L/3 9.1 6 1st Congress, '2d Session. SENATE. Document No. 453. L 13 .G4 fl3 Copy 1 GENERAI. EDUCATION BOARD. Mr. Gallinger presented the follo\\ang MEMORANDUM CONCERNING THE GENERAL EDUCATION BOARD ALONG THE LINES OF THE PROMOTION OF PRACTICAL FARMING IN THE SOUTHERN STATES; THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SYSTEM OF PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE SOUTHERN STATES; AND THE PROMOTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. March 25, 1910. — Ordered to be printed, with illustrations. [Memor.vndum.— The General Education Board has three main lines of work: (1) The promotion of prac- tical farming in the Southern States; ( 2) the development of a system of public high schools in the South- ern States; and (3) the promotion of higher education throughout the United States.] THE PROMOTION OF PRACTICAL FARMING IN THE SOUTHERN STATES. For the first three years of its existence the l)oard, throngli its representatives, made a careful study of pubhc education in the Southern States. As a result of this study it reached the conclu- sion that the greatest present need of that part of our country is the increased productive efficiency of rural life. Eighty-five per cent of the people of the Southern States live in the country and by farming. Careful inquiry was therefore made in the United States and in other countries regarding methods of delivering to farmers the prac- tical agricultural knowledge that has been developed b}^ national and state d^)artments of agriculture, experimental farms, etc. In the course of this inquiry the representatives of the board met Dr. Seaman A. Knapp, who by demonstration farms was successfully combating the boll weevil in Texas and Louisiana. It was the opinion of the board that the demonstration-farm methods of Doctor Knapp could be employed successfully in promoting general agri- culture, as well as in combating the specific enemy of the cotton industry. A conference was therefore had with Secretary Wilson of the United States Department of Agriculture, who agreed that Doctor Knapp, who is a special representative of the Department of Agriculture, might supervise the work in other States than Texas and Louisiana, provided funds for that purpose might be secured. The General Education Board, through the Department of Agri- culture, under the above agreement, beginning in the early part of 2 GENERAL EDUCATION BOARD. ^^^ Y^ 1906, has made contributions for this purpose now aggregating $285,700. For the fiscal year 1909-10 the appropriation was $102,000. The latest report from Doctor Knapp shows that in the States thus aided by the General Education Board 135 men are at work supervising the demonstration farms and 13,589 farmers are pursuing improved agricultural methods under such direction. He further estimates that 187,680 farmers are pursuing similar work, as influenced by those farmers who are under the immediate super- vision of the agents. This work has attracted the favorable atten- tion of the Farmers' Union of the Southern States, of agricultural colleges, public-school authorities, and the public press. Under the auspices of Doctor Knapp special state agents have been appointed in the several Southern States, who are conducting demonstration work among the boys of the public schools. Several thousands of boys from twelve years of age and up, under the gen- eral designation of "Boys' corn clubs," are "learning by doing"— that is, instead of studying text-books on agriculture they are per- forming practical agricultural demonstration on their fathers' farms and are making these experiments the basis of agricultural study in the schools. In his latest communications to our office Doctor Knapp says that the work is developing in importance and value far beyond his most sanguine expectations. II. THE PROMOTION OF PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS. The general study of educational conditions in the Southern States led the board to believe that the greatest lack in that region and, therefore, the greatest need was of public high schools. It is the policy of the board to do this work through existing organizations. Arrangement was therefore made with the several state universities in the Southern States whereby such universities could assume the leadership and direction of a movement designed to develop systems of high schools. Appropriations have been made by the General Education Board to the state universities in the following States: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The General Education Board appropriates to each university a sum sufficient to pay the salary and traveling expenses of a special high-school representative. This man, representing the university and the state de})artment of education, goes to counties throughout the State, arouses and organizes ])ublic sentiment favorable to high schools, and se(;ures the establishment and maintenance of public high schools. It is not possible to stale the total number of high schools thus organized and established. In several of the States we are able to give exact figures. The following high schools have been estab- lished : Alabama 33 North Carolina 131 South Carolina 59 Tennessee 43 Virginia 160 . : APR 1910 GENERAL EDUCATION BOARD. 