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and examined, lead to the conclusion that there has been during the past year, a gradual improvement in this respect in almost every county of the state, and that parents and others taking a deep interest in the concerns of education, in many localities evince a settled determination that the district school house shall no longer be the cold, cheer. less and comfortless home of the school children of the district.

The abstract of statistical information relating to the condition of the winter schools has been furnished for each county in the state with the exception of Monroe, the eastern section of Oneida, Orange, Otsego, Rockland, and Steuben. The whole number of districts visited during the winter term was 5,845; and the aggregate number of pupils in attendance at the time of such visitatations respectively, was 225,540. The number of pupils engaged in learning the alphabet, was 11,376; in spelling, 51,627; in reading, 221,886; in arithmetic, 117,075; in geography, 74,788; in the use of globes and other scientific apparatus, 14,298; in history, 14,161; in English grammar, 49,741; in algebra, 3,620; in geometry, survey. ing and the higher mathematics, 906; in natural philosophy, 7,106; in mental philosophy, 537; in physiology, 1395; in book-keeping, 922; in composition, 20,601; in definitions, 29,268; and in chemistry and astronomy, 4532. The number of male teachers employed was 4,751; of female teachers, 1,907;of the former, 154 were under 18 years of age; 1,052 between 18 and 21; 1,874 between 20 and 25; 909 between 25 and 30; and 563 over 30; of the latter, 165 were under 18; 521 between 18 and 21; 516 between 21 and 25; 242 between 25 and 30; and 84 upwards of 30. The number of males who had taught, in the whole, for a less period than one year, was 1,603; and of the females, 348. The number of the former who had taught in the whole more than one year, was 2,911; and of the latter, 1,222. The number of male teachers who had taught the same school for a period less than one year was 3,213-for one year, 710; two years, 339; and three years 290. The number of females who had taught the same school for a less period than one year was 1,003for one year, 311; two years, 110; and three years, 100.

The returns under these several heads for the summer term, are complete, with the exception of the counties of Cattaraugus, Clinton, Delaware, Hamilton, Herkimer, Monroe, Otsego, Richmond and the eastern section of Oneida. The whole number of districts visited was 6,434; aggregate No. of pupils in attendance, 209,802: No. in the alphabet, 19,571; spelling, 62,830; reading, 193,751; in arithmetic, 117,075; in geography, 69,142; use of globes, &c. 14,406; history, 9,994 grammar, 31,217; algebra, 1,706; geometry and higher mathematics, 906; in natural philosophy, 5,015; physiology, 2,172; definitions, 26,549; chemistry and astronomy. 4,372; No. of male teachers, 1,229; female teachers, 5,918; No. of male teachers under 18 years of age, 23; between 18 and 21 years, 170; between 21 and 25, 401; between 25 and 30, 268; over 30, 228. No. of female teachers under 18 years of age, 1,018; between 18 and 21, 2,048; between 21 and 25, 1,551; between 25 and 30, 586; over thirty, 238. No of male teachers who had taught over one year in any school, 897; less than one year, 203. of the females 3,157 had taught over one year and 2,209 less than one year. No. of male teachers

who had taught the same school less than one year, 510; one year, 270; two years, 150; three years, 173. No. of females who had remained in the same school less than one year, 3,905; one year, 1,025; two years, 333, and three years, 157.

