tional systems and methods formed a subdivision. American education was hardly represented on this occasion, but the displays of other nations were admirably described and discussed by Dr. John W. Hoyt, one of the honorary commissioners from this country. Feeling that the United States should not be unrepresented at the Vienna Welt-Ausstellung of 1873, I prepared a circular of information, which was published in November, 1872, containing translations of the educational sections of the programmes, the general plan adopted at the meeting of superintendents and other educators held in this city during that month, and a blank form for a chart designed for inscription of the public and private educational institutions contained in an American city. The educators of the country made great efforts to procure and forward statistical and graphic material, models, furniture, appliances, &c., arranged and catalogued by Dr. Hoyt, whose experience and knowledge a second time added to the honor of his country. This exhibition excited positive enthusiasm. Forty-eight diplomas and medals were distributed among the 285 separate exhibitors from this country in the educational group, while those in all the other twenty-five groups obtained only 30.

Of the exhibition of education at Philadelphia in 1876 I need say little. The kind and quantity of material offered was so great and the local patriotism of States, cities, and communities so absorbing that rigid classification and unified localization had to be abandoned. The collections exhibited in the United States Government building by this Office, in the special pavilion of Pennsylvania, in the gallery of the main building by Massachusetts, and in scores of other places by other authorities will not be forgotten. Nor need I recite the list of valuable collections exhibited by almost every civilized nation, from Russia in the east to Japan in the west, wherein the methods, appliances, and peculiarities of their education were shown. The educator might well adopt as the expression of his thought the strangely simple words that commemorate Sir Christopher Wren in the most grandiose of his creations—“Si monumentum requiris, circumspice"-so entirely did the vast panoramic field of Fairmount Park seem to be and form a part of the education of the world.

The Paris Exposition of 1878 is too recent to have been forgotten or much obscured in the minds of our people. Though Director-General McCormick was able to set apart but a small sum for the representation of American education among the other more ostentatious displays of American life, character, and achievement, yet by the enthusiasm and experience of our educators and the trained wisdom of Dr. John D. Philbrick the little fund and the narrow space afforded were so used that the section gained 120 prizes—28 gold medals, 44 silver medals, 23 bronze metals, and 25 honorable mentions and excited the profound admiration of all who examined it.

This Office also sent small but well selected collections illustrating our education to the exhibitions in Chili, during 1875, and in Australia (Melbourne), the early part of the present year.

During the last few years the Office has been collecting and preserving objects relating to education at home and abroad, with special reference to the public information and guidance. So far as the limited appropriations at its command will justify, I propose to use this museum in every suitable way for the information of the public; but the important instrumentality of loan collections cannot be undertaken as it should be, however productive of good in England or elsewhere, till Congress is pleased to afford the necessary means of defraying their cost and of adding yearly to their variety and value.

RECOMMENDATIONS.

I have had the honor to recommend in previous reports that provision be made for the publication of fifteen thousand copies of the report of the Commissioner immediately on its completion. This is done for this report by a resolution of Congress.

I have also recommended that provision be made for the organization of an eđucational museum in connection with this Office. This has been provided for by a small

appropriation. A larger annual appropriation would soon bring all objects of sufficient importance into a single collection here at the capital of the nation for the study of American educators.

The remaining recommendations I have the honor most earnestly to renew.

(1) I recommend that the office of superintendent of public instruction for each Territory be created, to be filled by appointment by the President, the compensation to be fixed and paid as in the case of other Federal appointees for the Territories.

(2) In view of the large number of children growing up in ignorance on account of the impoverished condition of portions of the country, and in view of the special difficulties in the way of establishing and maintaining therein schools for universal education, and in consideration of the imperative need of immediate action in this regard, I recommend that the whole or a portion of the net proceeds arising from the sale of public lands be set aside as a special fund, the interest of said fund to be divided annually pro rata among the several States and Territories and the District of Columbia, under such provisions in regard to amount, allotment, expenditure, and supervision as Congress in its wisdom may deem fit and proper.

(3) I recommend the enactment of a law requiring that all facts in regard to national aid to education, and all facts in regard to education in the Territories and the District of Columbia, necessary for the information of Congress, be presented through this Office. (4) I recommend an increase of the permanent force of the Office. The experience of the Office indicates clearly that the collection of educational information and publication of the same, as required by the law regulating it, cannot be properly done with the present limited clerical force.

CONCLUSION.

I take pleasure in acknowledging my indebtedness to the faithful laborers in the Office and to all others elsewhere who have contributed to its success.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Hon. C. SCHURZ,

Secretary of the Interior.

· JOHN EATON,

Commissioner.

ABSTRACTS

OF THE

OFFICIAL REPORTS OF THE SCHOOL OFFICERS OF STATES, TERRITORIES, AND CITIES,

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WITH

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM VARIOUS SOURCES.

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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 chietly 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.

7. SCIENTIFIC AND PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION. (a) Training in scientific schools and agricultural

8. SPECIAL INSTRUCTION.

9. EDUCATIONAL CONVENTIONS

10. NOTEWORTHY BENEFACTIONS. 11. OBITUARY RECORD

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colleges.

(b) Training in theology.

(e) Training in law.

(d) Training in medicine.

(a) Deaf, dumb, blind, &c.

(a) Meetings of State associations.

(b) Special meetings of teachers, school principals, and superintendents.

(a) Brief memorials of teachers, superintendents, and other promoters of education who have died dur ing the year.

2. CHIEF STATE SCHOOL OFFICERS.. ............................(a) State board of education or State superintendent.

The statistics furnished the Bureau in answer to its circulars of inquiry, for convenience of reference and comparison, are given in tables at the conclusion of this volume, 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 oflicials, 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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