3 In Exhibits A and B (see pages 8-13) the facts in detail with maps ■ are given for Alabama and North CaroHna. It is safe to estimate that as a result of tliis cooperative initiative on the part of the General Education Board 1,000 new high schools have been established and that 15,000,000 have been raised by the people for buildings and equipment. Of this work President Ehot, who has recently made a journey through the Southern States, has said, "It is the most valuable piece of constructive educational work now going on in tlie United States." III. THE PROMOTION OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING. The General Education Board uniformly makes its gifts for en- dowment. Colleges throughout the country decide how much money they wish to raise at a given time. Application is made to the Gen- eral Education Board. A careful study of the institution is made covering both its financial and educational strength. It is studied not only as a particular institution of learning, but in its relation to higher education generally in a particular State. Then to approved institutions the board makes contributions toward the total sums which they themselves have decitled to raise. These contributions are made absolutely to the trustees of the several institutions and the General Education Board exercises no supervision or control in any case. It first decides that the institu- tion is worthy of aid and then makes its gift without any string at- tached to it. It is the conviction of the members of the board that they ought not to assume any supervision or control of the educa- tional work in colleges. Appropriations by the board for higher education liave been made as follows: In the Southern States $1, 412, 500 In the Western States 1, 875, 000 In the Eastern and Middle States 1, 405, 000 Total ; 4, 692, 500 These gifts on the part of the General Education Board are toward an approximate total of $18,000,000, which total sum represents the increase of educational endowment and equipment, largely made possible by the contributions of the General Education Board. A detailed statement of these appropriations is attacjied hereto under Exhibit C. CONCLUSION. It should be noted that the policy of the General Education Board is to work through existing institutions and agencies and not itself to undertake independent educational work. These contributions for agricultural demonstration work are ex- pended under the supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture, which through its accredited repi'esentatives has entire control of such expenditures. Payments are niiule by the General Education Board for this work on vouchers certified by representa- tives of the Department of Agriculture. 4 GENERAL EDUCATION BOARD. It seeks to promote public high schools, not bj^ sending its own agents into the several States to do this work, but by enabhng state universities and state departments of education to do the work. Here, again, the direction and supervision of the work is entirely in the hands of the accredited representatives of the States. Its contributions for colleges are not for specific departments in colleges or universities, nor for particular kinds of education. The contributions are made to the trustees of the colleges, who have full power to direct the expenditure thereof. The only promise required by the board in making its gifts is that the money which it gives shall be invested and preserved inviolable for the endowment of the college or university. ALABAMA. 1 . Professorship established 1906 2. High schools established: Year 1906 None . Year 1907 2 Year 1908 25 Year 1909 6 Total 33 3. Private academies becoming public high schools 2 4. High schools which have lengthened the course and increased the teaching force 18 Number of teachers added in 18 schools ... 23 5. Legislation — Affecting high schools: In August, 1907, the legislature passed a law providing for the establishment and partial maintenance of a high school in each of the 67 counties of the State. Under the provisions of this law any county may secure a high school by agreeing to donate and deed to the State at least 5 acres of land and to construct thereon a building costing not less than $5, 000. a The State agrees to appropriate annually $2,000 toward the maintenance of the school thus established. The establishment of the schools is placed in the hands of a commission consisting of the governor, the state auditor, and the state superintendent of education. It is stipulated that the course of study shall be of full secondary grade and shall be made out by the state superintendent of education. This legislature voted an increase of $2,000 annually to each of the nine district agricultural schools. During special session of the legislature in 1909 an act was passed allowing county boards of revenue to appropriate money to aid in the construction and maintenance of county high schools. At the same session an act was also parsed making it possible for cities and towns to make appropriations from city funds and to issue bonds to aid in the construction of high-schoof biuldings. 6. Local taxation (counties) . . 41 Yield annually $200, 000 However, only a small part of this amount is applied to the sui)port of high schools. 7. Increase of funds for high-school ))ur))0,sos: (rt) State appropriations — Year 1906 None. Year 1907 the legislature voted anruiallv conditionallv $152, 000 Year 1908 : Of the above there was used '. 