ance, (86,486), one of 1,166. Of the whole number enrolled, 31,327 were colored, and 12,574 of that race were in average daily attendance, a fair advance for the year in both these items. Still, the per cent. of average daily attendance to youth of school age for white and colored remained about the same for the two years, scarcely reaching, as before said, 28 per cent. The schools remained in session during both years 182 days, but in 1883-'84 there were 36 more taught. Over $117,000 more were expended for all public school purposes and nearly $50,000 more for teachers' salaries alone.

The board of education expresses satisfaction, on the whole, with the progress made during the year. The smalluess of gain in average attendance in proportion to that of enrolment is explained by the severity of the winter, the bad condition of the roads, and the prevalence of contagious diseases.

VIRGINIA.

The statistics of the two years ending 1884 show a continuation of the prosperous condition heretofore reported in public school affairs. There were, in round numbers, an enrolment of 288,000 children, of whom 103,000 were colored, and an average attendance of about 163,000, an increase for the year in enrolment of 7,000 white and 12,000 colored children and in average attendance of 4,700 white and 7,600 colored children. Still, the per cent. of school population enrolled (based on the census of 1880) did not quite reach 52, and that in average daily attendance was only 29.39. There were 373 more schools taught (158 more for colored youth) and nearly $24,000 more were expended for all public school purposes. The average monthly pay of teachers increased slightly (70 cents for men and 55 for women), more school-houses were owned by districts, and the valuation of property increased by nearly $150,000.

SOUTH ATLANTIC STATES-NORTH CAROLINA.

The improved school law of 1881, referred to in the report of 1882, showed its good effects in the 2 years succeeding that report, although some part of those effects lack illustration from the failure of several counties to make the required returns. But, even with this draw back, the figures for the 2 years are almost wholly on the gaining side, especially in the latter year, 35,723 more school youth appearing, 37,554 more enrolled in the free schools, and 17,043 more in average attendance, with 494 more schools, under 719 more teachers. The teachers, more than ever before, were trained to better methods of instruction through institutes and normal schools.

SOUTH CAROLINA.

Based on the school population as given by the United States Census of 1880, the enrolment for 1882-83 was 66 per cent. of school youth and average attendance 42 per cent., increased respectively to 71 and 44 per cent. in 1883-84. The increase in enrolment in public schools in 1882-83 was 27,121, and in 1883-'84 it was 12,524. Average daily attendance in the former year was better, increasing by 9,180, but in the latter by only 3,148. Additional houses for public schools in both years were provided in fair proportion to the need of increased accommodations, but very few of them were owned by the districts in which they stand, and the valuation of them all was $32,435 less in 1883-'84 than in the previous year.

GEORGIA.

This State presents statistics for only one year beyond those of the last report, but for that year shows an increase of 11,414 in children of school age, of 30,979 in enrolment in public schools, of 24,191 in average daily attendance in such schools, of 380 in the schools to accommodate this large attendance, of 32 in the number of graded and high schools in the public system, and of $29,473 in the expenditure for all the State free schools. These are but specimens of a growth in all important points that has gone on under the supervision of an excellent State school commissioner for ten years. The evidence of improvement in other schools than those of the State system,

including several colleges, does not appear; but this is partly from the fact that these schools, not being compelled to make reports to the commissioner, in very many cases fail to do so.

FLORIDA.

The educational reports of the State of Florida have been imperfect for some years past, and even yet 9 counties fail to present statistics of their schools, if they have any. But a new era is evidently opening, promising a much better condition of affairs. The State report for 1883-'81 shows a great increase of interest in education (1) in an apparent foundation of the long talked of State university; (2) in the establishment of 2 new normal schools for colored teachers and in improved instruction for white teachers in the East and West State seminaries; (3) in an appropriation by the State of $1,000 each year, for 2 years, for the better training of teachers in a succession of teachers' institutes, with competent instructors; (4) in a new law requiring county boards of education to select and use, for at least 5 years, a uniform series of text books for their schools. These things, with an increased number of State schools and of pupils in them in the years under review, give promise of better schools and better teachers.

