SECOND BIENNIAL' REPORT E„ D. CAMERON State Superintendent Of
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SECOND BIENNIAL' REPORT ns E„ D. CAMERON State Superintendent of Public Instruction. STATE LIBRARY Second Biennial Report Department of Public Instruction STATE OF OKLAHOMA E. D. CAMERON, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. GUTHRIE, OKLAHOMA. 1908. STATE LIBRARY SW&<t.7BRAR? LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. Hon. C. N. Haskell, Governor of Oklahoma, Guthrie, Oklahoma. Dear Sir: In compliance with your request I herewith hand you a report from the Department of Education. This report is much more complete than the one that was filed with you last year, but on account of the backward condition of the organization of school districts in some parts of the State, we have not been able to secure all of the information we need to make our report full and complete in every particular. Our report includes a full and detailed statement about the progress of all the state higher institutions of learning, as well as complete statistics in reference to all the common schools and county high schools in the State. Our report also includes a number of suggestions about the observance of Arbor Day, Flag Day, Memorial Day and other occasions of like nature and a number of suggestions that we have made for the improvement and mplifting of the work of education in general. Respectfully, E. D. CAMERON, State Superintendent. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. State Superintendent's Office. Evan Dhu Cameron State Superintendent John W. Wilkinson Assistant Superintendent D. B. Hamilton Chief Clerk Reuben D. Hardy Stenographer The State Board of Education. Hon. E. D. Cameron President Hon.' Win. Cross Secretary Hon. C. N. Haskell Governor Hon. Charles West Attorney-General The State Board of Examiners. Prof. J. S. Buchanan, chairman Norman Superintendent R. C. Cain, secretary Guthrie Prof. L. J. Abbott Edmond Superintendent J. G. Masters ; Tulsa Prof. Ira L. Cain Muskogee Superintendent Lynn Glover Bartlesville County Superintendent H. C. King Durant County Superintendent T. H. Hubbard Cordell State Text-Book Commission. Gov. C. N. Haskell, president Guthrie Rev. T. F. Brewer, secretary Norman Hon. John D. Benedict Muskogee City Superintendent M. E. Moore Marietta Prof. J. H. Barnes Enid Prof. D. B. Collums Stillwell Hon. C. B. Belt Norman List of Territorial Superintendents of Public Instruction in Order of Appointment. Hon. J. H. Lawhead. Second—Hon. J. H. Parker. Third—Hon. E. D. Cameron. Fourth—Hon. Albert O. Nichols. Fifth—Hon. S. N. Hopkins. Sixth—Hon. L. W. Baxter. Seventh—Hon. J. E. Dyche. List of State Superintendents of Public Instruction in Order of Election,, First State Superintendent—Hon. E. D. Cameron; elected Sept. 17, 1907; term expires January, 1911. Pupils' Reading Circle Board. Hon. J. A. Alderson, Guthrie President Prof. J. H. Bayes, Chandler • Vice-President Mrs. Emma Gard Mills, Watonga Secretary Mrs. Cora E. FarrelL Guthrie Treasurer STATE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT GENERAL STATEMENT. The State Superintendent is required by law to make and transmit to the Governor on or before the first day of December preceding the meeting of the legislative assembly a report showing the general condition of the schools of the State. This report is based upon the annual reports of county super intendents, who are required to make their reports to the State Department of Education on or before October 15. The reports of county superintendents are compiled from reports submitted by trustees from the various school districts of the counties. However, some of the county superintendents have been unable to secure the necessary data from their school officers, and as a consequence they will not be able to file their county reports with us until late in December. As we desire to have our Biennial Report complete in every particular, we have been compelled to delay its publication until the close of the year. In view of the fact that in some cases school officers have persistently refused to render a correct enumeration of the childrn of school age in their respective districts and to furnish other information demanded b}r the county superintendents I would respectfully recommend that the next legislature prescribe minimum and maximum penalties to be inflicted upon all school officers who wantonly refuse to perform the duties devolving upon them. The biennial period covered by the present report has been one of un precedented advancement along all educational lines, and especially in the eastern part of the state, where there were no free public schools prior to statehood on the 16th of last November, a year ago. Children in that part of the State formerly known as Indian Territory were left to grow up in idleness and ignorance, and their condition was pitiable in the extreme, but now, under