USA > Ohio > Annual report of the State Commissioner of Common Schools, to the Governor of the State of Ohio, for the year 1880 > Part 2
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Boys-In 1880, 244,386; in 1879, 237,759: Increase
6,627
Girls- 231,893; 66 222,231: Increase 9,662
Total- “ 476,279; .. 459,990: Increase
16,289
BRANCHES OF STUDY TAUGHT, AND NUMBER IN EACH.
Branches.
1880.
1879.
Branches.
1880.
1879.
Alphabet
98,769
98,848
Geometry
3,951
3,515
Reading
630,695
617,391
Trigonometry
1,349
1.266
Spelling
648,972
635,926
Surveying
188
183
Penmanship
559,738
533,263
Chemistry
1,737
1,776
Arithmetic
513,102
498,160
Geology
972
1,026
Geography
267,618
258,495
Botany
3,205
2,636
English Grammar
194,973
189,559
Astronomy
1,317
1,277
Composition
142,323
132,666
Book-keeping
2,672
2,172
Drawing
124,019
112,605
Natural History
575
437
Vocal Music
151,407
152,494
Mental Philosophy ..
447
389
Map Drawing.
65,131
54.840
Moral Philosophy ..
134
149
Oral Lessons ..
213,413
196,270
Rhetoric
1,818
1,759
United States History.
31,171
38,255
Logiç
175
106
Physiology
5,790
5,505
Latin
7,140
6,117
Physical Geograghy ...
20,388
6,285
Greek
448
353
Natural Philosophy .
5,177
5,074
French
418
345
German
40,813
40,999
General History
2,054
1,059
Algebra
19,433
18,503
PERCENTAGES.
Per cent. of average daily attendance on enrollment in township districts in 1880
60.83 ;
Per cent. of average daily attendance on enrollment in township districts in
1879
59.41.
Increase
1.42:
Per cent. of average daily attendance on enrollment in city, village, and special districts in 1880 73.06
Per cent. of average daily attendance on enrollment in city, village, and special districts in 1879.
72.54
Increase
.52
Per cent. of average daily attendance on enrollment in the State in 1880 65.28 Per cent. of average daily attendance on enrollment in the State in 1879 64.05
Increase 1.23
22
ANNUAL REPORT.
Per cent. of average daily attendance in 1880, on enumeration of September, 1879 45.65 Per cent. of average daily attendance in 1879, on enumeration of September,
1878 44.14
Increase 1.51
Per cent. of enrollment in 1880, on enumeration of September, 1879 69.92 Per cent. of enrollment in 1879, on enumeration of September, 1878. 68.92
Increase 1.00
Per cent. of enrollment between 6 and 16 in 1880, on enumeration between 6 and 16 in September, 1879. 85.10
Per cent. of enrollment between 6 and 16 in 1879, on enumeration between 6 and 16 in September, 1878. 82.90
Increase 2.20
Per cent. of average daily attendance on average monthly enrollment in town- ship districts 77.24
Per cent. of average daily attendance on average monthly enrollment in city, village, and special districts 88.21
COLORED SCHOOLS.
Number of teachers in colored schools in township districts in 1880
99
66
1879 105
Decrease 6
"Number of teachers in colored schools in city, village, and special districts in 1880 66
126
66 1879 133
Decrease
7
Total number of teachers in colored schools in the State in 1880
225
1879 238
Decrease
13
Number of pupils enrolled in colored schools in township districts in 1880 2,737
66
6.
66
1879 2,873
Decrease
136
23
STATE COMMISSIONER OF COMMON SCHOOLS.
Number of pupils enrolled in colored schools in city, village, and special dis- tricts in 1880 6,774 Number of pupils enrolled in colored schools in city, village, and special dis- tricts in 1879.
6,568
Increase
206
Total number of pupils enrolled in colored schools in the State in 1880. 66 66 66
9,511
1879
9,441
Increase
Average duration of colored schools in township districts in 1880. 66
28.0 weeks.
