PREFATORY NOTE.

The following abstracts of education in the States and Territories are derived from a great variety of sources. First among these come reports of State officials, such as State boards of education and State superintendents of instruction; next, those of county and city superintendents, school committees, acting school visitors, and principals of State institutions. From these is derived nearly all the information given respecting elementary and special instruction, city school systems, and normal schools, and much of that relating to secondary schools, as the high schools of the States and cities. What concerns private secondary schools is almost wholly from returns made by the principals of these to the Bureau of Education, supplemented by catalogues and other documents.

For the matter relating to universities, colleges, and scientific and professional schools, dependence is placed on the annual catalogues of these institutions, on occasional circulars issued by them, and on special returns, made usually in the autumnal and winter months, in reply to circulars of inquiry sent them by the Bureau.

In every instance, official authority only is relied upon for statements distinctly and definitely made, the printed catalogues and reports being chiefly used for this purpose, though sometimes an item of interesting information from other than official sources may be given, with a reference to the quarter from which it is derived. In such cases, however, the effort is always made to verify the statement before it is committed to the press.

The matter derived from the various sources above indicated is formulated, in the abstracts of education for each State, substantially in accordance with the schedule given below.

The statistics furnished the Bureau in answer to its circulars of inquiry, for convenience of reference and comparison, are given in tables following these abstracts, while summaries of these statistics may be found under their appropriate heads in the report of the Commissioner preceding. For the general courtesy with which his circulars have been answered, alike by State and city officials, by college presidents and heads of schools, as well as for documents additional to these replies, the Commissioner of Education here tenders his cordial thanks to all concerned.

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(From reports of Hon. H. Clay Armstrong, State superintendent of education, for the years indicated.)

STATE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

OFFICERS.

There are State and county superintendents of education, township superintendents of public schools, and county boards of education. These last are composed of the county superintendent and two teachers associated with him for the purpose of examining teachers and conducting teachers' institutes.- (Constitution and laws.)

OTHER FEATURES OF THE SYSTEM.

To sustain the schools there are the funds supplied from the State treasury, from optional local taxes in each county (except Mobile) of not over 10 cents on the $100, and from a poll tax of $1.50 on each male 21 to 45 years of age. Half the proceeds of the county tax must be used for the pay of teachers. School moneys are distributed according to the enumeration of children between 7 and 21 years in each county, but no denominational schools are to receive any. Separate schools for each race are to be maintained by the school authorities. The scholastic month is 20 days of 6 hours each. To receive their pay, teachers are required to be duly licensed, to be members of the county institute for their race (which they must attend once annually), and to furnish quarterly reports to the county superintendent of education.-(Constitution and laws of 1879.)

GENERAL CONDITION.

The State superintendent of education reports steady and gratifying progress and improvement in free education within the year, yet the statistics furnished indicate a slight decrease in enrolment and average daily attendance, in the number of schools, and in the pupils in spelling, reading, and writing. There were, however, 35 more school districts reported, 83 more teachers employed, 9,653 more students in arithmetic and 42 more in geography. The average length of schools in days was 81.21, against 80 last year. The average monthly pay of teachers of white schools was reported as lower than that of colored teachers, being $22.98 in the former case and $23.15 in the latter. Mr. Armstrong adds that either the salaries of the teachers of white schools in almost every school district in the State were increased or the schools continued a longer term than stated. The number of school-houses in 1881 was said to be 1,297; their value, $285,976; number of visits by county superintendents to schools, 2,361; number of institutes held, 89. These statistics are very imperfect, as but few of the counties reported. The total receipts for school purposes increased $9,466, and the expenditures $35,225. It is thought that the receipts of the sixteenth section capital fund will be largely increased in 1882, as the legislature passed an act authorizing a compromise and settlement of certain claims, and the results in 1881 promise well for the school fund of the future. An act of the legislature providing for graded certificates of license for teachers, and requiring rigid written examinations to procure them, will, it is said, reduce the number of schools temporarily as well as exclude from the schools worthless and inefficient teachers.-(State report.)

KINDERGÄRTEN.

For any schools of this class reporting for 1881, reference is made to Table V of the appendix.

AID FROM THE PEABODY FUND.

The amount received from this source for the year ending September 30, 1881, was $1,800. It paid for nine scholarships in the Nashville (Tenn.) Normal College. Promise was made of $5,000 for the following year.- (State report.)