statehood and a liberal democratic administration all has been changed, and public schools are within the reach of all. During the past year 2,200 school districts and 2,200 public schools have been established in that portion of the State where previously a vast majority of the children were without educational advantages of any kind. Many new school houses have also been built in the old part of Oklahoma, and the sentiment over the whole State is emphatically for good schools. The old dilapidated box house is rapidly disappearing, and handsome frame or brick buildings are taking their place. The demand for teachers has far exceeded the supply, in spite of the large number of teachers that have come to Oklahoma from other states. We extend a cordial welcome to all first-class teachers from other states who wish to locate in Oklahoma. Next year we will have 3,441 schools in operation in old Oklahoma and 2,200 schools in operation in that 6 SECOND BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE part of Oklahoma formerly known as Indian Territory, making, in all, 5,641 rural schools which must be supplied with teachers. In addition to the rural schools, there are 3,000 city school teachers, 100 of whom are engaged in high-school work; there are about GOO superintendents and principals who are in charge of graded schools, and about 400 teachers are employed in the State University and the other higher institutions of learning in the State, while at least 200 more find employment in our various private and denomi national colleges; and there are, perhaps, fifty teachers engaged in kinder garten work. This makes a grand total of 9,891 teachers, while at least 10,000 are needed. The salaries of male teachers range from $75 to $200 per month, while the salaries of female teachers range from $50 to $90, according to the position filled. AVith our splendid school fund, which is rapidly in creasing, we will soon be able to offer teachers better salaries in Oklahoma than can be paid in any other state of the Union. The higher institutions of learning in Oklahoma are all well manned and are in excellent condition, as will be seen from the special reports from these institutions, which are herewith subjoined and made a part of this report. THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA. The State University of Oklahoma is the head of the public-school system of the State. It was founded by the State in order to provide the young men and women of the commonwealth with a school in which they might do advanced academic and professional work. It begins where the high school leaves off, and its training is founded upon that obtained in the secondary public schools. A sense of this close connection between the public schools and the University determines, in large measure, the requirements for admission to the University, its spirit and course of study. The control of the University is entrusted to a board of regents, con sisting of the Governor of Oklahoma, ex-officio, and of eight members ap pointed by the Governor. THE SCHOOLS. The University is made up of the following schools: The College of Arts and Sciences. The School of Applied Science. The School of Pharmacy. The School of Medicine. The School of Mines. The School of Fine Arts. The College of Arts and Sciences embraces: (a) An undergraduate course, chiefly elective. (b) A combined course in collegiate and medical studies. Both courses lead the bachelor degree. The School of Applied Science covers four years' work in mechanical, electrical and civil engineering, and leads to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Mechanical, Electrical and Civil Engineering. The School of Pharmacy covers two years' work and leads to the degree of Pharmaceutical Chemist. A four years' course is also offered; it leads to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. The School of Medicine covers the first two years' work of a regular four- year course in medicine, and prepares the student to enter the third-year class in other medical colleges. The School of Mines covers four years' work and leads to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Mining. The School of Fine Arts embraces: (a) An academic course in music, drawing and public spe*king. (b) An advanced course in music, drawing and painting and public speaking. 8 SECOND BIENNIAL REPOET OF THE (c) A graduate course in piano, voice and violin. FOUNDATION. The University is founded upon the authority of an act of the legislature of the Territory of Oklahoma, entitled, "An act to locate and establish the University of Oklahoma." The act provided that when $10,000 and forty acres of land should, be given to the territory by the city of Norman the school should be located at that place. These requirements having been met, the University was established at Norman in 1892. HISTORICAL STATEMENT. Young as the University is, its growth has been rapid.