D.
The following is such information as I have been able to obtain respecting the public Educational provision in the United States, from the year 1830 to 1835.
The Free States in 1830.
Maine.—"By a law of the State, every town, however large or small, is required to raise annually, for the support of schools, a sum equal at least to forty cents. for each person in the town, and to distribute this sum among the several schools or districts, in proportion to the number of scholars in each. The expenditure of the sum is left principally to the direction of the town, and its committee or agents, appointed for that purpose. In the year 1825, the legislature required a report from each town in the State, respecting the situation of the schools."—United States Almanack.
At that time, the number of school districts in ten counties was, 2,499.
| The number of children between 4 and 21 was | 137,931 |
| The number who usually attend schools | 101,325 |
| Dollars. | |
| Amount required by law to be expended annually | 119,334 |
| Amount raised from taxes | 132,263 |
| Amount from the income of permanent funds | 5,614 |
| Total annual expenditure | 137,878 |
The number of incorporated academies in the State was 31; 4 of which were for girls: the amount of funds varying from 2,000 to 22,000 dollars a-year.
New Hampshire.—"From the year 1808 to 1818, there were raised in New Hampshire 70,000 dollars annually by law, for the support of common schools. This amount was raised by a separate tax, levied throughout the State, in the ratio of taxation for the State Tax. Since 1818, the yearly amount of the sum raised has been 90,000 dollars. This is the amount required by law, but a few towns raise more than they are required. The legislature assumes no control over the immediate appropriation, but leaves this to each town."
The State had also, in 1830, an annual income of 9,000 dollars, and a literary fund of 64,000 dollars, raised by a tax of a half per cent. on the capital of the banks; both to be, from that time, annually divided among the towns, in the ratio of taxation.
Some of the towns had separate school funds.
| The white population of New Hampshire at this time was | 268,721 |
| The coloured population | 607 |
Vermont.—An act was passed in 1827 to provide for the support of common schools. About 100,000 dollars was raised in 1830. A fund was also accumulating, which was to be applied whenever its income would support a common free-school in every district of the State, for two months in the year.
There were about 20 incorporated academies in the State, where young men were fitted for college. The number of students was supposed to average 40 at each.
Massachusetts.—"By the returns from 131 towns, presented to the legislature, it appears that the amount annually paid in these towns for public schools, is 177,206 dollars.
| "The number of scholars receiving instruction | 70,599 |
| The number of pupils attending private schools in those towns | 12,393 |
| At an expense of 170,342 dollars. | |
"The number of persons in those towns, between the ages of 14 and 21, unable to read and write, is 58.
"In the town of Hancock, in Berkshire county, there are only 3 persons between 14 and 21 who cannot read and write; and they are mutes."—American Annual Register.
Rhode Island.—"In January, 1828, the legislature appropriated 10,000 dollars annually for the support of public schools, to be divided among the several towns, in proportion to the population, with authority for each town to raise, by annual tax, double the amount received from the Treasury, as its proportion of the 10,000 dollars.
"There has been as yet no report of the number of school establishments under the act, but it is thought that they may safely be put down at 60, as all the towns have availed themselves of its provisions. The whole number of schools in the State now probably exceeds 650."—American Almanack.
| The white population in 1830 | 93,621 |
| The coloured | 3,578 |
Connecticut.—The revenue derived from the school fund amounted to 80,243 dollars. The State is divided into 208 school societies, which contained in the aggregate 84,899 children, between the ages of 4 and 16.
| The white population in 1830 | 289,603 |
| The coloured | 8,072 |
New York.
| The number of school districts was | 8,609 |
| Number of children between 5 and 15 | 449,113 |
| Number of children taught in the schools | 468,205 |
This estimate does not include the scholars instructed in the two great cities, New York and Albany.
| Dollars. | |
| Amount paid to the districts | 232,343 |
| Of this, there came out of the Treasury | 100,000 |
| Raised by tax upon the towns | 119,209 |
| From a local fund | 13,133 |
| Voluntary tax by the towns | 19,209 |
Pennsylvania.—This State was in the rear. Not above 9,000 children were educated at the public charge, of about 16,000 dollars.
| The white population in 1830 | 1,309,900 |
| The coloured | 38,333 |
New Jersey.—A fund of 222,000 dollars being realised, a system of Common School education was about to be put in action; an appropriation of 20,000 dollars per annum being ordered to be distributed among the towns for that purpose.
Ohio.—In Cincinnati, the first anniversary of free-schools was kept in 1830. Three thousand pupils belonged to the free-schools of Cincinnati. The amount of the school-tax was about 10,000 dollars.
Indiana.—A committee of the legislature was appointed to consider and report upon the expediency of adopting the Common School system.
| The white population in 1830 | 339,399 |
| The coloured | 3,632 |
Illinois contained less than 160,000 persons in 1830, and had no public schools.
The Slave States in 1830.