1879
27.0
Increase
1.0 week
Average duration of colored schools in city, village, and special districts in 1880.
38.0 weeks. Average duration of colored schools in city, village, [and special districts in 1879 36.0 66
Increase 2.0 66
Number of pupils in primary studies in colored schools in township districts in 1880
2,508 Number of pupils in primary studies in colored schools in township districts in 1879 2,728
Decrease
220
Number of pupils in primary studies in colored schools in city, village, and special districts in 1880. 6,023
Number of pupils in primary studies in colored schools in city, village and special districts in 1879 6,172
Decrease
149
Number of pupils in academic studies in colored schools in township districts in 1880. 148 Number of pupils in academic studies in colored schools in township districts in 1879 84
Increase 64
24
ANNUAL REPORT.
Number of pupils in academic studies in colored schools in city, village, and special districts in 1880. 1,136 Number of pupils in academic studies in colored schools in city, village, and special districts in 1879. 855
Increase 281
PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
Number of teachers in private schools in township districts in 1880
41
66
1879
57
Decrease
16
Number of teachers in private schools in city, village, and special districts in 1880 יו
206
1879 215
Decrease
9
Number of teachers in private schools in the State in 1880.
247
66 66 1879 272
Decrease
25
Number of pupils enrolled in private schools in township districts in 1880 1,117
6
1879
2,384
Decrease 1,267
Number of pupils enrolled in private schools in city, village and special dis- tricts in 1880. 27,533
Number of pupils enrolled in private schools in city, village and special dis- tricts in 1879. 26,477
Increase 1,056
Total number of pupils enrolled in private schools in the State in 1880 66
28,650
1879.
28,861
Decrease 211
Average duration of private schools in township districts in 1880 23.0 weeks.
66
1879
28.0
Decrease.
5.0 6
25
STATE COMMISSIONER OF COMMON SCHOOLS.
Average duration of private schools in city, village and special districts in 1880 37.0 weeks. Average duration of private schools in city, village and special districts in 1879 36.0 66
Increase 1.0 week.
Number of pupils in primary studies in private schools in township districts in 1880 1,025
Number of pupils in primary studies in private schools in township districts in 1879 2,345
Decrease
1,320
Number of pupils in primary studies in private schools in city, village and special districts in 1880 25,994 Number of pupils in primary studies in private schools in city, village and special districts in 1879. 24,999
Increase
995
Number of pupils in academic studies in private schools in township districts in 1880 148 Number of pupils in academic studies in private schools in township districts in 1879 84
Increase
64
Number of pupils in academic studies in private schools in city, village and special districts in 1880. 824 Number of pupils in academic studies in private schools in city, village and special districts in 1879. 1,218
Decrease 394
26
ANNUAL REPORT.
COST OF EDUCATION FOR THE YEAR.
Total and average cost.
1880.
1879.
In township districts, total cost, including 6 per cent. on amount paid on permanent property ..
$3,493,674 47
$3,565,749 54
In city, village and special districts, total cost, including 6 per cent. on amounts paid on permanent property ... In township districts, average cost per pupil enrolled on year's expenditure, net, including 6 per cent. on permanent property.
7 36
7 51
In township districts, average cost per pupil enrolled on year's expenditure, exclusive of 6 per cent. on perma- nent property ..
6 30
6 49
In city, village and special districts, average cost per pupil enrolled on year's expenditure, net, including 6 per cent. on permanent property
11 69
15 03
In city, village and special districts, average cost per pupil enrolled on year's expenditure, net, exclusive of 6 per cent. on permanent property.
12 39
12 41
In township districts, average cost per capita of the average daily attendance, including 6 per. cent. on permanent property.
7 33
2 92
In city, village and special districts, average cost per capita of the daily attendance, including 6 per cent. on permanent property.