GULF STATES-ALABAMA.

A general advance in public school interests was reported for the two years 1882-'83 and 1883–84. In the former year, with less than 3,000 inore youth of school age, 23,000 more pupils were enrolled and over 12,000 more were in average daily attendance. There was also a corresponding increase in the number of schools and teachers; two additional normal schools were established; there was an improvement in county teachers' institutes, with a growth of educational interest among the people. In 1883–84, with about 15,800 more youth of school age reported, there were about 15,000 more enrolled in public schools and 7,400 more were in average daily attendance. About 51 per cent. of the whole school population were enrolled, and about 62 per cent. of these were in average attendance. There was an increase in the number of public schools taught for white and colored, in the average school term for the State, and in the whole amount expended for public schools.1

MISSISSIPPI.

The State superintendent of public instruction in Mississippi reports that the subject of education engrossed unusual attention during 1882 and 1883, both as regards public and private instruction; and that public education was growing in the estimation of the people, as shown by their willingness to pay the school tax, their desire to extend the school term beyond the constitutional limit of 4 months, as well as by a desire to employ competent teachers.

With 447,571 youth of legal school age (of whom about 180,000 were white and over 267,000 colored) there were enrolled in 1883, in public schools, about 125,600 white children and over 141,000 colored, and 154,463 of the whole number were in average daily attendance, an increase for the year of nearly 53,000 in enrolment and about 19,000 in average attendance, with only 3,440 more youth of school age. The per cent. of children enrolled, based on the whole school population, was 59.65 and that in average attendance 34.51. To meet this increased attendance more teachers of each race were employed and over $123,000 more were expended on the schools, the whole amount used for all school purposes being $803,876.

LOUISIANA.

The public school statistics from this State are incomplete, and those given are not at all encouraging, showing, as they do, only 55,838 enrolled and 38,615 in average

1 By act of Congress approved April 23, 1884, 46,080 acres of public lands in Alabama were granted to the State, in addition to lands reserved to said State by previous acts, for the benefit of the University of Alabama, to be applied to the erection of buildings and restoration of libraries and scientific apparatus, &c.

attendance during 1883-'84, with about 291,000 youth of school age (6-18). The per cent. of youth of school age enrolled was only 19.25 and that in average attendance 13.31. There were 4,430 fewer colored youth enrolled than in 1882-83 and only 777 more white youth, a decrease in all of 3,653. More public schools were reported, however, and $57,878 more were expended on them. Encouragement for the future was drawn from the fact that the legislature in 1884 increased the State appropriation for public schools from one mill to one mill and a half on the dollar, which it is supposed will add about $100,000 to the school revenue. It also stopped the diversion of the school fund to collegiate purposes, a practice which had in the past much lessened the funds available for public schools.

TEXAS.

The public school statistics from this State for 1883-'94, as far as presented (41 counties failing to report), show about 244,800 children enrolled in public schools, of whom about 56,000 were colored; over 5,800 schools sustained, at a cost of $1,661,476, for an average term of 100 days, 1,432 of these schools being for colored children; an increase for the year of about 61,000 children enrolled, with only about 15,000 more of legal school age, although the age was in 1883 extended two years by the legislature, to include all between 8 and 16, instead of, as formerly, between 8 and 14. Whether or not fuller reports would have changed materially the results of the above comparison cannot be known. The State superintendent, however, confirms the favorable indications of the statistics, saying that during the two years under review the cause of popular education was unusually prosperous and expressing the belief that free schools have passed the experimental stage and have so firmly fixed themselves in public esteem as to stand in no danger of discontinuance.

SOUTHERN CENTRAL STATES-ARKANSAS.