Maryland.—Provision was made for the establishment of Primary Schools throughout the State. One was opened in Baltimore in 1829.
There were 8 or 10 academies, which received annually from 400 to 600 dollars from the Treasury of the State.
| Grants to the University of Maryland | 5,000 | dollars. |
| Grants to Colleges, Academies, and Schools | 13,000 |
Delaware.—A law ordaining the establishment of a Common School system was passed in 1829, and the counties were being divided into districts in 1830.
North Carolina had a literary fund of 70,000 dollars; but nothing had yet been done towards applying it.
Virginia.—No free-schools.
South Carolina.—"It appeared by a Report of a Committee on Schools, that the number of public schools established in the State was 513, wherein 5,361 scholars were educated at the annual expense of 35,310 dollars."
"The benefit derived from this appropriation," says the governor, "is partial, founded on no principle, and arbitrarily dispensed by the Commissioners. If the fund could be so managed as to educate thoroughly a given number of young men, and to require them afterwards to teach for a limited time, as an equivalent, the effects would soon be seen and felt."—American Annual Register.
| The white population in 1830 | 257,863 |
| The coloured | 323,322 |
Georgia.—The appropriations for county academies amounted to 14,302 dollars: and the poor school fund, 742 dollars.
| The white population in 1830 | 296,806 |
| The coloured | 220,017 |
Alabama.—No schools.
Mississippi.—No schools.
Missouri.—No schools.
Louisiana.—Instead of schools, a law making imprisonment the punishment of teaching a slave to read.
Tennessee.—A fund is set to accumulate for the purpose of hereafter encouraging schools, colleges, and academies.
Kentucky.—The Common School system was established by law, and provisions made for the division of the counties into districts, and the levying of the poll and property taxes for the purpose.
"The Louisville Advertiser announces the establishment by that city of a school at the public expense, stated to be the first south of the Ohio. It is opened to the children of all the citizens. The number of pupils entered is 300."—American Annual Register.
The Free States in 1833 to 1835.
Maine, 1835.
| Annual expenditure for free-schools | 156,000 | dollars. |
| Aggregate number of pupils | 106,000 | |
| Academies, 12; Colleges, 2. | ||
New Hampshire, 1835.—Amount expended on primary schools, 101,000 dollars.
Massachusetts, 1834.—Returns not received from 44 towns out of 261.
| Boys, between 4 and 16 years, attending school | 67,499 | |
| Girls, of the same age | 63,728 | |
| Number of persons, between 16 and 21, unable to read and write | 158 | |
| Number of male teachers | 1,967 | |
| Number of female teachers | 2,388 | |
| Amount of school-money raised by tax | 310,178 | dollars. |
| Amount of school-money raised by contribution | 15,141 | |
| Average number of scholars attending academies and private schools | 24,749 | |
| Estimated amount paid for tuition in academies and private schools | 276,575 | dollars. |
Rhode Island, 1835.
| Revenue from school tax | 10,000 | dollars. |
| Permanent school fund | 50,000 | |
| Amount raised by the towns besides | 11,490 | |
| Public Schools in the State (in 1832) | 324 | |
| Children educated in them | 17,114 | |
| Private schools | 220 | |
| Scholars in them | 8,007 | |
| Estimated expense of private schools | 81,375 | dollars. |
Connecticut.—The capital of the School Fund on the 1st of April, 1833, amounted to 1,929,738 dollars: and the dividend, in 1834, was at the rate of one dollar to each child in the State, between the ages of 4 and 16. Number of such children, under the returns,—83,912.
New York, 1835.
| School-houses | 9,580 | |
| Public school money | 316,153 | dollars. |
| Paid besides to teachers | 398,137 | |
Number of children receiving instruction in the Common Schools, 534,002, being 50 to 51 of the whole population.
Pennsylvania.—There had been difficulties about putting the act in operation; and no returns had been made in 1835.
Ohio.—"Our system of Common Schools has not advanced with the rapidity that was anticipated. It was at first unpopular with the people in some parts of the State; but it has gradually become more and more in favour with them. Its utility is now acknowledged."—Governor's Message, Dec. 6, 1834.
Nothing more done in the Slave States.
SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
The Reports of the Sunday School Union up to May, 1835, show that there are, or have been, connected with it, (besides a large number of unassociated schools,) upwards of 16,000 schools, 115,000 teachers, and 799,000 pupils. The officers and managers are all laymen.
COLLEGES.
| Colleges in the United States | 79 |
| The number of students varying from 15 to 523. | |
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARIES.
| Theological Seminaries in the United States | 31 |
| Number of students varying from 1 to 152. | |
MEDICAL SCHOOLS.
| Medical Schools in the United States | 23 |
| Number of students varying from 18 to 392. | |
LAW SCHOOLS.
| Law Schools in the United States | 9 |
| Number of students varying from 6 to 36. | |