(From a partial report of Hon. S. M. Finger, State superintendent of public instruction, for 1855, with some additions to the figures of 1884.)

STATE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

GENERAL CONDITION.

The State superintendent says that, on the whole, the educational ontlook is encouraging in every respect but one, namely, there is not enough money applied to meet the constitutional obligation of 4 months' schooling, and it is impossible in most counties, under the existing law, for a county commissioner to levy an additional tax to continue the schools 4 months. The coustitution, which is the supreme law, is thus habitually violated, apparently without the infliction of any penalty. The whole amount of money raised by ordinary taxation in 1885 was $631,904, but this does

not include all the funds raised under authority of special acts of the assembly in support of graded schools.

Quite a number of school-houses were erected during the year, advancing the value of public school property very materially; still the superintendent says that the State is sadly deficient in this item of prime importance, though if the property of graded schools were taken into account, there would be a better showing. Many of the graded schools have excellent, well arranged, and well furnished buildings, the full value of which cannot at prosent be obtained. It is estimated that there are 320,000 children of school age under public or private school instruction in the State, and, considering that a large number do not attend school at the early age of 6 years, and that a majority drop out before reaching 21, it will be seen that a very large proportion of the children are receiving some education; many of the poorest people, however, will not avail themselves of the privileges of the public school system."

ADMINISTRATION.

The law provides a State board of education and a State superintendent of public instruction; also county boards of education and superintendents; and for each district a school committee of 3. The common English branches only are required to be taught, with elementary physiology and hygiene, and the history of the State and of the United States. Other branches are allowed by special arrangements with the school committes. Teachers at the close of each terin must, as a condition of receiving pay, report to the school committee of the district the prescribed statistics of their schools. They are also required to maintain good order and discipline in their schools, to encourage morality, industry, and neatness, and to teach thoroughly all the branches required to be taught. The State board of education recommends the text-books to be used in the public schools for a term of 3 years and until otherwise ordered. The school committees report the teachers' returns to the county superintendents, and they to the State superintendent. Schools for the two races are to be kopt separate. Sectarian and political books are prohibited.

SCHOOL FINANCES.

The public schools, free to all children in the State between the ages of 6 and 21 years, are sustained by the income of a State school fund; by at least three-fourths of the proceeds of a State and county poll tax, which under the constitution must not exceed $2; by an educational tax of 124 cents on $100 of the property and credit in the State, and 374 cents on every poll; by the net proceeds from sales of estrays aud from fines; and from proceeds from licenses to auctioneers and dealers in intoxicating liquors. If the above be not sufficient to support one or more schools in each district for 4 months, a special annual tax must be levied in each county. The State board of education apportions the school fund to the counties on the basis of school population, the funds for white and colored schools being kept separate.

ASSISTANCE FROM EXTERNAL SOURCES.

The State in 1884-'85 received $5,430 from the Peabody trustees, of which $2,200 were used for scholarships, $2,000 for public schools, and $1,230 for teachers' institutes.

From the agent of the John R. Slater Fund was received $4.400 in the same year$2,000 to be applied to the Shaw University, Raleigh; $1,000 to Leonard Medical School, Raleigh; $1,000 to the Scotia Female Seminary, Concord; and $100 to the Mount Albion State Normal School, Franklinton.

PREPARATION AND QUALIFICATIONS OF TEACHERS.

GENERAL STATE REQUIREMENTS.

The law requires of each county superintendent that he examine applicants for teachers' certificates and issue the same, of 3 grades, according to the results of the examination. No certificate may be issued to any applicant who makes less than 50 per cent. in any one branch, or whose general average is less than 70 per cent. The list of studies in which teachers are examined includes elementary physiology and hygiene, and the history of the State and the United States. All certificates are valid for one year, and only in the county in which they are issued; the amount of a teacher's salary is regulated by the grade of the certificate held.

STATE NORMAL TRAINING.

Specific statistics of these schools are not given, but the North Carolina Educational Journal of April, 1885, says that they were to be continued as the previous year; that four new normals were established by the legislature at Boone, Asheville. Winston, and Washington, making in all 8 for white students and 5 for colored; and that each receives an annual appropriation of $500 from the State, save the colored normal at

Fayetteville, which gets $2,000. The schools are continued through terms of from one month to an entire school year.

For statistics of normal schools reporting, see Table III of the Appendix; and for a summary thereof, see the report of the Commissioner preceding.

TEACHERS' INSTITUTES.

The board of education of any county, or of 2 or more adjoining counties, may annually appropriate $100 out of the school funds for the purpose of conducting one or more teachers' institutes, to be under the supervision of the county superintendents; the public school teachers are required to attend these institutes, and they are open to all other teachers who desire to attend them.

For 1884-'85 the State received $1,230 from the agent of the Peabody Fund, to defray the expenses of institute work. A large number of county institutes for both races were held during the summer, with good attendance and results.

EDUCATIONAL JOURNALS.

The North Carolina Educational Journal, an official organ of the State Teachers' Association, formerly of Chapel Hill, is published monthly at Trinity College. Other educational journals published in the State are: The Lighthouse and Tilexton Recorder, a monthly, published at Wilmington, mainly in the interest of the Tileston Normal School, and the North Carolina Teacher, also a monthly, published at Raleigh.

SCHOOL SYSTEMS OF CITIES WITH 7,500 OR MORE INHABITANTS.