8 78
21 23
In township districts, expenditure per capita of the population between 6 and 16 years of age, including 6 per. cent. on permanent property
8 06
7 08
In township districts, expenditure per capita of popula- tion between 6 and 16 years of age, exclusive of 6 per cent. on permanent property
6 91
6 12
In city, village and special districts, expenditure per capita of population between 6 and 16 years of age, including 6 per cent. on permanent property
12 42
15 07
In city, village and special districts, expenditure per capita of population between 6 and 16 years of age, exclusive of 6 per cent. on permanent property .
10 02
12 12
In the State, average cost per capita of the average daily attendance
16 12
16 46
In the State, average cost per capita of the enrollment ..
10 26
10 31
In the State, average cost per capita of the population between 6 and 16 years of age, estimated on year's expenditures
8 27
8 22
In the State, average cost per capita of the population between 6 and 16 years of age, including 6 per cent. on permanent property
9 97
9 84
EXAMINATION OF TEACHERS.
Number of meetings held by county boards.
1,433
Number of localities in which meetings were held.
192
Number of applications for certificates made by gentlemen
20,516
ladies
17,518
Total number.
38,034
4,185,655 29
4,008,549 39
27
STATE COMMISSIONER OF COMMON SCHOOLS.
Number of certificates granted for 36 months to gentlemen 66 66 ladies 22
184
Total number
206
Number of certificates granted for 24 months to gentlemen
699
66 ladies 260
Total number 959
Number of certificates granted for 18 months to gentlemen. 1,730
"
ladies 843
Total number. 2,573
Number of certificates granted for 12 months to gentlemen.
5,576
ladies 4,224
Total number
10,100
Number of certificates granted for 6 months to gentlemen.
5,505
ladies 5,440
Total number
10,945
.
Total number of certificates granted to gentlemen
13,694
ladies
10,789
Total number of certificates granted in 1880
24,483
1879. 25,018
Decrease
535
Number of applications rejected which were made by gentlemen
6.822
ladies 6,729
Total number of applications rejected in 1880.
13,551
1879. 14,247
Decrease
696
Per centum of total applications rejected in 1880
36
66
1879 36
The smallest per centum, in Erie county
4 The largest per centum, in Clinton county
62
28
ANNUAL REPORT.
Number of persons who applied for county certificates-
Gentlemen-In 1880, 15,365; in 1879, 15,855: Decrease
490
Ladies- 66 12,904; 66 13,290: Decrease 386
Total- 66 28,269; 66 29,145: Decrease 876
Number of persons who received county certificates-
Gentlemen-In 1880, 11,601; in 1879, 12,308: Decrease
707
Ladies- 66 9,282 ; 66 9,632: Decrease 350
21,940: Decrease 1,057
Total -- 66 20,883; 300; in 1879, 253: Increase 47
Number of persons who applied to local boards for certificates --
Gentlemen-In 1880,
Ladies-
2,077;
1,555: Increase 522
Total- 66 2,377; 66 1,808: Increase 569
Number of persons who failed in examination-
Gentlemen-In 1880,
45; in 1879, 35: Increase 10
Ladies- 66 288; . " 233: Increase 55
Total- 66 333; 66 268: Increase 65
Number of localities from which reports were received in 1880.
55
66
1879 44
Increase
11
Number of persons, natives of Ohio, who applied for county certificates --
Gentlemen-In 1880, 13,872; in 1879, 14,340: Decrease
468
Ladies- 11,629; 12,105: Decrease 476
Total- 6. 25,501 ; 66 26,445: Decrease 944
Number of colored persons who applied for county certificates ---
Gentlemen-In 1880, 183; in 1879, 206: Decrease 23
Ladies- 66 142; 66
123: Increase 19
Total- " 325; 66 329: Decrease 4
Number of persons under 20 years of age who applied for county certificates-
Gentlemen-In 1880, 3,193; in 1879, · 3,169: Increase 24
Ladies- 66 5,400 ; 66
5,577: Decrease 177
Total- 66 8,593 ; 66 8,746 : Decrease. 153
29
STATE COMMISSIONER OF COMMON SCHOOLS.