The average of the wages paid to male teachers during the winter term, was $13.37 per month, and during the summer, 14.25; exclusive of board; and the average paid to female teachers during the former, was $7.00, and for the latter, $6.00 per month, also exclusive of board. This compensation does not vary much from that of the previous year, but the average is somewhat less than was paid in the year 1843, occasioned probably by the employment of a larger number of female teachers during the past than in the former year. It is also believed that the considerable number of males and females under eighteen years of age who are employed by the trus tees as teachers and for small wages, tends considerably to reduce the average rate of compensation. The superintendent cannot believe that the services of competent teachers are not at this day duly appreciated, or that the advantages to be derived from the employment of such only, as by their zeal and fidelity in the discharge of their important duties, are not properly estimated by parents and school trustees. Those who "make the business of teaching a permanent profession," should and in most cases no doubt have, acquired an education equal to every requirement for that profession, and possess an aptness to teach," and a facility to impart instruction to others, which should not fail to place them high in public estimation. The young and talented of either sex in the state, should not hesitate to make choice of this as an honorable, and in the end, a remunerating profession, and those who have commenced in this career of usefulness, should not doubt of ultimate success. By industry and application in their pursuits, and amenity of conduct in their intercourse with others they will soon conciliate the public favor, and the competent, faithful and zealous instructor will find no cause to complain that his services are not justly rewarded. Devotion to duty, excellence of attainments, and correct moral deportment, are qualifications that merit and must receive from parents and the patrons of our schools, their warmest commendations and liberal support. Those parents who have had an opportunity of testing the effect upon the minds and conduct of their children, produced by such teachers, would gladly contribute any reasonable sum to secure such services. Parents ever watchful of the progress and best interests of their children, are not unmindful of their improvement in the branches of education to which they have been devoted, the unfolding of the youthful mind, their propriety of conduct, and desire for advancement. If these are the results and the fruits of the instructors' labor, the proof will be evident that more than an equivalent has been rendered for the price of instruction paid by the employer. Parents should remember that it is more important their children should be correctly and thoroughly instructed in those branches of education assigned to them, than a rapid superficial progress can under any circumstances be expected to accomplish: that the inquiry with them should be, how well has this child been instructed? and not how many studies has he pursued disregarding all thorough proficiency? and that in the first instance it is far

easier to impress truth into the youthful mind,
than to eradicate an error once fixed there. The
teacher must consider how much his own success
and his usefulness in his profession depends upon
himself. He should also bear in mind that he is
entrusted with the education of those who may in
a short time control the destinies of a large and
wide spread people, and that, if he fails in duty,
he commits a moral treason against his country
and its institutions.

II. ESTIMATES AND ACCOUNTS OF THE EXPEN-
DITURES OF SCHOOL MONEYS, EMBRACING THE
CAPITAL OF THE SCHOOL FUND, THE MANNER

The comptroller, with the consent of the superintendent, has invested $40,000 of this amount in five per cent. stock of this state called the Astor stock, and the remainder $51,645.49 in a comptroller's bond at six per cent interest on a temporary loan to the treasury. The undersigned, previous to the close of the last fiscal year, also consented to the exchange of the stock of the Merchants' Bank, New-York, belonging to this fund, for an equal amount, $52,300 of the stock of this state bearing an interest of seven per cent. The capital of this fund was never so large as at the close of the last fiscal year, and the appro

OF INVESTMENT, AN ACCOUNT OF THE SUMS priations from it for the support of the schools

RECEIVED FROM ALL SOURCES, AND

OF THE

EXPENDITURE THEREOF, WITH ESTIMATES OF
EXPENDITURES POR THE PRESENT YEAR.

from 1839 to 1845 inclusive, a period of nine years, has been $1,003,793, and there has been distributed from the income of the United States deposit fund during the last seven years, the sum of one milThe capital of the school fund consists of unpro-lion one hundred and fifty-five thousand dollars, ductive property, being 350,000 acres of land, and applied to the payment of the teachers' wages situate in the northern part of the state, valued at and the purchase of school district libraries. The fifty cents per acre,...... $175,000 and of productive investments, being bonds for largest diminution of the common school fund in any one year ($68,335.96) occurred in 1842, and lands sold, and other means yielding a revenue. since that time to the present, it has increased $122,341.69.

The productive capital of this fund consisted, on the 30th day of September, 1845, of the following items:

Bonds for lands sold,..
Bonds for loans,...

