PUBLIC CHARITIES. An institution for deaf, dumb, and blind was established January 1849, excepting department for the blind, which was added to the institution in 1851. Since the close of the war a department has been organized for the colored youth-the first instance of the kind in the South. This institution, since it has been more fully organized and its workings more fully understood, has taken a deep hold on the heart of the people, and an ample appropriation was made for its support by the general assembly for the fiscal year ending July 1, 1869. The members of the assembly have taken a warm interest in the institution, and themselves take special pains to search out and send to it the deaf, dumb, and blind from their respective counties. The officers of the institution consist of a principal, 7 teachers, including professor of music, and 5 assistant teachers. Whole number of pupils, 154; of these there are of deaf and dumb, 86; of blind, 40, white; of deaf and dumb, 21, and of blind 7, colored. The amount appropriated by the legislature was $38,000; of this sum $3,000 was on hand at the close of the fiscal year. Treasurer's report shows amount received from all sources, $43,014 75. Insane Asylum.-This institution is under the management of Dr. Eugene Grisson and his excellent assistant, Dr. F. T. Fuller. There is a board of supervisors, of which the governor is ex-officio president. There are five officers connected with the institution, which is at this time greatly crowded, and an earnest appeal is made for its enlarge⚫ment, enforced by the consideration that there are now over four hundred insane persons in the State, confined in jails and poor-houses, or kept at home, to the annoyance of their friends and neighbors, awaiting admission into the institution. The number of inmates at the present time not given. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.. This report gives the following exhibit of the public school fund: Principal on hand November 1, 1869, in gross, $2,065,342 43. Of this sum $1,047,100 is worthless bank stock, and $50,000 is Roanoke Navigation stock, and unavailable. The net public school fund is stated to be not less than $968,242 43. Balance in hands of public treasurer October 1, 1868, was $150,035 84; receipts of educational fund for fiscal year ending September 30, 1869, $169,870 93; total, $319,906 27. Disbursements of educational fund for fiscal ending September 30, 1869, $167,158 18, leaving in hands of the public treasurer October 1, 1869, $152,748 09. The school law provides for grading the schools into high, grammar, and primary, and directs the text books to be used in each. To the list of studies prescribed by the general assembly, the board of education has added algebra, physiology, philosophy, astronomy, chemistry, bookkeeping, elocution, and music (vocal.) SCHOOL-HOUSES. In the report plans and drawings are given for the building of school-houses and the proper arrangement and ventilation of school-rooms. The necessity of a larger State appropriation is urged, by means of a capitation tax of $2 per head, that the 350,000 children of school age in the State may be instructed. The report shows a considerable portion of the State school fund locked up in unavailable swamp lands, bank and other stocks. PENAL INSTITUTIONS. Since Howard sacrified his life in attempting the reform of these institutions, and Mrs. Foy's gentle voice was heard in the cells of the vicious-those receptacles for criminals in England—a marked change has taken place in the prevailing ideas in regard to penal institutions. It is no longer simply to punish. It is no longer to satisfy justice, but to reform the offender. In harmony this with the progressive spirit of the age, under the benign influences of Christianity. It appears that the general assembly has hitherto made no provision by which the statistics of the county prisons and alms-houses are required to be collected and returned to any officer of the State. There are 63 prisons reported as being in use in as many counties. Some have been burned and others not reported. In these 63 prisons there are: of white males, 62; of females, 5; of colored males, 266; of females, 18; total, 351. In addition to these there are in the Craven County prison 21 inmates; proportion of males and females, or of white and colored, not given. Whole number of those reported in the State under prison discipline, 372. The ages of these range from 10 to 70. POOR-HOUSES. Of these there are in the State 61, and one nearly finished. Whole number of in mates at the present time, 1,026; of these 180 are able to work and 163 are helpless. PENITENTIARY. It appears that the general assembly have at last undertaken the great work of establishing a penitentiary worthy of the confidence and support of the people, but we are not informed as to how far the work has progressed or what plans of reform have been adopted. PEABODY FUND. The agents of the Peabody Fund have been delaying offers of aid to the schools throughout the State until the establishment of the free schools required by law, as nearly as the funds will permit, intending to afford such aid as appears necessary. The city of Wilmington, which last year raised more than $7,000 by voluntary contributions for free schools, is aided to the amount of $1,500. To the city of Newbern $1,000 is offered, conditionally. Newport is to receive $300 upon conditions, which are carried out. In Charlotte the fund affords aid of $300 for 100 pupils. Little River Academy, free in all the English