64, 000 Year 1909 : Of the above there was used 76, 000 (b) Funds from other sources — Year HKKi No increase. Year 1907 $15, 000 Year 1908 22, 000 Year 1909 40, 000 c The high-school commission thus far has demanded that the buildings shall cost at least $10,000. GENERAL EDUCATION BOARD. 5 8. High-school buildings erected: Year 1906 4 Year 1907 5 Year 1908 26 Year 1909 8 Total 43 All except two used only for high-school purposes. "Three years ago there were only four high-school l)uildings in the State used exclusively for high-school purposes; now there are 45/' 9. Amount raised for the construction of high-school buildings: (a) Bv bonds — Year 1906 $75, 000 Year 1907 80, 000 Year 1908 50, 000 Year 1909 60, 000 265, 000 (b) By private subscription — Year 1906 Nothing. Year ] 907 Nothing. Year 1908 $349, 500 Year 1909 80, 000 429, 500 Total amount expended for high-school buildings 695, 000 10. County high schools with four years' course of study 29 District agricultural schools with four years' course of study 9 Private high schools with four years' course of study 11 City and town high schools with four years' course of study 25 City and town high schools with three years' course of study 16 Town high schools with two years' course of study 3 Total 93 Total number of teachers employed in the schools mentioned on preceding page 345 Number of high schools having separate buildings 45 Total enrollment 6, 991 NORTH CAROLINA. 1. Professorship established, June, 1905. 2. In 1907 the legislature passed the present high-school act. providing an annual appropriation of $50,000 "to stimulate high-school instruction and teacher training.'" The high school act. '"AH public high schools established and maintained under the provisions of this act shall be operated by the county board of education under such general rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the state board of education. The courses of study for such high schools and the requirements for admission to them shall be prescribed by the state superintendent of public instruction." Requirements to he met in order to receive state aid. (1) All teachers in public high schools established under this act shall hold a high- school certificate from the state superintendent of public instruction. (2) High schools to become eligible for state aid must have at least three teachers, i. e., two teachers in addition to the high-school teacher. (3) No high schools are aided in towns of more than 1,200 people. (4) Before any high school shall be established under the provisions of this act, the committee or committees establishing such school shall first provide for thorough instruction, for at least five months m each school year, in all branches of study required to^be taught in the public schools of the State . 6 GENEEAL EDUCATION BOAKD. Any high school established under this act may receive financial assistance from the State in the same amount as that realized from taxation, or by private donation, or by local appropriation, or otherwise, to an amount not exceeding $500. ''Provided further, That not more than tour public high schools in any one county shall be entitled under the provisions of this act to receive state funds." The high-school act also provides for the establishment and maintenance of a teachers' training school, to be located by the state board of education at such a point in eastern North Carolina "as they may deem proper, and shall be located in or near that town offering the largest financial aid, having due regard to desirability and suitability for the location of said school." Fifteen thousand dollars is set aside for the purpose of erecting and equipping the buildings of said school, and $5,000 annually from the appropriation of $50,000 for high-school instruction and teacher training: Provided, A sum of not less than $25,000 toward the construction and equipment of said buildings, and the title to said buildings shall be in and held by the state board of education. Tuition is free to all those who signify their intention "to teach for such time and upon such conditions as may be prescribed by the board of trustees." (See the public school law of North Carolina.) 3. The number of high schools established under this act: (1) With one teacher 114 (2) With two teachers 12 (3) With three or more teachers 6 132 (4) Number of high schools postponing opening 11 a 143 4. The number of high schools: (1) Reporting four-year students, 9 students. . 70 (2) Reporting three-year students, 50 ■. do 297 (3) Reporting two-year students, 102 do 861 Number of first-year students 2, 721 Total enrollment — Boys 1,759 Girls 2, 190 3,949 5. Number of teachers devoting their whole time to high-school instruction. . . 173 Number of teachers devoting part of their time to high-school instruction 42 Total number of high-school teachers 215 6. Number of rural high schools established under this act: (1) Receiving aid from local taxation, 87 $26, 247. 02 (2) Receiving aid from private donations, 46 11, 650. 00 (3) Receiving aid from county apportionment, 70 20, 364. 16 (4) Receiving aid from State,' 132 37, 375. 00 Total receipts for newlv established high schools due to the pas- sage of act ". 95, 636. 18 GENERAL SUMMARY. /. The number of high schools . (1) With one teacher. . . (2) Vt'ith two teachers. (3) With three teachers a Fourteen additional high schools were established under this act, but they have since been discon- tinued. b This does not inchuie .