$913,361 57

311,883 88

Remaining due of the loan of 1792,

107,472 14

do

do

do

1808,

212,214 26

Due on loan of 1840,.

Bank stock,

Stocks of this state,

8,200 00 50,000 00 115,500 96 51,645 49 320,354 11

Comptroller's bond,.

Money in the treasury,

Increase of the fund during the year.
BONDS FOR LANDS.

Amount of bonds taken by

the surveyor-general for

sales of school fund lands, $24,254 91
Amount of bonds received

from the commissioners
of the canal fund for an
equivalent in money,...

$2,090,632 41 Amount of bonds taken by
the surveyor-general for
sales of canal fund lands
and transferred to this
fund for an equivalent in
money,...

The bank stock consists of 1,000 shares in the Manhattan company, at $50 each,

$50,000

The sum stated as money in the treasury, consists of various payments of the principal invested belonging to the fund, the greater part of which has accumulated within three years past, and has been used to defray the ordinary expenses of the government, the general fund paying the interest to this fund at the rate of six per cent. per annum. The following sums, belonging to this fund, have been invested in the stock and other securities of the state:

Stocks of this state,.... $115.599.96
Comptroller's bond,.... 51,5.49

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The capital of this fund has increased during the past year $97,716 06, and all of this increase except $6,070 57 consists in the appropriation by the act, chapter 184, of the laws of 1845 of the sum received from the United States, under the act of congress, entitled "An act to appropriate the proceeds of the sales of public lands, and to grant pre-emption rights," passed September 4th, 1841.

The whole amount received from the
United States was..
Interest received from the Commercial
Bank,...

Amount of bonds taken by
the surveyor-general for

sales of lands belonging
to the general fund and
transferred to this fund
for an equivalent in mo-
ney,.....
Amount of bonds taken by
the surveyor-general, per
chap. 34 of the laws of
1845, in lieu of sundry
bonds cancelled by said
act,
Amount of J. Palmer's bond
transferred from the bank
fund for an equivalent in
money,...

4,954 06

3,097 50

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5,800 00

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MONEYS RECEIVED INTO THE TREASURY.

Amount received for prin

cipal of bonds for lands, $54,774 78

Amount received for prin

32,477 99

3,199 09 2,672 00

... 14,701 37

cipal of bonds for loans, Amount received for principal of loan of 1792.... Amount received for principal on loan of 1808,... Amount received for first payments on sales of lands, Amount received for redemption of lands sold for arrears of consideration, 3,149 68

Amount rec'd from Com

mercial Bank for interest

on $84,358,15, received from the United States and transferred to this fund,.. Amount transferred from the general fund for loss of principal of bonds cancelled by the act, chapter 43 of the laws of 1845, for the relief of certain purchasers in the Oneida reservation, Amount transferred from the general fund by the act, chapter 184 of the laws of 1845, being the sum received from the United States under the act of congress, before stated,

7,287 34

9,627 25

Amount transferred to canal

fund for bonds received from said fund,. Amount transferred to general fund fer bonds received for said fund,.... Amount transferred to gen. eral fund for comtroller's bond,.....

211 21

8,051 56

505 02

51,645 49

Amount transferred to bank fund for J. Palmer's bond, 5,000 00 Amount transferred to bank fund for (Astor) state stock,

52,300 00

40,000 00

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84,358 15

Appropriation from the income of the U. S. deposit fund under the act, chap. 237, laws of 1838,....

165,000 00

212,247 66

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Amount transferred from the general
fund for one year's interest on
$219,384.85 capital of this fund in
the treasury, and during the year for
the ordinary expenses of the govern-
ment,...
Amount transferred from the general
fund for loss of interest on bonds can-
celled under the act, chapter 43,
laws of 1845, for the relief of cer-
tain purchasers of lands in the Oneida
reservation, in 1840 and 1841,...... 9,152 04

Total amount of revenue received, $278,458 87
Balance in the treasury on the 30th
September, 1844,..

