From this exhibit it appears that there has been an advance in the wages paid to teachers during the year, amounting in the aggregate to $582,797.23, being in the cities $160,604.64, and in the rural districts $422,192.59. The average, for the annual salaries of teachers, as shown by the above figures, is: In the cities.. In the rural districts. This gives for the average weekly wages of teachers: In the cities... In the rural districts. $586 94 203 76 $13 64 670 The amount raised for school purposes by local taxation during The sum raised by rate bill in the rural districts-$709,025.36and also the estimated value of the board of teachers who "boarded around"-$478,287.91-should be added to the amount raised by tax, to show the actual sum raised by local taxation and legal contribution. This makes, for the rural districts, $2,318,872.41. PUBLIC MONEYS. The revenue from the Common School Fund during the year From the U. S. Deposit Fund.. 165,000 00 Interest on money in the Treasury (chapter 382, Laws of 1849). 42,751 57 $417,287 56 Paid during the year................ 328,142 58 Balance in Treasury, September 30, 1866. $89,144 98 The amount of school money for the school year 1866-7 is The sum of $155,000, derived from the Common School Fund proper, is apportioned : For District Quotas.... For Pupil and Average Attendance Quotas. $51,661 47 $155,000 00 The sum of $165,000, derived from the U. S. Deposit Fund, is apportioned : For salaries of School Commissioners... For District Quotas... For Pupil and Average Attendance Quotas.. $56,000 00 18,500 00 55,000 00 11,832 14 23,667 86 165,000 00 The sum of $1,148,422.22, appropriated from the proceeds of the State tax, is apportioned : SUMMARY OF SCHOOL STATISTICS. The following table is a summary of the statistical and financial reports of the common schools for the year ending September *In this summary the city of Lockport is included among the rural districts. Deducting from these totals the amounts remaining on hand October 1, 1866, we find the actual expense of maintaining the schools during the year to have been: Much interesting information is furnished in the following summary: STATISTICAL AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Districts having school house separated from highway by a fence. 1,577 Districts having school taught alternate Saturdays.. Amount of wages paid teachers while attending Institutes. Number of school districts in which trustees exempted indigent persons from 355 $4,975 58 7,940 $16,443 75 ...... 2,327 Number of school districts in which trustees did not so exempt indigent persons, 7,764 $47,873 56 Number of districts organized under special acts Number of school districts in which trustees keep records in a district book .... 8,780 2,120 385 96 Until 1858, school districts were required to have three trustees, but the Legislature of that year enacted a law authorizing the electors of any district, at their annual meeting, to determine, by resolution, whether there should be chosen one or three trustees; and in case the electors should decide to have only one trustee, clothing him with all the powers and duties formerly conferred and enjoined upon the three trustees. This law, which was amended in 1864, has been rapidly gaining in favor until now, as appears from the foregoing statement, nearly three-fifths of the whole number of school districts in the State have decided to have only one trustee. The school commissioners, from time to time, have communicated to this Department the fact that in those districts having a sole trustee the district business is transacted better, that there is greater efficiency on the part of the trustees, and there are better schools. The reports give 10,694 districts in which school was taught five days only each week, and 355 in which it was in session five and six days in each alternate week. The best educators in the country bear testimony to the greater efficiency of schools taught five days in each week, and the time is hopefully anticipated when this custom will be followed in all the schools of this State. The consolidated school law of 1864 authorized the trustees of any school district, in their discretion, to give to the teachers employed by them the whole or any part of the time which should be spent by them in attendance at any sessions of a Teachers' Institute held within the county, without deducting any of their wages. It also authorized the Superintendent of Public Instruction to allow to the district such time as a part of the twenty-eight weeks required to establish its claim to participate in the apportionment of the public money. The reports of the trustees of 403 districts show that they have paid their teachers, for the time thus devoted, $4,975.58; and I have pleasure in expressing my approval of this enlightened policy, and hope that trustees will generally adopt it. The number of districts reported as having used their library money for the payment of teachers' wages, is 7,940, and the money so used amounted to $16,443.75, or nearly one-half the entire sum apportioned to the rural districts. The number of districts in which the trustees did, to any extent, exempt indigent persons from payment of rate bills, is 2,327, while in 7,764 districts no exemption whatever was made. Thus it appears, that in over 80 districts in every 100, upon the confes sion of the trustees themselves, the law authorizing these officers to exempt the poor from this burden has proved of no effect. Section 39 of title 7 of the General School Law of the State commences thus: "The common schools in the several school districts of this State shall be free to all persons over five and under 21 years of age, residing in the district." But, in fact, they are free only in the same sense that good dinners at our best hotels are free dinners. They are free to all those who will pay a good price for them. In 8,780 districts, the trustees keep in a district book a record of their official transactions; while in 2,120 districts, no such record is preserved. This neglect of district officers and continual disregard of the plainest provisions of law and the simplest rules of business, give rise to innumerable communications and appeals which only moderate faithfulness and efficiency would render entirely unnecessary. The average size of school house sites, as reported by trustees, is a little over 38 square rods. But, in all probability this includes, in almost every case, the land to the centre of the street or highway. Hence, were the sites properly enclosed, the average size would be reduced below 30 square rods. The number of districts organized under special acts, is 96; of which 62 are free, and 34 not free. These, of course, do not include any of the Union free schools. ATTENDANCE. The statistics received at this Department relative to attendance, have never until last year been such as to show the actual aggregate number of days' attendance of children, or the average daily attendance. Those gathered for the last two school years, and embraced in the reports, are reliable on this subject. From those for the past year, many important facts have been deduced, which will be clearly shown by the following: |