EDUCATION IN ALASKA. (66) Appropriation by United States Congress for schools controlled by the Bureau of Education and for the introduction of reindeer into Alaska. Enrollment of children in schools of Alaska controlled by the Bureau of Education. In addition to the 33 Government schools under the direction of the Bureau of Education, 12 mission schools and 8 local systems of schools are maintained in Alaska. The Bureau has not been successful in obtaining reliable statistics of these schools owing to the difficulty of communication, but it may be estimated with fair accuracy that about 3,600 students are enrolled in all classes of schools in the Territory of Alaska. In addition to the students reported as enrolled in the local schools about 100 students are maintained at present out of the Alaska appropriation at the Carlisle Indian School. (68) Showing status of reindeer herds for each year since their introduction into 1892 1893. 1894. 1895. 1896. 1897 1898. 1899. 1900. 1901. 1902. 1903. Year. Alaska. Congress, in recognition of the growing demand for not only a means of transportation but also a food supply which would be constant, appropriated $6,000 in 1892 for the introduction of reindeer into Alaska. The reindeer thus provided for were purchased in northern Siberia and transported with much difficulty to Alaska. The total amount appropriated for this purpose up to the present time is $157,000. This work, as well as the supervision of schools in Alaska, has been under the Bureau of Education. This table shows the successful outcome of reindeer culture in far northern Alaska. ORGANIZATION OF THE BUREAU OF EDUCATION. (69) The working force of the Bureau, consisting of 46 persons, is divided into 7 administrative divisions or sections, namely: (1) The Commissioner of Education, and the chief clerk and assistants. (2) The division of statistics, the work of which is done by 11 specialists and clerks under the statistician. Its duties are the collection and compilation of statistics of education in the United States for use in the publications and in the correspondence of the Bureau. (3) The division of correspondence and records consists of 9 clerks under the direction of the chief clerk. Its duties are to attend to the routine correspondence of the Bureau, address the labels for mailing documents, and number, file, and index all letters received and letters sent. (4) The division of editorial work is conducted by 8 members, whose duty it is to prepare all matter issued by the Bureau for the printer, to revise manuscript, and to read proof. Included in this division also are the translators and specialists in foreign educational systems. (5) The library and museum division, the work of which is conducted by the librarian, an assistant, and 3 clerks. In addition to the regular work in connection with the Bureau's comprehensive pedagogical library, this division has the duty of the systematic filing of educational reports and college catalogues. (6) Through the United States agent of education in Alaska and his assistants the Bureau has established and manages 33 schools in Alaska, and is introducing the domestic reindeer of Siberia as an industrial department of the schools, a food supply for the natives, and a means of transportation. The number reached 6,505 in 1903. (7) The laborers, numbering 7, have various duties in connection with the details of office work. PUBLICATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF EDUCATION. (70) The publications of the Bureau consist of— First. An annual report, containing statistics and general information concerning the educational systems of the States, Territories, and cities; universities and colleges; professional, special, and scientific schools; academies, preparatory schools, and kindergartens, with a summary of the progress of education in foreign countries. Second. Special reports on subjects pertinent to the times. Third. Circulars of information on important questions of educational work or history, which are issued in yearly series. Fourth. Occasional bulletins on matters of current educational interest. (a) Thirty-three annual reports, comprising 46 volumes, have been issued, and another (for the year 1902-3) is in preparation. (b) Twenty-five special reports have been issued. (c) One hundred and twenty-five circulars of information have been issued, and two are com plete in manuscript. (d) One hundred bulletins and other minor documents have been issued. A request for publications from a person unknown to the Bureau should be indorsed by a Senator or Representative in Congress or a superintendent of schools. WALL CHARTS. EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA-PROGRESS IN TWENTY-FIVE YEARS. The items used in this table were taken from the Reports of the Commissioner of Education for the years named. The figures shown will be found interesting over and above the mere fact of general progress in the amount of improvement recorded in each particular. |