35,759 06.

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The above statement includes the city and coun

treasury September 30th, 1845, .... $86,828 96 ty of New York, and by referring to the report

Add amount reimbursed from the income of the U. S. deposit fund as explained below,..

Balance,

$732,559 51

from this department at the last session, (Assembly Documents No. 30,) Abstract A, we find the 4,056 96 whole amount of public money received from all sources by the commissioners during the year reported, is stated at Am't apportioned for the current year for the payment of teachers' wages, do for the purchase of libraries,

$539,069 51

94,647 10

Balance of receipts not appropriated
as above,

In the city of N. York

$633,716 42

$98,843 09

$90,885 92 The above $86,828 96 is not the true balance in the treasury of the school fund proper, at the close of the last fiscal year, if disconnected from the accounts of the United States deposit fund.As will be seen by referring to the estimates of expenditures for the ensuing year the sum of $4,056 96 is deducted from the amount of library money annually appropriated from the U. States deposit fund, to meet an expenditure incurred by the department in 1844, in the distribution of the Common School Digest to the district libraries, which by an act of the last session is made a charge upon that fund. The above amount, however, has been charged at the treasury to the school fund, and not to "the fund appropriated by law to the purchase of district libraries," and the whole annual appropriation for library purposes is placed at the disposal of this department. In either way of stating the account the amount to be apportioned will be the same, and as the treasury will be re-imbursed for the above sum advanced, As no part of the school moneys paid out of the by retaining the amount out of the library fund, treasury for the support of schools in the city the actual balance in the treasury of the income of of New York is applied to the purchase of disthe common school fund on the 30th day of Sep-trict libraries in that city, it is deemed proper tember last was $90,885.92.

Although there was a deficit of means in the treasury on the 30th day of September last of $19,114.08 to meet the appropriation of $110,000 to be apportioned out of the revenue of the school fuud, on the 1st day of February next, for the support of schools in the State, it is believed that from the increasing revenue of that fund, the full sum may be distributed without any serious embarrassment, and that the treasury will be reimbursed within a very short time for any advances that may be made from it.

It appears by the comptroller's report for the year 1845, (Assembly Documents No. 25,) that the total amount of receipts on account of revenue for the year ending on the 30th September, 1844, excluding the amount transferred from the United States deposit fund, was $133,826.81.

A statement from the comptroller's office shows the whole amount received for the year ending September 30th 1845, as revenue, was $113,458.87 exclusive of the sum transferred from the United States deposit fund. As the annual apportionments are not paid out of the treasury until after the expiration of four months from the close of the fiscal year, it is supposed the intermediate receipts are generally sufficient to make good any balance that may be necessary to meet the usual appropriation, and it is believed that the revenues of the

the whole amount
received is stated at $193,780 71
Apportioned to pay
teachers' wages,

102,783 66

Amount received less than was ap-
portioned in other parts of the
State..

.

.

$90,997 05

$7,846 04

here to state this fact in order that the comparative statements now submitted may be more briefly made. By the above abstract it will be seen that in New York the amount apportioned for teachers' wages in April, 1844, is $102,783.66, and by abstract A, herewith submitted, it appears the amount expended for that purpose during the same year was $185,420.05. It is believed, however, that the reports from that city are not made in reference to the same dates as those received from the other counties in the state.

The whole amount of public money received
from all sources by the town superintendents dur-
ing the year reported, 1844, exclusive of the city
of New York, was
$538,778 80

The whole amount apportioned on
the 1st day of April, 1844, to pay
teachers' wages and purchase li-
braries, was

Balance not appropriated to teachers
and libraries,

530,932 76

$7,846 04

Again, the whole amount received and applied iu the payment of teachers' wages, and to the purchase of libraries by the trustees during the year ending on the 31st of December, 1844, exclusive of the city of New York, was $539,596 14 Amount apportioned by town superintendents on the 1st day of April,

