RECAPITULATION. Number of schools in 128 counties and towns, (column 1,) of poor children in 105 counties and towns, (column 2,) sent to schools in 125 counties, (column 3,) Total number of poor children educated in 129 counties and towns, 3,972 65,370 30,763 31,486 Amount expended for tuition of poor children at the common and Lancasterian and other schools, including books, compensation to officers, and all other expenses, (column 5,) $69,196 83 Average actual attendance of each poor child at common schools, 54 days-equal to nearly eleven weeks in the year. Average cost per annum of tuition and expenses of each poor child sent to common and Lancasterian schools, about $2 20. Average cost per diem of tuition and expenses of each poor child sent to common and Lancasterian schools, about four cents. 5 E. E. J. BROWN, JR. In the Counties in which they have been established, during the year ending 30th September 1850. COUNTIES AND CORPORATIONS. Henry county, under act of Feb. 25th, 1846, chap. 42, 23 120 98 1797 Jefferson county, under acts Feb. 25th, '46, c. 42, and Mar. 20, '47, c. 32, 23 278 26 Kanawha county, under act of Feb. 25th, '46, c. 42, 73 70 4017 King George county, under act of 8th March 1849, ch. 113, GILEEN&No. of districts. 11726 62338 60 7002 39 68068 95 RECAPITULATION. No. of districts, (returns incomplete.) No. of schools in nine counties and two towns, 251 General average salary of teachers per year in 8 counties and 2 towns, $227 40 each. Whole number of children at school during the year in 10 counties and 2 towns, 11,726 General average cost of each pupil, $5.80 Aggregate number of days attendance at school, (returns incomplete.) Local funds derived from taxes, contributions, &c. in 8 counties and 2 towns, $62,338 60 Amount applied out of school quotas in 9 counties and 1 town, 7,002 39 Total cost of teachers' salaries and all other expenses in 9 counties and 2 towns, 68,068 95 E. E. J. BROWN, JR. NOTE-A more complete exhibit of the district free school operations cannot be made, owing to the incompleteness and absence of detail in the reports received. Copies of said reports will be found under the names of the respective counties in Document M. [L.] EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORTS OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS, RELATING TO THE PRIMARY SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR EDUCATING THE INDIGENT CHILDREN OF THE STATE, IN 1850, WITH NAMES OF COMMISSIOERS. [Those printed in italics were present at the annual meetings of school commissioners.] ALBEMARLE.-The regulations of the board of commissioners, of a general nature, for the government of the commissioners, and for the introduction of uniformity in all the districts, as well as for the use of uniform elementary books, have been heretofore communicated, and have not since been materially altered. The school commissioners have varied much in the frequency of their visitations of the schools; and while this duty is believed to be essentially important, and attended with the happiest results when it is properly attended to, we regret to say that in many districts it has been neglected altogether; nor can we expect any change in this respect until the legislature shall manifest their sense of the important duties devolved upon their officers, by making some provision for paying them at least something for the time employed and the expense incurred in the performance of their duties. It is quite an anomaly in our system, that onerous duties are required, having fines imposed in case of failure to discharge them, and yet nothing paid for such services. The teachers in general are well qualified, by their good moral character and literary attainments, for the instruction of the children confided to their care, and the progress of the scholars generally is satisfactory-in some cases, indeed, highly gratifying. There is a steady, increasing desire on the part of parents to procure the benefit of this fund for the education of their children; and |