The statistics given of this large State show progress, but not such as might be had under a better school law. In 1882-83, with 14,345 more school children enumerated, there appears a falling off of 5,463 in public school enrolment from that of the year before. In 1883-'84, with only 12,394 more children, the reported enrolment was 40,983 greater, though many districts failed to report this. Expenditure for schools seems also to have increased considerably, though 8 counties did not report it. Valuation of State school property was $457,581 higher, 9 counties not reporting. These irregularities make the rate of progress uncertain, and the State superintendent calls on the legislature for an improved school law, to give county superintendency, better examiners of teachers, free text books, and more funds for schools. Reports of average daily attendance ought also to be required as vital to an understanding of the condition of the schools.

KANSAS.

Statistics here, as previously, present us a steady and fairly uniform advance in school youth, enrolment, average attendance, organized districts, districts maintaining school 3 months, number of school rooms, valuation of school property, expenditure for public schools and normal institutes, as well as in teachers holding normal school diplomas or State certificates of qualification. These are good fruits from a good school law, apparently well administered. If there is failure anywhere it seems to be in lack of provision for good institute instruction in some of the poorer western counties, where such instruction is especially desirable. In 1883 there were 74 institutes held in as many counties, with at least 50 members each, the sessions being each of 4 weeks or over and the enrolment 6,770. In 1824 there were 78 such institutes, with an enrolment of 6,956. With such instruction given in a continuously graded course and with great care in the allowance of certificates, it is natural to look for good teaching and good schools.

MISSOURI.

This State, with some improvements in its school law, presents, too, some in its statistics, especially in supplying the average attendance in its schools as well as the whole attendance. The statistics for 1882-83 show an advance over the preceding year of 22,584 in school youth and of 18,580 in enrolment, with an absolute number of 330,411 in average attendance, not comparable with that year because not then given; while schools increased by 276; buildings for them, by 199; sittings in these, by 24,706; valuation of school property, by $1,767,715, and expenditure for schools, by $13,825. The next year, with a much smaller increase of school youth, there were these others: 16,123 in enrolment, 67,620 in average attendance, 311 in schools, 33,725 in sittings, and $521,086 in expenditure for all school purposes, valuation of school property and time of school diminishing. The available school fund has come to be apparently the largest in the Union, $10,178,806.

KENTUCKY.

From the slowness of returns to the State superintendent for the year 1883-'84, he has been unable to present, in time for this report, even the main statistics for that year of the Kentucky common schools. In 1882-'83, with a school population of 581,322 of which one-seventh was colored, this State enrolled nearly 51 per cent. of the white youth and over 36 per cent. of the colored, and had nearly 32 per cent. of the former and 25 per cent. of the latter in average attendance. With the exception of teachers' pay, advance seems to have been general.

TENNESSEE.

Evidences of recuperation from the educational depression of 1882 are manifest in every direction. In 1882-'83, with only 12,290 more youth of school age reported, there was an increase of 62,875 in public school enrolment; while pupils in both public and private schools, that had fallen from 318,522 in 1880-'81 to 290,504 in 1881-'82, rose in number 68,630 at one rebound, and 24,752 still beyond this in the following year. The united average attendance in State and private schools, which had been unreported in 1881-'82, but was restored the next year, reached in the year of its reappearance a total of 196,380, and the next year went 36,488 higher still. And so it is throughout, no decline appearing, except in private schools, outside of the State system, and in consolidated schools, which are only slightly connected with it.

WEST VIRGINIA.

In this vigorous young State an elaborate report, which bristles with statistics, shows a steady growth in all the elements of a good school system, youth of school age increasing by 4,919 in 1882-'83 and by 6,668 in 1883-'84; enrolment in the State schools, by 5,360 and 5,368; average attendance in them by 1,538 and 3,822; nearly 73 per cent. of the youth of school age being gathered into the schools, and nearly 45 per cent. of them being held there under instruction in both years. Schools, too, in the latter year increased by 138; school-houses, by 152; teachers from normal schools or with large experience in their work, by 184; expenditure for public schools, by $50,060; available school fund, by $4,854; valuation of school property, by $29,574.