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$539,030 03

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Amount contributed by rate bills,

The amount expended to purchase li-
braries was

The sum reported as having been ex-
pended during the same year in
the city of New York in paying
teachers' wages, is

$444,436 89

458,127 78

$902,564 67

95,159 25

185,420 05

$1,183,143 97

If the whole amount paid for instruction were contributed equally by the scholars taught, out of the city of New York, each would pay about one dollar and twenty-two and a half cents, and if ap. portioned among the whole number of children reported between five and sixteen years of age, it would be about one dollar and thirty-one cents to each. The average expense for tuition in the city of New York, is three dollars and thirteen cents, nearly, on the number under instruction, and two dollars and sixty seven cents on the whole number reported between 5 and 16 years of age. The amount contributed from the treasury, by law applicable to the payment of teachers' wages, being two hundred and twenty thousand dollars, averages not quite thirty-two cents to each child over five and under sixteen years of age, and with the amount raised in the counties, excluding the city of New York, both in the number of children and sum raised, about seventy-one and a half centsmore than one half of the average charge of instruction, provided the whole number were instructed over seven months in the year, at the present rate of compensation to teachers.

The differences before stated between the amounts received by the town superintendents and the sums apportioned, were not ascertained in time to procure a correction or explanatoin in all the cases where they exist, to enable the undersigned to correct the abstract herewith submitted. The supervisory power of the department will however be exercised to correct any discrepancies in future, and to show distinctly what disposition has been made of the public moneys received by these officers and not appropriated by them to the payment of teachers' wages, and for the purchase of libraries. It is not believed that any defalcations have occurred to produce these results, or that losses of any magnitude have taken place, arising from want of fidelity and careful attention on the part of the town superintendents. It appears from It is gratifying to observe that the number of the above statement that the amount of payments colored children, instructed during the past year by the trustees up to the close of the year 1844, in the principal cities and towns, has increased exceeds the amounts apportioned by the town su- from 1,420, the number returned in 1844, to 2,860, perintendents for the same objects, on the 1st day if the reports on this head are to be relied upon, of April, of the same year, eight thousaud six at an expense for tuition of $12,271.10, $11,184.92 hundred and thirty-three dollars and thirty- of which was paid by the application of public moeight cents. This excess may have arisen ney to this object, and only $1,086.18 raised on from the unexpended balances of the sums appor-rate bills. The average expense per scholar is a tioned the preceding year.

It is proper to remark here that these deficient apportionments have occurred in many of the counties including those having large villages and cities, where, by local laws, money may be applied to other purposes than the payment of teachers' wages and the purchase of district libraries, and also in counties having local funds. How far these local laws and the contingent claims upon the local funds may have affected the apportionments, it is not now in the power of the superintendent to state. Nor is it known what sums are received by the town superintendents for penalties or from other sources between the first Tuesday of April, when the apportionment is made for the current year, and the 1st day of July, the date of their reports.

Of the public moneys devoted to the support of he schools in this State, including the sums raised by taxation in the counties and towns, there had been expended by the trustees of school districts

The aggregate amount of the local funds arising from the income of the gospel and school lots and other sources than those before enumerated, received during the year, was $20,207.93.

little over four dollars and twenty-five cents

It appears by the report made from this department at the last session of the legislature, (see assembly documents No. 30, pages 14 and 15,) that under the authority of a concurrent resolution of the senate and assembly of the 7th of May, 1844, the superintendent procured and forwarded to the county superintendents of the several counties so many copies of the "Digest of the Common School System of the State of New-York," as would be sufficient to supply each school district in the state with one copy to be deposited in the library of each district, and one copy for each town and county superintendent, the expense of which was directed to be defrayed from the fund appropriated to the purchase of district libraries. In consequence however of no specific appropriation having been made by law to pay the expense incurred under the said resolution, no authority existed to divert any portion of the fund named in the resolution. Under this state of things the su

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