CITY SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

OFFICERS.

City superintendents are reported for Birmingham, Eufaula, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Opelika, and Selma; city boards of education for Eufaula and Montgomery; a combined city and county board of school commissioners for Mobile; and a board of trustees for Opelika.

ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.

Mobile (including both city and county schools) reports 41 school districts; 60 schools for whites and 36 for colored; general average length of white and colored schools, 166 days; the schools visited 300 times by the county superintendent; 73 school-houses, valued, with school furniture, apparatus, &c., at $108,700; the average monthly pay of teachers for the white schools, $41.25; for the colored schools, $40.90; average cost of pupil a month, 84 cents. The total school population was 23,865, that for the city alone not being given. The number of pupils studying orthography was 5,040; reading and writing, 5,050 each; arithmetic, 4,985; geography, 3,679; grammar, 2,384, all but 86 white; history, 2,055, all white. (State report.)

Montgomery reports 1 school district, in which 7 white and 5 colored schools were taught an average of 160 days. The enrolment was divided into 351 white and 644 colored pupils; the attendance, into 160 white and 328 colored. (State report.)

Selma received a total of $1,612 to maintain the 8 white and 6 colored schools taught in 1881 in the school district. The average length of school in days was 195; daily attendance, whites 428, colored 258. One school building, valued, with furniture, apparatus, &c., at $5,500, is reported. The county superintendent of schools made 4 visits during the year.-(State report.)

TRAINING OF TEACHERS.

STATE NORMAL SCHOOLS.

The State Normal School, Florence, reported 8 resident instructors, 68 normal and 111 other students present in 1880-'81. The State appropriation for the year was $7,500; graduates, 4; of these 3 are engaged in teaching. The full course occupies 3 years. A model school is connected with the institution, and a chemical laboratory is mentioned. The Peabody fund trustees aid this school to the amount of $2,000 a year, which is equivalent to 16 scholarships.- (Return and catalogue.)

The State Normal School for the Education of Colored Teachers, Huntsville, had an enrolment of 133 pupils and an average attendance of 94 during 1880-'81. Four graduates are already occupying teachers' positions. The 4 years' course includes the ordinary branches, book-keeping, and vocal and instrumental music. Four educational journals and magazines are taken.- (Return, State report.)

The Lincoln Normal University, Marion, also has a 4 years' course, the completion of which entitles the graduate to teach in the common schools of the State or city without further examination. There were 222 students in 1880-81, an increase of 25 per cent. over the preceding year. The standard for graduation has been raised from 80 to 85; pupils have been more regular in attendance and have remained longer in school than formerly. A library was commenced by the students during the year, and 100 or more books were purchased. Eight graduates have become teachers. The aim of the school, to prepare intelligent, upright, and moral teachers of the colored race, is being attained. (Return, State report.)

The Tuskegee Normal School, for colored students, reports 112 students engaged in normal studies in a 4 years' course, under 4 non-resident instructors. Tuition is free. The institution was granted an appropriation of $2,000 by the State and received $5,000 from private sources. Drawing and vocal music are taught, and there is a library of 500 volumes. The school was organized in 1881.

OTHER NORMAL SCHOOLS AND DEPARTMENTS.

These were the Rust Normal Institute, Huntsville, which reported 2 teachers and 111 pupils in 1881, and a steady growth in popularity; the Emerson Institute, Mobile, reporting 36 students in the 4 years' normal course, vocal and instrumental music taught; the Alabama Baptist Normal and Theological School, Selma, 63 normal pupils, a 3 years' course of study, vocal and instrumental music included in the course; and the normal department of Talladega College, which had 48 normal pupils in the 4 years' course, one of the 2 graduates having already become a teacher.- (Catalogues and returns, report of Freedmen's Aid Society, Methodist Advocate.)

TEACHERS' INSTITUTES.

By laws of 1879 boards of education were required to organize and maintain teachers' institutes in their respective counties. Separate institutes for white and colored persons are to be held, provided not less than ten licensed teachers of the race are found in the county. Every licensed teacher must be a member of such institute and must attend at least one of the annual meetings. There were 89 institutes reported in the various counties during 1881. The attendance is not mentioned.-(Laws and State report.)