ADMINISTRATION.

The State school laws appear to make no general provision for city school systems. In townships embracing 5,000 or more inhabitants graded schools may be established, and a tax, not to exceed one-tenth of 1 per cent. on property and 30 cents on the poll, is authorized for their support.

STATISTICS.

Raleigh and Wilmington, having each the required number of inhabitants to be noticed in Table II of the Appendix, make no return to this Bureau.

SECONDARY INSTRUCTION.

PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS.

The superintendent in 1884 reported free graded schools in Charlotte, Edenton, Fayetteville, Durham, Goldsborough, Greensborough, Kinston, New Berne, Raleigh, Rocky Mount, Salisbury, Wilmington, Wilson, Winston, and perhaps others; but how many of these have high-school studies the report does not state.

For statistics of business colleges, private academic schools, and schools for preparing students for college, see Tables IV, VI, and IX of the Appendix, and summaries of these in the report of the Commissioner preceding.

SUPERIOR INSTRUCTION.

COLLEGES FOR YOUNG MEN OR FOR BOTH SEXES.

The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, presents 3 general courses of 4 years each, viz, classical, scientific, and philosophical, each leading to its appropriate degreu. These courses are pursued in 15 different schools and departments. A teachers' course of 2 years embraces all the studies required by law to be mastered by public school teachers. There are also agricultural and optional studies.

Other institutions of this grade are the Biddle University, Charlotte; Davidson College, Davidson; North Carolina College, Mount Pleasant; Shaw University, Raleigh; Rutherford College, Rutherford; Zion Wesley College, Salisbury; Trinity College, Trinity College; Wake Forest College, Wake Forest; and Weaverville College, Weaverville. Three of the above institutions admit young women, namely, Zion Wesley and Rutherford Colleges, and Shaw University.

For statistics of colleges of this class reporting, see Table IX of the Appendix; for a summary of their statistics, see a corresponding table in the report of the Commissiouer preceding.

INSTITUTIONS FOR THE SUPERIOR INSTRUCTION OF YOUNG WOMEN.

For statistics of this class of institutions, see Table VIII of the Appendix; for a summary of them, see a corresponding table in the report of the Commissioner preceding.

SCIENTIFIC AND PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTION.

SCIENTIFIC.

The scientific course of the State university, covering 4 years, includes among other branches industrial and agricultural chemistry, surveying and engineering, mechanics and astronomy, agricultural botany, geology and mineralogy, and other English studies relating to the practical pursuits of life. Latin, Greek, French, German, and other subjects are offered as electives.

Scientific courses of 3 to 4 years are found in Biddle and Shaw Universities, and in Davidson, Trinity, and Wake Forest Colleges.

PROFESSIONAL.

THEOLOGY.-Theological instruction is given in 3 colored schools-Biddle University (Presbyterian), Zion Wesley College (Methodist Episcopal South), and Shaw UniverBity (Baptist). The courses in the first and second cover 3 years, and in the last 2 years. Saint Augustine Normal School, Raleigh (Protestant Episcopal), also colored, reported 9 students under theological training, course not defined. Trinity College, for white students (Methodist Episcopal South), provides theological instruction in connection with the college course.

For statistics of theological schools, see Table XI of the Appendix.

LAW.-The school of law in the State university contains 2 classes, viz, a class of students who have no other connection with the classes of the university, and a class consisting of such students of other departments of the university as are allowed by the faculty to pursue the study of law in addition to their other studies. The course covers 2 years, and the plan comprises the course prescribed by the supreme court of the State for applicants for license to practice, and also a course for those desiring to compete for the degree of LL. B. A moot court is regularly held for the discussion of law questious and for instruction in the practice of the courts.

MEDICINE.-lustruction is given in the medical schools of the State university and Shaw University. The former in its school of medicine and pharmacy offers a course covering 2 years, including anatomy, chemistry, practice of medicine and surgery, laboratory work, etc., but grants no medical degrees. Shaw University, for colored pupils, has a 4-years graded medical course of study. A literary department of 2 years, preparatory to the medical course, has also been established by the university, and applicants for admission must be graduates of this or of some other suitable school, or else pass a satisfactory examination. The full course is required for graduation, also experience in dissection, and an average of 75 per cent, at the final examination. PHARMACY is taught in the State university in 2 sessions of 5 months each, and includes the studies of materia medica and pharmacy, botany and chemistry. For statistics of schools of medicine and pharmacy, see Table XIII of the Appendix.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTION.

EDUCATION OF THE DEAF AND THE BLIND.

The North Carolina Institution for the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind, Raleigh, is under State control, aud reported for 1884-85 an attendance of 69 boys and 56 girls, under 8 instructors. The school hours are from 8 to 2, the methods employed in teaching being oral and manual combined. The industries of cooking, sewing, gardening, and shoemaking are taught. The property was valued at $100,000. Expenditure for the year, $36,000.

CHIEF STATE SCHOOL OFFICER.

HON. SIDNEY M. FINGER, State superintendent of public instruction, Raleigh
First loci, January, 1885, to January, 1889.j

(From reports of Ion. Le Roy D. Brown, State commissioner of common schools, for the two years indicated.)

STATE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

GENERAL CONDITION.

As may be seen, the figures in the statistical table indicate a continuation of the progress that has marked the school history in the State for many years, Of the 774,600 school youth enrolled in the public schools, 94,872 were between the ages of