 7 months each. The degree of LL. B. is conferred upon such members of the senior class as shall be recommended by the examining committee and faculty and approved by the board of regents.

Medicine. The preparatory medical course of the University of Kansas, covering 2 terms of 20 weeks each, has been accepted by the leading medical colleges of the West as the first year of a 3-year course, and students passing examination in these classes are admitted to the second year in the colleges on the certificate of the faculty of this institution. For professional students, a full collegiate course is recommended. Students in 1882-'83, 7.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTION.

EDUCATION OF THE DEAF AND DUMB.

The Kansas Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb, Olathe, under the care of the State board of charities, reported for 1882-83 10 instructors, 2 being semimutes, and 190 inmates, 88 of whom were females. Sixteen completed their course of instruction in the year and were honorably discharged.

Since opening in 1861, 369 had been instructed, each one having spent in the institution an average of 5 years They were taught the common branches, the method of instruction being the manual and articulation combined. The employments for boys were printing, cabinet work, and shoemaking; for girls, needlework. There was a library of 500 volumes. The grounds, buildings, and apparatus, including a farm of 177 acres, were valued at $60,000. State appropriation, $24,000; expended, $22,974.

The enrolment for 1883-84 was 160, of whom 1 was granted an honorable discharge at her own request, having completed 5 years of study, and 4 received diplomas, having spent their full allotted time in school and passed creditable examinations. Expenditures for the 2 years, about $55,000; estimated value of property $96,554.

EDUCATION OF THE BLIND.

The State Institution for the Education of the Blind, Wyandotte, for 1883-84 reports 19 instructors, 3 blind employés, and 72 inmates, having instructed 186 since opening, in 1867. The boys are employed in broom and brush making and chair caning; the girls, generally in machine and hand sewing, but in some cases they also made brooms and chair seats successfully. In school they are taught the common branches, as well as algebra, rhetoric, civil government, and American literature. Special attention is given to vocal and instrumental music. A library of 500 volumes was increased 50 during the year. Grounds, buildings, and apparatus were valued at $100,000. State appropriation, $13,900. Enrolment for 1882-83, 69, with an average attendance of 65; for 1883-'84, enrolment, 75; average attendance, 71. Expenditure for the 2 years, $29,683.

REFORMATORY TRAINING.

The State Reform School, Topeka, was opened in June, 1881, and reported June, 18-2, an enrolment of 72. The second biennial report from July, 1882, to June, 1884, shows 109 admitted, 9 escaped. 8 returned, and 59 discharged, leaving 100 present. Average number present, 1882-'83, 76; 1883-84, 95. Their time was divided between farm work and study, giving training for the hands as well as discipline for the mental faculties. In school, they are classed in 3 grades and are said to make fair progress.

INDUSTRIAL TRAINING.

General information on this point is wanting, but from an unofficial source it is learned that a building for an Indian school at Lawrence was in course of construction in 1883-'84, in which, when completed, instruction in practical industries was to be united with literary training.

EDUCATIONAL CONVENTIONS.

STATE ASSOCIATION.

The twenty-fourth annual session of the State Teachers' Association was held at Topeka, December 26-28, 1883. The attendance was 400. On the evening of the 26th the president elect, Prof. F. A. Fitzpatrick, delivered an address on the "Educational lessons of the year," followed on the 27th by a paper on "Theory versus practice in country schools," showing that most of the work in the country schools is without

system and that if teachers have good theories they very often fail in practice. Papers on "The high school question," "The teacher and politics,” “The relation of academic and professional work in institutes," and "County uniformity in text books" were followed by an address on "The present status of the profession," which closed the day. The last day of the session was opened by a discussion of "County uniformity in text books," at the close of which a resolution was introduced asking the next legislature to provide for such uniformity, and, as a means to this end, an early adoption of the township system. Chancellor J. A. Lippincott, of the State university, then read a paper on "The public school and its relation to the formation of character," in which high ground was taken in favor of moral training and of christian character instead of mere intellectual culture. He emphasized the fact that learning is no certain pledge of purity, that culture alone does not secure right character. A resolution recommended that the county normal institutes should be graded in a course of study providing for promotion and certificates of graduation on completion of the course, each to be equivalent to a first grade certificate. Another resolution, asking that the county superintendents be required to hold preliminary examinations as a condition precedent to enrolment in the county institutes, was referred to the State board of education.

In connection with papers on "Drawing" and "An education to the useful," specimens of drawing work were presented from the State university, State Agricultural College, State Normal School, Bethany College, and several others, which elicited much interest. Senator Ingalls gave the closing address on "Garfield;" when, the officers for the ensuing year having been elected and the usual resolutions passed, the association adjourned to meet at Topeka, December, 1884.

SUPERINTENDENTS' CONVENTION.

The State convention of county superintendents met at Junction City, June 5, 1883, and after completing a permanent organization, in which the State superintendent was made permanent president, discussed, among other topics, "Township versus the district system" and "Normal institutes." The place for the next meeting was made the same as that of the State Teachers' Association and the time within the same week. Accordingly, on December 28, about thirty superintendents met at Topeka, Supt. J. II. Lee in the chair. Mr. Noble, of Jackson County, opened the discussion on "A graduating system for country schools." He said that he himself had a 4-year course and held monthly examinations to test the progress of pupils. Those present were in favor of the adoption of the plan and requested the State superintendent to prepare such a course. A paper on "School visitation" expressed the opinion that lessons in telegraphy, surveying, astronomy, &c., should be given to awaken an enthusiasm for higher learning.

Adjourned to meet at Emporia, June, 1884.

PRINCIPALS' ASSOCIATION.

On Friday, December 28, 1883, the principals and superintendents of town and city schools held their session in connection with that of the teachers' association. After the annual address from the chairman, Mr. Cutler, of Fort Scott, the subject of "Teachers' meetings" was presented by J. M. Abbott, superintendent of Osage City schools, and that of "The basis of promotion" by B. S. McFarland, of Olathe. Next meeting to be held on the first day of the State Teachers' Association, at Topeka, December, 1884.

CHIEF STATE SCHOOL OFFICER.

Hon. H. C. SPEER, State superintendent of public instruction, Topeka.
[Second term, January 10, 1883, to January 9, 1885.]

Then to be succeeded by Hon. J. H. Lawhead.