NORTHERN CENTRAL STATES-oшIO.

Ohio reported in 1883-'84 over 1,082,000 youth of legal school age (6-21) and 762,755, or 70 per cent., enrolled in public schools, of whom about 499,000 were in average attendance, this last figure, including about 46 per cent. of the school population. These figures show an increase for the year of more than 7,000 in the number enrolled in public schools and of over 10,000 in that of average daily attendance, while the number of pupils in private schools fell off from 31,470 to 10,957. Public schools were taught 184 days, at a cost of $9,684,369, in 12,509 buildings, valued, with sites and other property, at $22,586,046, an increase for the year in length of school term, number of school-houses, number of teachers permanently employed, and in the

amount expended for all school purposes. Excellent work had been done in the high schools and in all the lower ones that were under competent supervision. The country schools had suffered from a lack of such supervision, a result of lack of harmony between local boards of directors and township boards of education.

INDIANA.

Indiana reports over 501,000 youth enrolled in public schools in 1883-'84 and over 325,000 in average daily attendance, with about 722,851 youth of legal school age (G21), or 69 per cent. of the school population enrolled and 45 per cent. in average attendance; schools taught 126 days; more than $4,500,000 expended on them, and public school property valued at more than $13,500,000. The figures show an increase in nearly all the items which indicate effective school work. Although only 473 more youth were enrolled in public schools, 9,525 more were in average daily attendance, more schools were taught, more houses built, and the value of school property increased, although the average school term was 4 days shorter and the whole expenditure for schools a little less.

ILLINOIS.

This State, with over 1,069,000 youth of legal school age (6-21), reported in 1883–’84 an enrolment of 728,681 in public schools and 485,625 in average daily attendance, or about G8 per cent. of the school population enrolled and nearly 46 per cent. in average attendance. There were also 75,821 attending private or church schools, which, added to the number in public schools, would give 75 per cent. of the school population under instruction during some portion of the year. Nearly 12,000 public schools were taught, the average term for the State being 151 days, and $9,628,186 were expended on them. The statistics, as for years past, continue to show an increase indicating advance in nearly all the items reported. The increase in average daily attendance (26,469) was considerably greater than that in youth of school age and was more than twice as great as the increase in enrolment. More schools were taught and more of high school grade, more school-houses were reported, the valuation of public school property increased by $992,640, and over half a million of dollars more were expended on the schools than the year previous.

MICHIGAN.

Of about 577,000 youth within the legal school age (5-20) over 400,000, or 70 per cent., were enrolled in public schools, besides 27,130 in private schools. Public schools were taught for a term of 152 days, at a cost of over $4,635,000, in school-houses valued, with other school property, at nearly $11,000,000. The figures show an increase for the year of more than 13,000 in the number of pupils attending public schools and of about 4,500 in the attendance on private schools, of 4 days in the average public school term throughout the State, of about $509,000 in the valuation of public school property, and of $376,462 in the amount expended on public schools. There was also a slight advance in the pay of teachers, the average monthly salary of men being $1.93 more and that of women $1.10 more.

WISCONSIN.

With 528,750 youth of legal school age (4-20) in 1883-'84, nearly 317,000, or abont 60 per cent., were enrolled in public schools, an increase for the year of over 7,000 in enrolment and 18,625 in school population. The reported attendance on private schools (15,616) decreased considerably during the year, but these statistics were incomplete, many large cities having failed to report on this point. About 83 per cent. of all the children between 7 and 15 years of age attended public schools, an increase for the year of 3,466 and for 2 years of 14,691; and the superintendent thinks that fuller statistics on this point would show that nearly all of that age attended during some portion of the year. An increase is reported in the number of school-houses built during the year; in the whole amount expended on public schools; in the number of towns which had adopted the township system; in that of districts supplied with libraries, dictionaries, maps and globes, and in the number of country districts which have adopted a graded course of study.