1867. 1868. Total. Whole number of stated public examinations held... 1,377 1,273| Whole number of male teachers examined at the 7,120 3,551 3,569) 2,650 3,232 3,002 6,234 Whole number of female teachers examined at the stated examinations.... Total number of teachers examined at the stated examinations. Whole number of male teachers examined at other times.... Whole number of female teachers examined at other times.... Total number of teachers examined at other times... Grand total number of teachers examined during the year..... Whole number of certificates granted at stated public examinations. Whole number of certificates granted at other examinations..... Whole number of candidates rejected.... The subjoined table shows, in concise form, the number of certificates, of each grade, granted to male and female teachers, respectively, in each year, the total for each year, and the grand total for both years: 5,531 7,669 11,200 2,087 2,218 4,305 To male teachers. 1477 1496 2973 4,104 4,506 8,610 5,581 6,002 11,583 To female teachers 1106 1138 2244 5,973 6.065 12,038 7,079 7,203 14,282 Total... 2583 2634 5217 10,077 10,571 20,648 12,660 13,205 25,865 Vol. II-55 SERVICES RENDERED BY COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS. The following is a summary statement of the amount of service rendered by county superintendents of schools, as compiled from their official reports to this office: 1867. 1868. Total. 8,306 9,006| Whole number of days spent in visiting schools..... 17,312 3,874 3,664 7,538 504 647 1,151 3,399 3,388 6,787 1,708 2,265 3,973 36,761 $872 $929 RECEIPTS A NDEXPENDITURES OF THE STATE NORMAL UNIVERSITY. I am also required by the second section of the act entitled "An act for the establishment and maintenance of a Normal Univer sity," approved Feb. 18, 1857, to report to the Legislature, at its regular sessions, the condition and expenditures of that Institution. In compliance with that requirement, the subjoined abstract of the receipts and expenditures of the Normal Uuiversity for the two years since my last report, being the years 1867-8, is respectfully submitted. A full and detailed account of the history, progress and present condition of the Institution, and of the transactions of the State Board of Education, will be found in a subsequent portion of this report, and in the Appendix thereto. EXPENDITURES. For salaries of president, professors, instructors, jani tor and engineer........... For printing, advertising, binding and repairing books, catalogues and circulars, as per bills of items presented and allowed... $29,338 71 1,140 18 For miscellaneous purposes, as per bills of items presented and allowed.... 761 21 Balance on hand December 1868..... THE FUND FOR ORNAMENTING GROUNDS. [Appropriated by act of the Legislature, approved February 28, 1867.] RECEIPTS. From State Treasurer, June, 1867... From State Treasurer, June, 1868.... EXPENDITURES. For laying out and ornamenting grounds, as per bills of items allowed and vouchers filed...... THE MUSEUM FUND. [Appropriated by act of the Legislature, approved February 28, 1867.] RECEIPTS. From State Treasurer, June, 1867 . $37,743 14 $175 98 .$1,500 00 1,500 00 $3,000 00 .$3,000 00 .$1,000 00 1,000 00 -$2,000 00 EXPENDITURES. For hardware for muscum.. $99 45 For expenses incurred by Maj. J. W. Powell, while engaged in collecting specimens for museum, as per bills rendered and vouchers filed.... 1,317 26 -$1,416 71 Balance on hand, December, 1868 .. $583 29 THE FUND FOR HEATING BUILDING. LAppropriated by act of the Legislature, approved February 28, 1867.] RECF IPTS. From State Treasurer, June, 1867 .... EXPENDITURES. Paid out on sundry orders, as per bil.s allowed an vouchers filed.. Balance on hand, December, 1868 THE BUILDING FUND. RECEIPTS. Amount on hand June 24, 1867 From rent of lands..... From sale of lots... EXPENDITURES. $1,500 00 187 00 $1,313 00 .$194 06 465 25 -$804 31 Paid out for sundry repairs, as per bills rendered and vouchers filed. $225 00 Balance on hand, December, 1868. $579 31 INSPECTION AND REVIEW OF THE STATISTICS. The preceding tabular statements show, as far as mere figures can, the results of our common school work during the past two years, and the present financial and general condition of the school system, and schools. In the light of these statistics, some of which are of a very extraordinary character, we may profitably examine some of the fundamental questions involved in our system of popu lar education, and reach perhaps some conclusions of practical value. In all great enterprises, affecting the welfare of vast multitudes of people, and involving the outlay of immense sums of money, it is well to pause, now and then, and, as the merchant would say, "take account of stock;" balance the books, and pass the losses and gains to the proper columns of the great schedule. It is easier to deal with facts in the mass, than to analyze them-to assume the correctness of apparent results, than to demonstrate the identity between the apparent and the real. It is especially ungracious to turn from the contemplation of results which are full of inspiration and hope, to others which suggest only apprehension and anxiety. But there come times when all facts, whether favorable or not, should be looked squarely in the face, calmly interrogated, and the results of the scrutiny be honestly recorded. Now, the statistics given in this report, (and more care has been taken than ever before to have them reliable), so far from indicating any check or retrogression in any of the great elements of the common school work, exhibit a most rapid and surprising advance. They show in some directions, as will be seen, a degree of energy, activity and true progress, greater than that of any previous biennial period since the bright banner of free schools was first unfurled in Illinois. The deeper inquiry that it is proposed to make in the course of this review, has not been suggested, therefore, by any untoward fact or discouraging tendency brought to view in the statistics of the past two years. On the contrary, the magnificent proofs which these statistics afford of the growth and expansion of the school system, and of the people's steadfast and self-sacrificing attachment thereto and confidence therein, render it easier at this time to probe certain matters which lie below the surface-we can better afford to do it than ever before. But the points where shadows fall upon the landscape, in the main so cheering and beautiful, will better appear as we summon before us the successive items of the statistical abstracts, and look closely into their import and bearing-into what they reveal and what they suggest. |