E.—l2

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Teachers. paratively small cost of female labour also largely determines its employment in all public schools." 1 About three-fifths of the teachers employed in the secondary schools, which report to the Bureau, 2 arc women. 3 In some States there are pupil teachers. 4' On the Ist of January, 1885, a law came into force in New York that no one can teach. in a public school unless he or she lias passed an examination in respect of the effects of alcohol on the human system, 0 and similar laws have become operative in Michigan and Connecticut. 0 The teaching in the children's schools in those States is, of course, carried out accordingly. New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island have also by special enactments made obligatory the teaching in the State schools of the effects of alcohol. 7 Indeed, in some States, as in Massachusetts, instruction in physiology, hygiene, and temperance has long been required. Teaching the effects of tobacco is obligatory in Connecticut. CONCLUSION. In the American system there is much that induces commendation; especially— (a) Large powers of local government, including powers of direct local taxation; (Ji) Compulsory-attendance laws so far as they exist, although they exist only to a limited extent; (c) The promotion of technical instruction, including prominence given to drawing; (d) The requirement in certain States respecting the knowledge of the influence of alcohol on the human body; and (e) The provisions, so far as they extend, against the improper employment of children. But public education in the United States has not arrived at that condition which justifies its imitation as a complete system. 8 For instance, respecting the States generally, there exists the want of adequate provisions * affecting (a) school accommodation, 9 (b) compulsory education, 10 (c) length of school terms, (d) training, standard of qualification, and appointment of teachers; (e) religious instruction, (/) physical training, (ff) inspection, (h) infant-school arrangements, and (i) injurious employment of children; 11 involving an unjustifiable amount of illiteracy, 13 incompetent teaching in. too many cases," religious friction, 13 and a very general absence of that thoroughness, without which veneer is apt to take the place of substance —causes which, as it seems to me, must, if unamended, not only retard the progress, but sap the core of any nation. There must, however, be much to learn, even if there be not everything to imitate; for,: apart from the large questions which may with especial advantage be studied in connection1 with the States, and in addition to much that may be commended, to arrive at a clear per-i ception of error must be distinct gain. Moreover, the immense mass of data on educational subjects not only relating to the States, but to all parts of the world, annually collected and gratuitously distributed by the Bureau, is indeed a most valuable contribution and aid to educational progress, and deserves to be extensively and gratefully availed of. I'*1'*

Anti-alcohol and tooacco progress in America.

Merits of American system. a

American education not upon the whole satisfactory. Defects.

Result of defects,

But much to be *®amtfrom system.

1 Statement, pp. 18, 19. See also Dr. Pliilbrick, p. 127 and seq. ; and discussion and resolution at State Teachers' Assoc, Cal., Dec, 1883, 0. rep., 1885, p. 25. But in Tennessee the law directs that for like services of male and female teachers like salaries shall be paid, C. rep., 1885, p. 257. s C. rep., p. 131, 58G. 3 C. rep., 1885, p. 131. A For instance, note New Hampshire, C. rep., 1885, p. 181. 6C. rep., 1885, p. 41, where see note re Massachusetts. For method of examination of schools, see C. rep., 1884, p. 80 and seq. Dr. Richardson's is text-book used in New York. At the 23rd annual meeting of tho Nat. Educ. Assoc, held at Madison, Wisconsin, 15-19 July, 1884, at which over 6,000 educationalists were present, a resolution was adopted " advising tho introduction in public schools of instruction as to the effect of alcoholic liquors on the human system," C. rep., 1885, p. 311. 6 See C. rep., 1885, for details, p. 144. Text-books on this subject must have tho joint approval of the State Board of Education and the State Board of Health. -' C. rep., 1885, p. 41. 9 Note, for instance —

(a) C. rep., 1885, pp. 12, 27, 81, and 1884, p. 293, and other refs. already made ; (b) 1.E.C., vol. 13, p. 195; (c) S. and R.1., 14 Oct., 1884; (d) "It is a moot question whether, as a whole, the common schools have not, during the past ten or perhaps twenty years of American history, proved themselves a failure."—Dr. E., pp. 4, 5 ; (<?) Q.R., espec. pp. 426, 437-439, 455, 458, 459; and (/) " Circulars of Information," No. 6, 1884, " Rural Schools," pp. 11, 12. For brief summary of educational condition of Union, see C. rep., 1885, p. 41, and 1884, pp. 3G and sgj. 9 The school buildings, moreover, are by no means always what they should be. For instance, note Pennsylvania, C. rep., 18S5, p. 229. '» Sen C. rep , 1884, pp. 77, 159, and 81, 82 table infra. 11 See also other grounds alleged, C. rep., 1884, p. 67. n For partial explanation, at least, see Statement, pp. 10, 68, 69; C. rep., 1885, p. 30; "The Century," April, 1886, p. 959 ; and note that the actual school ago population is much less than the legal school age population. 13 See supra, "The United States—Religious Instruction," and 2 R., pp. 445, 446. " For the work done and publications issued by Bureau for year ending 30 June, 1884, see C. rep., 1885, p. 6.

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