studies, received $300 a year; also the town of Smithville. For Hillsborough, $500 has been placed at the discretion of Governor Graham. Offered to Salisbury and Thomasville, $300. Raleigh and other towns have been offered aid, but have not yet fulfilled conditions. WILMINGTON. In response to our circular, a letter dated October 28, 187), has just come to hand from the county examiner and city superintendent of schools at Wilmington, Miss Amy M. Bradley, from which letter the following information is extracted: "The free schools of Wilmington are not supported by the city, but are mission schools, and have been in operation since January 9, 1867. The first school was opened by me, under the auspices of the Soldiers' Memorial Society of Boston, Massachusetts, and the American Unitarian Association, and the work has been continued to the present time by the same societies, with additional assistance during the last two years from the Peabody educational fund, through its agent, Rev. B. Sears, D. D. Beginning with three pupils, before the close of the year the number had increased to 157, necessitating additional buildings and teachers. The second year the pupils numbered 188. The work grew so rapidly on my hands that I was obliged to erect a new building, which was called the Hemenway school, in honor of one of the lady patrons of the work in Boston. At that time I resigned my position as teacher, and was appointed by our society superintendent. Seven teachers were employed during the third term, ending June 30, 1869, and 430 children were instructed. The fourth term, and last year of which you wish a report, commenced in October 1869, and closed in June 1870. Another room was added to the old building for a normal division, and the school divided into four grades-normal, grammar, intermediate, and primary, with four teachers, and an aggregate attendance of 271 pupils during the year. The Hemenway school, with 150 chairs, has 176 pupils and three teachers, aggregating 447 scholars, and 7 teachers, all women. "The entire cost of the mission, from its beginning, January 9, 1867, to the close of the fourth scholastic year, June 30, 1870, including buildings, salaries, &c., is $15,288 80, of which $3,000 were received from the Peabody fund, the remainder from the two societies mentioned, with aid from the churches and friends of the mission. "Just before the term closed in June last, I was appointed county examiner for New Hanover County, which places me in a position to aid in establishing schools throughout the county as soon as money is raised for that purpose." OHIO. The annual report of the commissioner of common schools, Hon. W. D. Henkie, for the year ending August 31, 1869, gives the following: In colored schools: boys, 5,162; girls, 4,913; total In German and English schools: boys, 3,366; girls, 3,143; total..... In sub-district schools: boys, 283,141; girls, 250,099; total Average number of weeks schools were kept. Number of teachers necessary to supply schools. year Number of different lady teachers employed during the year. Average wages of gentlemen teachers in all the schools Whole number of colored schools Number of volumes in libraries Value of school apparatus .. $160, 302 $9,053 Total school expenses for the year, including sites, build ings, &c ...... $6,614,816 59 In some of the rural districts of the State it is found to be impossible for the boards of education to sustain the schools the time required by law, even when the full local levy permitted by law is made. The difficulty arises from the sparseness of the population, and the small amount of taxable property in these districts. The number of districts in which teachers "boarded round," (2,025,) shows a decrease for the year of 313; the decrease of the same item the previous year was 243. The total number of schools in the State shows a decrease of 69 over the previous year, a fact which only indicates a healthful tendency toward a much-needed consolidation and thorough grading of the schools. To the present system of township boards and local directors grave objections are reported. A large proportion of the legal questions arising in the operation of the school law grow out of the conflict of local directors with township boards. There is scarcely a day that the State commissioner is not called upon to decide such questions. It is believed that the present mongrel system should give place to the purely township system, in which all the schools of a township should be under the exclusive control of a board of education, chosen by the electors of the township. In this case, the system would conform to that which has been adopted in most of the towns of the State with such satisfactory results. The experience of other States in which the purely township system has been tried, demonstrates its superiority to the district system. TEACHERS' INSTITUTES. The influence of well-conducted teachers' institutes can scarcely be estimated in dollars and cents. It is gratifying to know that more institutes were held in the State last year than in any preceding year. The character of the instruction given in these institutes is gradually improving. Many teachers, and especially young teachers, are aroused to new energy by the instruction and encouragement given by the institute lecturers. There has been, within the last year, an increased educational activity in the State The number of persons in attendance at the twenty-first annual meeting of the Ohio teachers' association, held in Cleveland in July last, was greater than at