Annual Report of the New Jersey State Board of Education

[F] ANNUAL REPORT OF THB STATE SUFEEINTENDENT P PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF MW JERSEY, FOR THE YEAR 1853. : — REPORT To the Senate and General Asseinhly of the State of J\''ew Jersey The state superintendent of public schools, in compliance with the provisions of the law requiring him to report annually to the legislature the condition of the common schools, and such other matter in connection therewith as he may deem expe- dient, submits the following Report : The annexed abstract of the reports of the several town superintendents, received at this office, exhibits the following facts as to the operation of our common schools for the year ending December, 1853. The whole-number of townships in the state, is one hundred and eighty-nine. Reports have been received from one hundred and sixty-six, leaving twenty-three that have made no report, as required by law—being a diminution of the number of townships that have failed to make report this year over last, of twenty-two. The whole number of school districts in the state was four- teen hundred and thirteen ; being a diminution 'of the nuraRer of school districts within the year of one hundred and fifty- six ; a fact deserving of e?pecial notice, evincing as it does, a favorable change in the arrangement of the school districts the remedying of a serious evil, and in connection with an increase in the number of pupils attending the schools, augurs favorably for the progress of common school education. The whole number of children, between the ages of five and eighteen years, residing in all the districts of the state was, 161,611 The number of children reported as attending school the whole year (allowance being made for the usual vacations,) was, 12,771 Number attending nine months, 36,143 " " six " 39,145 " " three " 41,402 The whole nrmber of children reported as attending school was, 97,137 Of this number, twelve hundred and thirty-six were above the age of eighteen years. A considerable discrepancy exists between the whole number of children taught, and the aggregate attendance for arises specific periods of the year. This from two causes ; the first of which will appear upon a careful examination of the returns of the different townships ; in some of which it will be found that the number reported as attending the larger portions of the year, is found to embrace to a certain extent, also those of the smaller, thus increasing the aggregate attendance for the fractional parts of the year ; while on the other hand, the whole number of children taught has been re- duced by the fact, that the returns in many cases, gave only the average attendance, and that for a fractional part of the year. These considerations affect, somewhat, the accuracy of the statistical information received. Yet the information derived from this source, warrants the belief, that the number of children between the ages of five and eighteen years, who have attended our common schools during the past year for definite periods, was not less than one hundred thousand, being a considerable increase over that of last year in the whole number of attending school, and a greater- proportional increase in the number of those attending for specific periods of the year. If to the whole number be added twenty thousand, the number supposed to have been instructed in our incprporated academies and other schools, it will make the whole number of those who have received the benefits of education in our academies, public and other schools, during the past year, one hundred and twenty thousand, leaving forty-six thousand six hundred and eleven children of the above ages who have not, during the past year, received the benefits of common school instruction. A fact, which in a republican government like ours, depending upon the virtue, intelligence, and moral power of the people, on whom its strength and perpetuity depends, should excite us to greater efforts, not only in raising the standard of common school education, but in the extension and diffusion of its blessings among the great masses of the people. AMOUNT OF MONEY RAISED AND APPROPRIATED TO SCHOOL PURPOSES. The amount of money raised and appropriated to the the support of schools, during the year ending December, 1853, as stated in the reports of the town superintendents, was, $325,219,39 Raised by tax, as reported, §182,297.28 Received from the state, 76,847.55 Received from other sources, specified in the returns, 43,926.30 From sources not designated, 22,148.26 This last item of §22,148.26 (dollars) is taken from the last reports of those townships from which this year no reports have been received, and in which the source whence it was derived, is not specifically stated. Of this sum §3,1-52.45 (dollars) is evidently derived from the state appropriation of §80,000.00 (dollars,) and the re- mainder, §18,995.81 (do-llars,) almost, if not entirely from taxes ; so that the items composing the aggregate amount of money raised arid appropriated to the support of schools, for the year ending December, 1853, will appear as follows : Raised by tax, $201,293.09 State appropriations, 80,000.00 From other sources, being chiefly interest on the surplus revenue appropriated by the townships for school purposes, 43,926.30 $325,219.39 Being an increase in the amount of money raised and appropriated to school purposes the past year, over the preceding one, of $52,481.69 Exclusive of a large amount (not embraced in the above report) raised and expended in the repairing, enlarging and erection of school houses, and the providing therefor of the requisite apparatus and furniture. The statistical returns hereunto annexed, carefully arranged in a convenient tabular form, show so far as the statistics collected can show, the actual and relative condition of the schools in the different townships of the state, and give direct and authentic information as to the number of children to be provided for—the number in attendance at school during specific periods of the year—the length of time the schools have been kept open—the number of teachers, both male and female, employed—their compensation, and the amount of money raised and appropriated to the support of schools, which, in addition to the remarks of the town superintendents, to be found in the appendix to this report, show such an an- alysis of the public mind on the great subject of common school education, as will lead to important and useful practical re- sults. From all which we learn, that the condition of our common schools for the past year, was in every respect, in advance of that of the preceding one ; and this improvement was not confined to a few districts or one department merely, but ex- tends to almost every township and county iti the state. Showing not on.'v an increased interest among tl e people at. large on the importance and character of common school instruction, but under those heads which evince most strongly in action, vigorous action, the essential elements of the state's sure and rapid advancement in the establishment and support of a system which aims at the universal education of the people, through the establishment of free schools. That advancement has been made in the cause of popular education, is a source of profound congratulation to those who have so liberally scattered the seeds of this noble enterprise, in laying broad and deep the foundations of a system of uni- Tersal education. Yet it is to be regretted, that in a field of labor, where interests of such magnitude and importance are involved, so little has been effected in comparison with what might have been accomplished. STATE EDUCATIONAL AND TEACHERs' CONVENTIONS. As evidence also of an increasing interest on the subject of common school education, and the efficiency of the means provided, by which this important object is to be accomplished, a state convention of the friends of education was held in Octo- ber last, in the city of Trenton. And, although it was con- vened^under somewhat unfavorable circumstances, at a season when, from political and other considerations, the attendance was not as large as the importance of the occasion demanded, yet its proceedings were of a highly interesting and important character ; evincing not only the strong interest felt in this important subject, but the consideration of the means of im- proving and perfecting our common school system, as well as the extension and diffusion of useful knowledge among the people. More recently, a convention of the teachers of the state was held in the city of New Brunswick, under highly favorable and auspicious circumstances ; and availing themselves of the principle of associated action in the accomplishment of the great and good work in which they are engaged, they became permanently organized as an association, prepared to enter with renewed vigor upon a future, yet I trust brighter and more glorious career of prosperity and usefulness. To the proceedings of these conventions, which will be laid before your respective bodies by a committee appointed for that purpose, I refer you for more specific details of their action, specially commending to your favorable consideration) those proceedings which look to the diffusion of information among the people, and the better preparation and professional training of teachers for our common schools. ACADEMIES, PABOCHIAL AND OTHER SCHOOLS. The abstract of school returns, collected and appended to this report, presents the usual amount of statistical information in relation to our common schools.

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