EDUCATION.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction school submits his twenty-eight report, being the tenth biennial report required by Section 123 of the school law, showing the condition of the school funds, school revenues and Public Schools of the State for two years ending August 31, 1880. It shows the that for the year ending September 1, 1880, the schools were in session on an average 136 days: the number of houses occupied for school purposes was 9,647 the number of teacher employed in the schools was 13,590, there were in the State, at the last enumeration, 703,558 children of school age, and that of these 511,283 were enrolled in the schools. It shows, also, that amount of money expended for tuition was $3,006,432.07, and that $1,435,418.81 was expended for special purposes, thus making the total expenditure for one year, $ 4,491,850.88. It also shows that our school fund now amounts to $9,065,254.73, and that we have a permanent school property valued at $11,817,954.53. These statements are sufficient to show that our school interests are among the most important in the State. Our schools have not only increased in number, but they have increased in efficiency. The fact that the people so willingly tax themselves for school purposes, is evidence that they are appreciated at home. Abroad they have certainly obtained in the past few years an excellent reputation, of which, the people of Indiana have a just right to feel proud. This great interest should be prudently fostered by the Legislature; the School Fund should be protected from waste and misuse. The report gives a clear most comprehensive outline of the Indiana School System, ad compares with the "Ideal System" adopted by the National Superintendents' Association. It give a history of the attempt to codify the school laws. The Superintendent then makes certain recommendations in regard to changes in the school laws and the administration of the schools, which the attention of the Legislature is especially invited. The report also contains a great variety of interesting statistical matter analyzed and explained so as to be easily understood. The report shows great pains-taking and learned labor on the past of the author.
The Trustees of