any previous meeting. An association auxiliary to the State association has recently been organized under the name of the Northeastern Ohio teachers' association; a similar association has likewise been organized for Central Ohio. In the last school year the association of city and town superintendents held two meetings, and the association of college presidents and professors, one. The number of teachers' institutes has largely increased, as well as the amount of money invested in the building of school-houses. It is believed that the appropriations for education in Ohio are as liberal as in any other State of the Union. The proportion of children growing up in entire ignorance of the elements of school education has greatly diminished. In many parts of the State it would be difficult to find a native-born child fifteen years of age unable to read. DEMAND FOR SUPERVISION. The demand for county supervision of schools is on the increase. The resolutions passed by educational associations and by numerous teachers' institutes, and the assent to these resolutions of the intelligent friends of education, clearly indicate that something more is needed to infuse new life into the schools, especially those of the rural districts. The beneficial effect of supervision on the schools in cities and towns has demonstrated the fact that judicious supervision is a powerful educational agency, HIGHER INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING. It is impossible in the limits of this report to give an extended account of each college and university in Ohio. The superintendent's report embraces statistical information respecting institutions of learning not connected with the State-colleges, seminaries, and normal academies, to the number of 84-a condensed statement of which is as follows: NORMAL SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES. Total number, 33. Students preparing to teach-ladies, 386; gentlemen, 680—1,066. Preparing to enter college-ladies, 29; gentlemen, 153-182. Number who teach at intervals, to provide means for continuing in attendance-ladies, 258; gentlemen, 451 -709. The number of graduates for 1869 has been 42; the total number of graduates 299. The total estimated value of buildings and grounds belonging to these schools is $350,000; of apparatus, $10,000. The number of volumes in libraries, 6,857. COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. In number, 26. Graduates for 1869, 283. Total number of graduates, 4,843. Attendance for the year-ladies, 1,372; gentlemen, 4,360-5,732. Number of professors, 167; tutors, 57. Total aggregate amount of endowment funds, $1,830,633. Increase for the year, $110,175. Total estimated value of buildings and grounds, $2,011,000; of apparatus, $79,789. YOUNG LADIES' SEMINARIES. In number, 28. Aggregate attendance, 2,866; average attendance, 634. Graduated 1869, 183. Total number of graduates, 2,526. Number preparing to teach, 161. Granted free tuition, 77. Aggregate number of volumes in libraries, 18,377. THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. In regard to the recent agitation of this question in Cincinnati, the superintendent gives the following account: "I deem it proper to include in this report a reference to a legal question which has arisen in consequence of two resolutions passed by the Cincinnati board of education, excluding from the public schools of the city the reading of the Bible and religious books. The resolutions referred to are as follows: "Resolved, That religious instruction and the reading of religious books, including the Holy Bible, are prohibited in the common schools of Cincinnati, it being the true object and intent of this rule to allow the children of the parents of all sects and opinions in matters of faith and worship to enjoy alike the benefit of the common school fund. "Resolved, That so much of the regulations on the course of study and text-books in the intermediate and district schools (page 213 annual report) as reads as follows: "The opening exercises in every department shall commence by reading a portion of the Bible by or under the direction of the teacher, and appropriate singing by the pupils," be repealed.' The remaining part of the regulation referred to, not formally repealed, is as follows: "The pupils of the common schools may read such version of the Sacred Scriptures as their parents or guardians may prefer, provided that such preference of any version, except the one now in use, (King James's version, as published by the American Bible Society,) be communicated by the parents and guardians to the principal teachers, and that no notes or marginal readings be allowed in the schools, or comments made by the teachers on the text of any version that is or may be introduced.' "The resolutions quoted above were passed at a regular meeting of the board of education, November 1, 1869, by a vote of 22 to 14. "On the 2d of November, 37 prominent citizens, on behalf of themselves and many others, citizens and tax-payers of Cincinnati, applied to the superior court of Cincinnati for a restraining order against the board of education. A temporary restraining order was granted, and Thursday, November 4, at 10 o'clock, was set for the time that the defendants should show cause why such application should not be granted permanently. By consent, the time was changed to November 7, and the temporary injunction continued. When the time arrived, the court, by consent of all parties, assigned the case for hearing before the full bench, November 30. "The name of the