APPENDIX. ABSTRACTS FROM THE OFFICIAL REPORTS OF THE SCHOOL OFFICERS OF STATES, TERRITORIES, AND CITIES, WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. ALABAMA. SPECIAL REPORT OF HON. JOSEPH HODGSON, STATE SUPERINTENDENT. Hon. Joseph Hodgson entered upon the discharge of his duties on the 22d day of September, 1870, and at the request of the governor of the State made, on the 28th of January, 1871, a special report respecting the transactions of the office and the educational interests of the State. This report gives a brief sketch of the school system of the State, its operation and results, from its establishment in 1854 down to the breaking out of the war, with a comparative table of school statistics, and affirming, to quote the language of the report, "that, in 1857, our State, in proportion to her white tax-paying and schoolattending population, was far ahead of nearly all the Southern States, and most of the New England States; was the superior, in the school-room, of even Massachusetts; and was almost the peer of New York and Pennsylvania." During that year the pub lic school moneys distributed among the townships of the State paid 57 per cent. of the entire tuition in the public schools, the total expenditures, as estimated by the trustees, being $474,370 52. This, it must be remembered, was but the third year of the public school experiment; a new system went into operation in 1863, though it did not materially differ from the old. Under the old system the township trustees had complete control of the school funds, and could aid schools already established, upon the excellent principle adopted by Mr. Peabody, from the most flourishing continental systems, in his munificent grant to the southern people; but under the new system, from July, 1868, down to the present year, it was held that the schools should be absolutely free and public to all, and that no school rates should be allowed to supplement the school fund. The new system is under the control of a board of education. In this respect the superintendent thinks the old system had the advantage; and that "there is no reason why the committees upon education of the two houses of the general assembly, during their thirty days' session, cannot suggest as beneficial improvements for this department as can a board of education, which sits at a cost of several thousand dollars to the State." In other respects the two systems are identical, if we may except the fact that in the new system the county superintendents have been given much of the power which formerly belonged to the township trustees. SCHOOL FUND. The school fund swelled from $500,409 18, in January, 1870, to $590,605 54, in January, 1871, an increase of $90,196 36. This increase is due to the increased revenue of the State, and the better collection of the poll-tax. Next year, if the rate of taxation is not decreased, and a better plan is adopted for collection of the poll-tax, we may expect to see the school fund reach $700,000. The fund for 1871, after deducting estimated expenses for county superintendents, boards of directors, and the clerkship allowed this office by the board of education, will give the sum of $1 331 per child. The rate per child for 1869 was $1 20, and for 1870, $1 15. APPORTIONMENT OF THE SCHOOL FUND. Respecting the disbursement of school funds, the report states that the sum of $208,679 38, appropriated by the general assembly in 1869, was apportioned among the counties by the late superintendent, according to the amounts certified to be due to the respective counties in the above statement. In what manner this money has been disbursed by the county superintendents the present State superintendent is not fully informed, as but few final settlements have yet been made with this department by the several county superintendents who received the special appropriations for 1866, 1867, and 1868. It will be observed that the act making the appropriation fixes a proviso to it; a proviso which is doubtful, because the fund was justly due to those teachers alone who were employed under the then existing school laws. The proviso reads thus: "That the provisions of the foregoing act shall be so construed as to include all teachers who have taught a free public school, and have claims against the State, without distinction on account of race or color." The purpose of this proviso, it is remarked, must be transparent. There were no colored teachers of State schools before July, 1868, and no colored pupils, except such as were recognized by the military commander, between January and July, 1868; yet an opportunity has been given for the misappropriation of this entire fund. CHANGE IN THE SCHOOL YEAR. The board of education at its late session wisely changed the school year so as to make it correspond with the fiscal year; to open October 1, and close September 30. But as the last scholastic year closed December 31, 1870, the present year will cover only nine months, and extend from January 1, 1871, to October 1, 1871. The next year will begin October 1, 1871, and close September 30, 1872, and hereafter the scholastic and fiscal year will agree. By this arrangement the books of the auditing and of the education departments can be more easily compared, and all errors or irregularities instantly detected and remedied. Reports can also be made more conveniently from this department, and the operations of an entire year may be laid before the general assembly when it convenes in November. DUTIES OF THE SUPERINTENDENT. The multiplicity of duties devolving by law upon the State superintendent; the receipt and disbursement of large sums of money; settlements and registry of sixteenth section notes; accounts kept with the county superintendents, and with the fifteen hundred townships in the State; the settlement of legal questions; complaints by or of trustees and superintendents; applications by teachers for situations, and by school committees for teachers-all these are graphically described in the report, and then it is remarked that, "besides these duties, there is now devolved upon the superintendent of public instruction the further duty of presiding over the board of education." This year the greater part of two months will be absorbed in attendance upon that body. He must preside over the board of regents at Tuscaloosa in June, and must therefore be absent from his office just at the time when the county superintendents will be sending or coming for their second quarter's fund. It is also made his duty by law to collect information with regard to the topography of the school districts, and the location and construction of school-houses. He must consult and advise with county superintendents with regard to the qualification