Per cent. of applicants under 20 years of age for county certificates in 1880 .. 66 66 66 66
30.39
66 1879 .. 30.38
Increase
,01
Aggregate amount paid county examiners for services rendered in 1880. $25,552 00
66 66 1879. 24,455 00
Increase
$1,097 00
The minimum amount paid, Lake county, was $91 00 The maximum amount paid, Ashtabula and Cuyahoga counties, was. 652 00 Aggregate amount drawn by county examiners for traveling expenses in 1880 $3,185 06 66
1879 3,042 28
Increase $142 78
This amount was drawn by 72 counties, since 16 claim no such expenses. The minimum sum drawn, Seneca county, was. S 75 The maximum sum drawn, Ashtabula county, was. 113 48
LOCAL EXAMINERS.
Fifty-five local boards of examiners submitted the report required by law. Two failed to report, and three reported no meetings held.
The number of applicants, as shown by Table XXVII, was 2,377. Certificates were issued to 2,044. The amount of fees collected was $1,188.50, and forty-four boards were paid $2,284 for services rendered. The maximum amount paid was $432, and the minimum, $9.
The number of meetings held was 140. The number of boards reporting in 1879 was forty-four, and the number of applicants, 1,808.
It would be a token for good if the number of local boards of examiners in the State should diminish rather than increase.
INVESTIGATIONS.
In compliance with the law authorizing the investigation of charges of fraud, etc., examiners were appointed as follows :
On the 20th of May, 1879, the Commissioner of schools appointed J. B. Strawn, Esq., to investigate a legally verified complaint made to this office to the effect that "a very considerable portion of the school fund of the Washingtonville school district was expended contrary to law, and was fraudulently, unlawfully and corruptly used and mis- applied by the members of the Board of Directors of said school district." His report was received January 15, 1880.
30
ANNUAL REPORT.
On the 23d of September, 1880, the Commissioner directed F. W. Armstrong, Esq., to examine the charge setting forth "that a portion of the school funds of the district of Penn township, Highland county, had been fraudulently, unlawfully and corruptly used or misapplied by the board of education" of said district. His report, submitted November 13, 1880, is on file in this department.
On the 30th of September, 1880. complaint was made in due form by freeholders of Mifflin township, Pike county, charging unlawful use of school funds. C. T. McCoy, Esq., was duly empowered to investigate the charge preferred. His report has not yet been submitted.
ILLEGAL USE OF SCHOOL FUNDS.
Under the act just referred to, passed March 23, 1875, when three freeholders of a school district make affidavit that they believe some portion of the school fund of their district is expended contrary to law, the Commissioner of Common Schools must appoint a competent accountant, who is given, by the statute, full power to investigate the matter.
The accountant makes a report to this office, and also files a duplicate in the office of the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which such district is situated. He is paid a per diem of three dollars for his service, and mileage at five cents a mile. Commonly some judicious person of the neighborhood, but not resident in the district, is chosen. These expenses are paid by the county, or if the investiga- tion establish the truth of any material allegation of the complaint, the amount so paid shall be assessed by the County Auditor upon the taxable property of the district. It is not stated who shall determine whether the investigation does so establish any essential part of the complaint or not.
There have been in all thirteen accountants appointed. Their reports are filed as the statute directs. But in no case yet heard of has this proceeding been followed by suit resulting in a verdict against the defendant. I do not believe that this is always because of the inherent weakness of the case. There must be a weakness in the law. Last year I ventured the opinion that it should be the duty of the county Prose- cuting Attorney, instead of the Judge of the Court, to take in charge the accountant's report and present it to the Grand Jury.
NORMAL SCHOOLS.