president of the board, H. L. Wehmer, appears in the case as a defendant. The regulation repealed in the second resolution was adopted in 1852 by the board of trustees and visitors of common schools, the former title of the board of education. "When the case came up for hearing, W. M. Ramsey, J. B. Stallo, Geo. Hoadley, Geo. R. Sage, Stanley Matthews, and Rufus King, in succession, addressed the courtStallo, Hoadley, and Matthews speaking in behalf of the board of education. "On Wednesday, February 15, 1870, the court, in general term, gave their opinions, those of Judges Hagans and Storer for making the injunction perpetual, and that of Judge Taft against the injunction. On February 18, 1870, judgment was rendered against the defendants, and their motion for a new trial overruled. The defendants excepted to said overruling and to said judgment, and tendered their bill of exceptions in that behalf,' which was accordingly allowed, signed, and ordered to be filed as part of the record. "On March 1, 1870, the case came before the supreme court of Ohio, at Columbus, on a petition in error, and the hearing was set for December 6, 1870. "The proceedings in the case before the superior court have been published in an octavo volume of 420 pages, by Robert Clarke & Co., Cincinnati. This volume is, I believe, to be submitted to the supreme court instead of any further argument by the counsel. "A bill comprehending the views of the first resolution of the Cincinnati board of education was, some time ago, introduced into the house of representatives by Mr. Ward, of Hamilton County. Shortly after a joint resolution was offered by Mr. Hubbard, of Cuyahoga County, affirming that, while it is unwise to forbid the reading of the Bible, the singing of religious hymns, or prayer, in the public schools, it is also unwise to compel such exercises, and that in each district the subject should be left to a vote, provided these exercises shall not be excluded by the school authorities, without a written request of a majority of the electors of the district. "These movements resulted in the preparation in the school department of the following bill, which was submitted to a number of the prominent educational men of the State, who favor both the Bible and the noble principle of religious toleration which is embodied in our State constitution, as well as to some persons who are opposed to the use of the Bible in the public schools, and received, in the main, their indorsement. This bill is only a formal statement of what has always been the public opinion of the great mass of the people of Ohio in reference to religious exercises in Che public schools: "A bill to regulate religious exercises in the public schools of Ohio. "SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of the State of Ohio, That it shall be anlawful for any board of education or local school directors in this State either to enjoin or prevent, directly or indirectly, the reading of the Bible, the singing of religious hymns, or prayer, in any school under their charge; but the privilege is hereby expressly granted to any teacher in any public school to devote a portion of time, not to exceed fifteen minutes each day, before or after the regular secular exercises of the school, in such non-sectarian religious exercises as he or she may deem proper: Provided, That no pupil shall be required to be present at such exercises whose parent or guardian desires such pupil to be excused: And provided further, That the exercises shall be at the latter time aforesaid, when the parent or guardian of any pupil claims that the detention of such pupil until after the religious exercises in the morning is an inconvenience. "SECTION 2. This act to take effect on its passage.' "It was the understanding that, if Mr. Hubbard's resolution was called up for further action, he would move the substitution of the above bill for it. No further action has been taken up to this date-April 7, 1870." CINCINNATI. The report of the president of the board of education, Hon. Francis Perry, for the school year ending June 30, 1869, begins with the statement that "the year 1868–69 has been in every way one of the most prosperous in our school history. The reports of the superintendent, with their accompanying tables of carefully prepared statistics, and the reports of the different committees, will give our citizens full information in regard to what has been accomplished in the various schools. "The teachers of the schools have been earnest and faithful in the discharge of their responsible duties, and have, in general, manifested a commendable spirit of professional progress. "Three elegant and commodious new school buildings, two of which will be finished early in the coming school year, and the other before its close, will add largely to our present school accommodations. "The year has also been distinguished by the establishment in the eighth district of an institution, the want of which has long been felt by those of our citizens most interested in the proper education of youth-the Cincinnati normal school. The conduct of the school, under the direction of its accomplished principal, and the training of teachers therein, have fully met our most sanguine expectations. This school cannot fail in the future, with a wise management, to exert a powerful and beneficial effect in improving methods of instruction in all grades of our schools. If anything is well settled in educational matters, it is the necessity of a special training to fit teachers for their vocation. |