of teachers. It is also made his duty to visit every county in the State annually (an impossibility) for the purpose of inspecting the schools, awakening an interest in education, diffusing information as to the public school system by public addresses, and personal talk with the teachers and parents. He is commanded to open correspondence abroad, and seek for the latest ideas as to public schools. He must prepare blanks and circulars, reports, rules, and regulations. He must apportion the school fund annually, which labor requires several weeks of close and laborious calculation in completing, copying, and posting. He must keep a credit and debit account with each of the fifteen hundred townships of the State. To do this the superintendent should have a competent clerical force. He has been given one clerk by the board of education, with a salary of $1,500. One clerk is not sufficient. It is absolutely necessary that the department should have additional clerical force. By a mock economy thousands of dollars may be lost to the State, which might have been saved by an expenditure of a few hundred. The superintendent asks the general assembly to allow his department a contingent fund of $1,500 annually for the employment of clerical assistance, purchase of postage stamps, and other incidental expenses, when necessary, and that such a sum be appropriated from the general education fund. LOCAL SUPERVISION. The board of education, at its recent session, decided to retain the county superintendents and make them elective by the people. They improved upon the old system, by providing that two directors should co-operate with the county superintendent, and that one of the directors should represent the minority of the voters. The three constitute a board of directors to manage the business of the county. The county superintendent is the disbursing and executive officer. He may act alone if the directors fail to act. It results from this wise law that if the directors are careless of their duties the county superintendent need not be trammeled, while, on the other hand, if the county superintendent is careless of his duties, the directors can control him. The advantage of having the minority party of voters in each county represented on the directory must be apparent to every reflective mind. The directors are paid $3 a day, but for not more than eight days in the year. It is respectfully suggested to the general assembly that they, and the township trustees, who receive no recompense, be relieved from military, jury, and road duty. This relief, which the State could reasonably give, would undoubtedly secure the active services of competent men in every county and township. CIRCUIT SUPERINTENDENTS SUGGESTED. It has occurred to the superintendent, as supervision of the counties is absolutely necessary, and as a sum of not less than $36,000 is required to secure the services of proper officers, and as the whole time of an officer cannot be secured for so small an amount to each county, that it might be well, instead of county superintendents, to have circuit superintendents, with jurisdiction over a judicial circuit, and with a salary of $2,500, or $3,000. Such a salary, and the election of the circuit officer being reposed in the legislature, would secure the first talent of the State and the undivided attention of the superintendent. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LAW. The board of education at their late session placed the county superintendent and directors in immediate relation with the schools and teachers. The board of directors must see to it that the township funds are carefully guarded and appropriately applied. They may remove trustees and appoint others. If the trustees fail to act, the county superintendent is authorized to act in their stead. This power virtually devolves upon the county superintendent the duty of seeing in person that no more teachers are employed in a township than the fund will justify; that they forward their reports, and that they are paid properly and promptly. The teachers must no longer look to the trustees for payment, but to the county superintendent. In order to secure prompt payment to the teacher, the present State superintendent has decided, in apportioning the school fund, to deduct the amount which will be required to pay the county superintendent and directors, and then apportion the remainder among the townships. At the beginning of the first quarter the county superintendent can draw the first quarter's fund, but will not be allowed to draw his own salary, or the pay of the directors, until he reports the vouchers concerning that fund. The law allows him 5 per cent. upon the amount of disbursements, and $100 for traveling expenses. But it cannot be known what he has disbursed, or how much traveling he has done, until the vouchers and reports are returned to this office. As the receipt of salaries will depend on the correctness and expedition of the reports and vouchers for the quarter, it is hoped that we may have more promptness hereafter in the payment of teachers, and in the forwarding of reports. By relieving the trustees from military, jury, and road duty, it is believed that the county superintendents can secure the co-operation of active and intelligent men in each township. In 1869 the pay of trustees amounted to $22,549 92. For 1871 the expenses of trustees cannot at present be definitely ascertained, but will swell up to a great amount. Hereafter the trustees will receive no pay. INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING. There is no report in this department from the institute for the deaf and dumb, or from the medical college at Mobile, both of which institutions properly fall under the supervision of the board of education. The board have taken no action for the benefit of those institutions, and no steps to revive the law school at Montgomery. It comes within the province of the general assembly alone to put in operation the congressional grant in aid of an agricultural college. THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA. For the past two years, this institution has been in a deplorable condition. The superintendent has no report as to its operation for the past two years; and can find no record in the department as to the money which has been paid out for it, or as to the result of its operations, except a communication from Hon. Wm. R. Smith, the present president, from which it appears that the annual expenses of the university, as matters now stand, may be estimated at $12,300. Besides the new building recently completed, which is ample for the accommodation of two hundred cadets, affording at the same time commodious offices and recitation |