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Statistical details of schools in Missouri, &c.-Continued.

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NEBRASKA.

Hon. S. D. BEALS, superintendent of public instruction, Lincoln.

This Bureau having failed in many and repeated efforts to procure an educational report, no statement of the condition of schools in Nebraska can be presented.

As in the case of Arizona Territory, no reply has been received to any of the communications which have been addressed to persons supposed to be interested in educational matters.

NEVADA.

Fourth annual report, for the year 1868; the Hon. A. N. Fisher, superintendent. Notwithstanding the peculiar disadvantages incident to the settlement of a mineral country, public schools, mainly free, are established in every populous district, and during the past two years have been taught for a greater average number of months, with one or two possible exceptions, at a greater expense per census child, by teachers omployed at a larger average salary, than elsewhere in the United States. The average length of time during which public schools were maintained in the State during the past year, was 7.28 months. The average monthly wages of teachers is: males, $157 41; females, $107 28. The amount of the State school fund in 1868 was $23,000. The constitution of the State provides that "all proceeds of lands granted by the United States to the State of Nevada are hereby solemnly pledged for educational purposes, and shall not be transferred to any other fund for any other uses." This fund is also increased by all fines collected under the penal laws of the State, 2 per cent. of the gross proceeds of toll roads and bridges, all estates that may escheat to the State, and 5 per cent. of proceeds of lands sold within the State by the General Government. This fund can be used for no other purpose than the payment of teachers' wages.

BOARD OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

The general control of schools is vested in a State superintendent of public instruction, who, with the governor and State surveyor, form a board of public instruction. The governor is president and the superintendent is secretary of this body. The superintendent holds office for four years, and receives a salary of $2,000 yearly, and his traveling expenses. It is his duty to apportion State moneys, furnish instruction to school officers, and visit each county once a year. County affairs are managed by the county superintendent, who is elected for two years.

The school law provides that "negroes, Mongolians, and Indians shall not be admitted into the public schools; but the board of trustees of any district may establish a separate school for their education, and use the public-school funds for support of the same." This interdict mainly affects the negro race, since neither Mongolian nor Indian children, except a few living in white families, manifest any desire to attend the public schools, and, there being but few colored people in any single locality, the permissive provision is practically inoperative. "But one colored school has been attempted in the State during the year, and it was soon discontinued, on account of extraordinary expense. As few of the colored race are able to afford private tuition, we have growing up among us juvenile pariahs, condemned by our State to ignorance and its attendant vices. We believe this inhibition unwise, unjust, and unconstitutional." Amount paid for

Teachers' salaries

Sites, buildings, &c..
School apparatus.
Contingent expenses.

Total......

Amount received from-
Balance on hand...
State apportionment..
County taxes

District taxes

Miscellaneous sources..

Rate bills and subscriptions

Total....

$48,324 55

16,774 42

87 47 7,243 67

72, 430 11

$7,785 85

14,440 61

40,546 14

16, 148 54

2,298 74

3,604 53

84,824 41

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Hon. A. N. FISHER, superintendent of public instruction, Dayton.

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS.

3,293

1,661

496

642

4

18

39

26

12

32

$39, 331 41 $263 87

$450 00

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Table of statistical details of schools in Nevada for 1869.

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NEW HAMPSHIRE.

The annual report for 1869 estimates the number of children in the State between four and fourteen years of age as about 78,830. The number attending schools was 74,913; decrease for the year, 2,225. The number not attending school (imperfectly reported) is 3,917; increase for the year, €89.

There were 2,480 public schools in the State, with 3,799 teachers, 521 of whom are male and 2,432 female. There has been an increase in the number of male teachers during the year of 44, and a decrease of 33 in the number of female teachers. The average wages of male teachers per month is $36 09, and of female teachers $20 71. The number who have taught the same school two or more successive terms is 965, being an increase for the year of 342.

The estimated value of school property was $1,411,650 50, being an increase of $264,438 34. The amount raised by tax for the support of schools was $315,738 86, being an increase for the year of $33,132 28, and $66,331 82 beyond the sum required by law The total amount expended for schools, exclusive of school-committees' compensation, was $372,218 77, an increase for the year of $38,753 15, making the average amount for each scholar $4 96. Compensation of school committee, $11,270 33. Number of visits made by them, 13,805.

The average school term is reported as increasing in length, and is now (1869) eighteen and one-fourth weeks, the average for 1868 being a week and a half longer than that for 1867. The number of school-houses reported unfit for use is 422, or not quite 19 per cent.. being a decrease for the year of 5. The average attendance of registered pupils is improving, and is now about 70 per cent. But 30 per cent. is too much to throw away upon irregular attendance. It is thought that the true remedy for the trouble is in having professionally educated teachers, who will know how to make the schools attractive to the children. The truant law is "pretty nearly a dead letter," since the several towns are merely permitted to execute its provisions by enacting by-laws. It is thought that, by trained and skillful teachers, it would be possible "so to teach and manage a school that attendance upon it shall be felt by the child to be a delight as well as a duty;' and it is hoped that the State will not much longer be without a normal school. For some years, until recently, the teachers of New Hampshire have been nearly devoid of means of professional culture, but now this want is partially supplied by a regular system of voluntary associated effort and by institutes.

There are reported eleven county educational associations, each of which meets two or three times a year in the county. Teachers' institutes have been held in the several counties since the act passed by the legislature appropriating money to defray expenses. Four were held in the fall and two in the spring, 1869, with generally a good attendance, and having accomplished much good. The best talent that could be found, “either in the State or out of it," was secured for the instruction of the institutes in the best modes of common-school instruction and management. The reëstablishment of teachers' institutes in this State "is the retrieval of a backward and downward step-a step that it is to be hoped will never be taken again."

REPORT OF JUNE, 1870.

The annual report to the June session of the legislature, 1870, Hon. A. C. Hardy, superintendent, is just received, and gives the following:

Number of schools in the State ...

Aggregate number of children attending public schools

Average attendance..

Number between 4 and 14 years of age not attending any school.

Number of teachers employed...

Gentlemen teachers

Lady teachers....

Wages per month of gentlemen teachers, including board.
Wages per month of lady teachers, including board..

TEACHERS' INSTITUTES.

2,528

35,475

52,190

5,755

3,489

624

3, 157

$36 59

$21 62

Institutes have been held in seven different counties during the year, which were quite as successful as any ever held in the State. Working in a field where the very name "institute" aroused prejudice in many minds, they have won their way to receive the commendation of all classes who have been brought in contact with them. Their design was twofold-to improve the teachers professionally and to arouse a general interest in the cause of education.

LECTURES.

Special efforts have been made during the year to awaken an interest among the people by gratuitous lectures given by the friends of education throughout the State..

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