For 1879, seven normal schools reported to this office the employ- ment of fifty-four regular instructors, and an attendance of 1,759
31
STATE COMMISSIONER OF COMMON SCHOOLS.
gentlemen and 1,025 ladies-total, 2,784. Three of the seven schools graduated fiity-seven gentlemen, and five reported 106 ladies graduated -total, 163. Two did not report any graduates.
For the year 1880, seven normal schools reported, giving 60 regular instructors, and showing an attendance of 2,057 gentlemen and 845 ladies-total 2,902. Four of the seven reported 87 gentlemen graduated, and five reported 83 ladies graduated-total, 928. Two did not report any graduates.
COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, FEMALE SEMINARIES, ETC.
Table XXXI shows abstracts of colleges and universities reported to this offices. Reports were received from thirty-three in 1879, and from thirty-two in 1880. In 1879, thirty-three reported 289 regular instructors, and in 1880, thirty-two reported 298. Thirty-three reported 6,240 students in attendance in 1879, and thirty-two reported 6,123 in 1880. For 1879, twenty-five reported 1,107 in regular course ; twenty- seven reported 953 in 1880. In 1879, thirty reported 380 students who graduated in regular course; twenty-seven reported 367 in 1880. For 1879, twenty-four reported an aggregate yearly income of $309,381, twenty-seven reported $341,912 in 1880.
Table XXXII gives the number of academies and other private schools reporting to this office. Nineteen reported 97 regular instructors, and twenty returned 2,100 students in attendance in 1879. Twenty- two reported 92 regular instructors, and twenty-one reported 2,390 students for the year 1880.
Table XXXIII shows the number of female colleges, seminaries, etc., reported to this department. In 1879, eleven institutions reported 112 regular instructors, 907 students and 74 graduates. Twelve institutions reported 122 instructors, 1,122 students and 91 graduates in 1880.
THE SCHOOL LAW.
The publication of the School Title of the Revised Statutes in a separate volume, and also as an appendix to the last report, with foot- notes of interpretation and suggestion, has greatly diminished the number of letters from teachers and school-officers, which are sent to this office for answers; and has made the answers to many a simple reference to the manual. Still the correspondence of the office is voluminous, and, while our system of managing school matters remains as unsystematic as it is, the number of letters will not be small which
32
ANNUAL REPORT.
contain questions on legal points to which no explicit answers are possible, however seasonable a word of advice may be.
TEACHERS' MEETINGS.
The State Association held its annual session at Chautauqua, N. Y. There was a large attendance, and more teachers remained and attended the National Association the following week, than represented any other State in that convention. The proceedings are always published in the "Ohio Educational Monthly", and should be in the hands of every Ohio teacher.
There are several inter-county Associations, which hold profitable sessions. The Central-Ohio met at Columbus; the Northwestern at Sidney; the Tri-State at Toledo; the Scioto Valley at Chillicothe; the Eastern at Zanesville; the Southeastern, imitating the example of the State Association, went over the border, to Parkersburg, W. Va .; the Southwestern at Hamilton; while the Northeastern held bi-monthly meetings, most of them at Cleveland.
COUNTY INSTITUTES.
The whole number of county institutes, held during the year, is 87, and in 86 counties.
Number of instructors
423
Amount paid instructors
$14,969 42
Average cost per session
172 06
66 week 111 71
66
day
22 34
66
instructor
35 39
Other expenses.
4,387 44
A total cost of. $19,356 86
Number of members in attendance is 10,972. In 1879 the number reported was 12,605. This term member is too loosely interpreted. When the law says, "teachers in attendance", it means, I think, persons who are engaged in teaching, or expect to be presently, and who have really attended the session of the institute.
I was able to visit a number of Teachers' Associations, and high- school commencements, and delivered lectures at thirty-three county institutes. As these last are nearly all held between the middle of July and the end of August, it is impossible for the Commissioner to do service at half the number held in any year, though he give but a day
33
STATE COMMISSIONER OF COMMON SCHOOLS.
and evening to each, and limit his homage to Somnus to the hours spent on the railway trains.
