Comparison of School Statistics for the Years 1854, 1855, and 1856.

[Prepared for the American Educational Year-Book, by Richard Edwards, Esq., Principal

of the Normal School, St. Louis.]

The first public school in the city of St. Louis was opened on the first Monday of April, 1838, and went into operation with two teachers, a male principal and a female assistant. This was soon after followed by the establishment of another,

upon a similar plan, in a different part of the city. At first the schools were not free, every pupil being required to pay a tuition fee of $2.50 per term before being allowed to enter the school. This system was adopted on account of the financial difficulties pressing upon the School Board, which derived its means, not from a public tax, but from the proceeds of certain lands set apart for school purposes, within the town of St. Louis, by a law of Congress enacted in 1812. For many years after the passage of this law, the school lands continued to be seized upon by speculators, who, by various artifices, succeeded in robbing the schools of many valuable lots. In many instances, however, unfounded claims have been successfully resisted, but only after a protracted litigation. As a final result the Board of Directors is now in possession of property to the value of more than one million of dollars. Much of this, however, is very unproductive, on account of having been leased for long terms of years, when the value of real estate was low. This, with small sums derived from other sources, continued to be the only source of revenue to the Board until the year 1849, when the citizens of St. Louis, by a majority of five to one, voted to raise annually a tax of one tenth of one per cent upon all the property in the city for the use of the schools, having been authorized to take this step by a law of the State. Since the year 1853, it has also received from the State from $20,000 to $27,000 annually. The schools are now entirely free, and all classes of the community partake of their benefits.

The Board of School Directors is a corporation entirely distinct from the city government. Its members are elected in the several wards of the city, and hold their office for three years, one third going out annually. All persons entitled to vote for State officers are also entitled to vote for members of the School Board. Its paid officers are a Secretary, Land Agent, Business Agent or Bailiff, and a Counsellor. These officers are rendered necessary by the condition of the school property. The Board appoints the following committees, viz.: Leasing Committee, Committee on Claims, Committee on Text-Books and Apparatus, Teachers' Committee, Library Committee, Building Committee, and High and Normal School Committee.

The office of Superintendent of Schools was established in 1839. This officer is elected annually, and his salary fixed, by the Board.

The following officers were chosen May 12, 1857:- President of the Board, W. W. Greene; Secretary of the Board, C. P. E. Johnson, salary $1,500; Superintendent of Schools, Ira Divoll, salary $2,000.

From the small beginning of 1838, the operations of the Board have extended from year to year, until the school system has reached the condition exhibited below.

NORMAL SCHOOL.

Richard Edwards, Principal, salary $2,500. Number of pupils, 43.

HIGH SCHOOL.

Calvin S. Pennell, Principal, salary $2,500. Mr. Pennell is assisted by six gentlemen, one of whom receives $ 1,500 per annum, and the other five $1,100 each. Total cost of tuition, $ 9,500. Number of pupils, 205.

The number of Primary Schools is 22, with 55 teachers, whose united salaries amount to $22,700.

The aggregate number of pupils in the High School is 205; Normal School, 43; Grammar Schools, 2,557; Primary Schools, 2,818. Total, 5,623.

Salaries are as follows:- Superintendent, $2,000. Male Principals of Grammar Schools of first class, containing 125 or more scholars, $ 900 for first year of service, with an advance of $100 for each year until the amount reaches $1,200. Male Principals of Grammar Schools of second class, containing less than 125 scholars, $ 800 for first year's service, and an addition of $100 per annum until the amount reaches $1,100. Female Principals of Grammar Schools of first class, $550 for first year's service, with an annual increase of $50 until the salary reaches $700. Female Principals of Grammar Schools of second class, $450 for first year, with an annual advance of $50 until the salary amounts to $600. Male Assistants, $ 550 for first year's service, with an annual advance of $50 until the salary amounts to $700. Female Assistants, $300 for the first year, and an annual increase of $25 until the sum reaches $375.

The salaries in the Primary Schools are precisely the same, for both Principals and Assistants, as in the Grammar Schools for girls. A first class Primary School, however, must have 200 or more pupils.

A Music Teacher is employed for the Normal, High, and Grammar Schools, at $900 per annum.

XXIX. IOWA.

Capital, Iowa City. - Area, 50,914 square miles. - Population, 1856, 509,414.

THE fundamental law of Iowa unfortunately omitted the provision of Free Schools, and the educational system has many defects. It is probable that under the new Constitution, which has just gone into effect, some better system may be provided, though the means given with which to work are very far from being what is desirable. Time, however, will give experience, and probably wisdom and inclination to modify and perfect.

The system contemplated under the existing plan provides for the election of a Board of Education consisting of eleven members, one to be elected in each Judicial District of the State. This Board elects a Secretary, who is their executive officer, and enacts such laws as it may deem best to advance the cause of education in the State; but its enactments are subject to repeal by the Legislature. The Legislature also appropriates all moneys for carrying on the system recommended by the Board. The plan is a bungling one, and will doubtless be the victim of early amendments. The Constitution must be made to recognize the principle of Free Schools before it will satisfy the demands of the people of Iowa.

At the head of the school system of Iowa stands the State University; though it is yet in its infancy, and has yielded little or no fruit, still the plan is such that, when it shall have time to gather the strength of years, it will undoubtedly bear favorable comparison with similar institutions in older States.

The COLLEGES of Iowa are yet in their infancy, and very little in the way of statistics has been furnished. Those located at Washington, Burlington, Mt. Pleasant, Western, Des Moines, Mt. Vernon, Pella, Davenport, and Keokuk, are in a flourishing condition. From other points we have been unable to gather any information.

The NORMAL SCHOOLS of this State exist but in name. No students are in attendance who might not, with equal propriety, be in a well-conducted common school.

SUMMARY OF STATISTICS, FROM THE REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, FOR THE YEAR 1857.

THE IOWA STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.

The Iowa State Teachers' Association was organized in June, 1855, and is now in a flourishing condition. The following are the officers for 1857-58:

President, C. C. Nestleroade, Tipton. Vice-Presidents, W. Reynolds, H. L. Bullen, W. L. Johnson, J. R. Doig, and R. Wieser. Recording Secretary, J. H. Sanders, Oskaloosa. Corresponding Secretary, James L. Enos, Cedar Rapids. Treasurer, G. B. Dennison, Muscatine. Executive Committee, James L. Enos, A. S. Kissell, Miss M. M. Lyon, D. F. Wells, and L. H. Bugbee.

The next meeting of the Association will be held on the second Thursday of August, 1858.

IOWA STATE PHONETIC ASSOCIATION.

The first annual meeting of this body was held at Iowa City on the thirteenth and fourteenth days of August, 1857. The following are the officers then and there elected.

President, James L. Enos, Cedar Rapids. Vice-Presidents, S. H. Mitchell and L. H. Bugbee. Secretary, J. H. Sanders, Oskaloosa. Treasurer, C. C. Nestleroade, Tipton. Executive Committee, the above officers, and C. Childs and T. C. Osborne.

EDUCATIONAL JOURNAL.

THE VOICE OF IOWA. - This is the only Educational Journal in the State. Its third volume commenced with January, 1858. James L. Enos is the Editor. The second volume closes with a subscription list of something over twenty-five hundred. It is published by the Editor, at $1 a year, at the city of Cedar Rapids. The Voice is published on the best quality of book paper, and richly illustrated. A portion of each volume is printed in phonetic characters.