^(i town and city high schools not reporting, and 11 rural high schools that post- poned opening. GENERAL EDUCATION BOARD. 2. Students. (1) NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOLS REPORTING FOUR-YEAR STUDENTS. Rural high schools Town and city high schools. Number of high schools. Deduct^— counted twice . Number of students. 9 9 70 109 18 1 179 3 (2) NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOLS REPORTING THREE-YEAR STUDENTS. 50 33 297 Town and city high schools . . . . 548 83 10 845 111 73 734 (3) NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOLS REPORTING TWO-YEAR STUDENTS. Rural high schools . 102 43 861 964 145 19 1,825 250 126 1,575 (4) NUMBER OF FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS. In rural high schools 2, 721 In town and city high schools v 1, 579 4,300 382 Deduct — counted twice. 3,918 (5) TOTAL ENROLLMENT. Boys. Girls. Total. 1,759 1,312 2,190 1,883 3,949 Town and city high schools . 3,195 3,071 283 4,073 462 7,144 745 2,788 3,611 6,399 3. Number of teachers devoting their whole time to high school instruction: Rural high schools 173 Town and city high schools 109 282 Deduct — counted twice 31 Number of teachers devoting part of their time to high school instruction: Rural high schools 42 Town and city high schools 37 251 Deduct — counted twice. 79 7 72 323 GENERAL EDUCATION BOARD. ALABAMA. EXHIBIT A. COUNTY HKJH SCHOOLS. \ifJn«t'-"ion- ^°""t>' ''•K''^''li"«'«. except one. were e.stablishe.l under the general act approved iesfs^a urc a■';..mved''A,\^L^^^'^on^ a,> annual appropriation of 82,000. By a .«peHal a.^t of the \fa This'^pWn?r!l^v^! y- '^'^''," ^"""'^: high .school for Dale County was located at Ozark, sm co^t of^^uSrd'if^gs'inThonBrd'oVaT"*'"" "■"" '"" ''''" °' ''''^- ^'^"'•^^ '" <^'^'^'^^ ^^P''^- GENERAL EDUCATION BOARD. ALABAMA. Exhibit A — Continued. ^■^•^r-A ®i ®f ■j'^--'> J" »-. ;— ' J \ .iiy<'' (3) I i '-f I t 't-k J "i I-. V •J- i ( ^ 2 I r I A ' I -t' I I \ T" \n/K,-^ Ir^ © " '■ i ® CITY HIGH SCHOOLS. City high .schools which have lengthened their course and have increased their teaching force. Figures in circles represent added teachers. 10 GENERAL EDUCATION BOARD. O < O I CC o z H \^ bet! eo 4, GENERAL EDUCATION BOARD. 11 o DC < O I cc o pq 12 GENERAL EDUCATION BOAED. o < o I H cc o \ ^ / \ ^x i > l~~. \ ' A 1 V N / \ /•s' cq _._,-.l— i ^'-'• ■) /f / 1 ^f i -- fe^ 32 MQQ ^ 6c GENERAL EDUCATION BOARD. 13 o < O X h- cc o EXHIBIT C. SUBSCRIPTIONS TO COLLEGES BY THE GENERAL EDUCATION BOARD — SOUTHERN STATES. » [Total appropriated, $1,412,500.] Maryland, $250,000: Johns Hopkins University $250, 000 Virginia, $290,000: University of Virginia 50, 000 Washington and Lee University 5, 000 Richmond College 150, 000 Randolph-Macon College .' 10, 000 Randolph-Macon Woman's College 75, 000 North Carolina, $187,500: Wake Forest College 37, 500 Da^ddson College 75, 000 Salem College for Women 75, 000 South Carolina, $50,000: Woffard College 25, 000 Furman Universitv 25, 000 Georgia, $180,000: Mercer University 75, 000 Agnes Scott College 100, 000 Paine College 5, 000 Alabama, $25,000: Howard College 25, 000 Mississippi, $50,000: Mississippi College 25, 000 Millsaps College 25, 000 Arkansas, $75,000: Hendrix College 75, 000 Tennessee, $230,000: Union Universitv 25, 000 Maryville College 50, 000 Fisk University " 5, 000 Vanderbilt University 150, 000 Kentucky, $75,000: Williamsburg Institute 50, 000 Georgetown College 25, 000 Total, Southern States 1, 412, 500 WESTERN STATES. [Total appropriated, $1,875,000.] Ohio, $700,000: Western Reserve University $125, 000 University of Wooster 275, 000 Ohio Wesleyan University 125, 000 Western College for Women 50, 000 Oberlin College 125, 000 Indiana, $50,000: Wabash College 50, 000 -Michigan, $25,000: Kalamazoo College 25, 000 Illinois, $50,000: Knox College 50, 000 14 GENERAL EDUCATION BOAED. 15 Wisconsin, $100,000: Beloit College $50, 000 Lawrence College 50, 000 Minnesota, $225,000: Macalester College 75, 000 Hamlin University 75, 000 College of St. Thomas 75, 000 Iowa, $250,000: Grinnell College 100, 000 Morningside College 50, 000 Coe College 50, 000 Cornell College 50, 000 Colorado, $50,000: Colorado College 50, 000 Kansas, $50,000: Washburn College 25, 000 Ottawa University 25, 000 Missouri, $375,000: Drury College 50, 000 Washington University 200, 000 William Jewell College 125, 000 Total, Western States 1, 875, 000 EASTERN AND MIDDLE STATES. [Total appropriations, $1,405,000.] Maine, $50,000: Bowdoin College $50, 000 Vermont, $100,000: University of Vermont 100, 000 Massachusetts, $175,000: Harvard University 62, 500 Williams College 100, 000 Smith College 12, 500 Rhode Island, $50,000: Women's College in Brown Universit v 50, 000 Connecticut, $400,000: Yale University 300, 000 Wesleyan University 100, 000 N«w York, $230,000: Hamilton College 50, 000 Union College 100, 000 University of Rochester 30, 000 St. Lawrence University 50, 000 Pennsylvania, $300,000: Lafayette College 50, 000 Bryn Mawr,College 250, 000 New Jersey, $100,000: Princeton University .- .*. . . 100, 000 Total, Eastern and Middle States 4, 712, 500 () illll'llllllliillllllliiliililiiillll^^ 021 523 508 7 W Li 3 9.1 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS^^ 021 523 508 7 HoUinger Corp. pH 8.5