I remain of the opinion that these county conventions of teachers are useful in a high degree, and that it is possible for the good they do to be mueh increased. We have institutes and institutes. No two alike, yet eaeh, in the stern historic phrase of the reporter, "the best ever held in the country".
They are too frequently in the hands of persons without experience and with little exceutive ability. The programme is sometimes cumbered with matters which do not yield mueh benefit to the teachers by.adding to their knowledge, calling out thought, or firing their zeal; and their present duty seems to be, to sit, calmly awaiting that relief which time has never yet failed to bring to an audience.
Here and there will be an institute in name, which, in reality, is a sort of debating society; where two or three gentlemen-possibly young lawyers from the county seat-practice at the cost of those who have come to learn something about schools and how to teach them; and of those still younger persons who scarcely know what their errand to the institute is, and who need direction.
Sueh exercises are the exceptions, but they will bear some diminu- tion and still leave samples enough to prove the rule.
Where the sessions are profitable and everything works like a model, a serious evil is the small number in attendance compared with the list in the hands of the county examiners of those who hold eertificates and are empowered by law to use them. A recipe for a good institute begins: "Get the present and prospective teachers of the county together." Failure here is failure. With numbers, comes enthusiasm. Instruetors are encouraged. Officers are directed as to what the teachers want and need. Proper arrangements can be effeeted for greater suceess the next time, by a committee which will, in faet, represent the body of teachers of the county.
Boards of Education and directors should give their potent influenee to the eause. They ought to regard it as a good sign that the young man or woman who is in their employ, or who wishes to engage to teach their school, frankly acknowledges that, in the most difficult of human arts, there are some things yet to learn.
HIGH-SCHOOL COMMENCEMENTS.
A little way baek I alluded to high-sehool commencements. The custom of celebrating the time when a elass complete the course of study
3 S. C.
34
ANNUAL REPORT.
and take leave of school, is a good one. The thought of one day having the honor to stand in the presence of an audience composed of relatives, friends and fellow-townsmen, and there receiving a diploma, is a stimulus to school-work and an inducement to the boys and girls to hold out faithful.
Sometimes there is too much display. Besides the bad taste of gorgeous dressing on such an occasion, there is a more serious considera- tion. It concerns the families of those young ladies who had to practice denial of self in order to permit them to remain at school, and now comes this useless, additional outlay for the graduation. And I have heard of such a thing as withdrawals before the close of the term, because the finery needed for the commencement did not promise to be at hand.
If the literary part of the entertainment is meritorious the other exhibit is not needed. If the former is poor the latter does not afford it the least assistance.
COUNTY EXAMINERS.
In the report for last year I suggested a method of keeping the examiners' register so that the statistics called for may be correctly given. It does not appear a difficult task to make one correct, but from some cause a large per centum of the county examiners' yearly reports contain errors which a little more care and skill would avoid.
An observance of the suggestions at the foot of the blank and of the plan of keeping the register just referred to will give a report free from errors, yet sixty-eight were returned this year for correction. There may be persons who imagine that the number of applicants can be greater than the number of applications; that the number of certificated teachers can exceed the number of certificates; that the whole number of persons applying can be something different from the sum of the successful and the unsuccessful applicants; that the number of natives of Ohio can be larger than the entire number of persons: for one or more of these paradoxes is often certified to. It will not be rash to affirm that examiners should give this matter more attention ; if for no better reason, to save a large amount of correspondence and postage.
A better day will come, when examiners make a common, prudent, persevering attempt to raise the standard of qualification to be attained by those who would teach in our schools.
TEACHERS' QUALIFICATIONS.
There are thousands of persons engaged in teaching in Ohio, who are not in possession of a moderate degree of fitness for the responsible
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