If the numbers in the Reform School, the benevolent institutions of the State, and the Orphan Asylums of Milwaukee are added to the foregoing, we find that at least 262,000 of the youth of the State have received more or less school instruction during the past year. We may, from data collected in the reports, form an estimate of the amount of absenteeism. The whole number of persons over 4 and under 20 years of age in the State is 371,083. From this number let us deduct for the blind, deaf and dumb, insane, idiotic and others unable, from various causes, to attend school in any one year, 10 per cent. This reduces the number to 333,775. From this number we have to deduct those over 4 and under 20 years of age, who have attended the public schools, together with those who attended private schools, Academies, Colleges, the Normal School, and those in the Soldiers' Orphans' Home, the Reform School and the other public and private benevolent institutions in the State, leaving an aggreg of 255,631, which shows that 78,344 persons over 4 and under 20 years of age have not been in school during the past year. is But as no child should attend school until he is 6 years of age, and as very few can after they are 17, let us ascertain the number between these ages. The number over 4 and under 6 years of age together with the number over 17 and less than 20 years of a ge 31.26 per cent. of the number between the ages of 4 and 20 years: hence the number over 6 and less than 17 years of age, who have not attended any of the schools reported to this Department during the past year is 53,858. After making liberal deductions for those attending private and denominational schools not reported; for those living where public schools are not yet organized; and for those enumerated, but whose parents have not been able to send them to school during the past year, or who are receiving their education at home, we must conclude that at least 25,000 persons over 6 and under 17 years of age, who ought to have been attending the schools during the last year have not attended them a single day. We are not to infer from this deduction that so large a number are year after year growing up in ignorance, for some of these will doubtless attend school next year; but, in whatever light we view the fact, we caunot escape the conviction that it is from this part of our population that our criminals will come, and that to punish and reform them then, will cost much more than it would to educate them now. FINANCIAL STATISTICS. The amount received during the year ending August 31, 1867, for the support of public schools, as reported by county superintendents, is as follows: Deducting from total receipts for 1867, the amount on hand August 31, 1866, and the amount of income of the school fund as re ported, and we find the amount raised by tax for public schools, in 1866, to be $1,503,378. This is $391,059 more than was raised the preceding year. The following statement shows (1) the aggregate valuation of the property of the state from 1857 to 1866, inclusive, (2) he amounts annually raised by tax for the support of public s the number of mills raised for each dollar of val 150,000,0 n ind, (3) ,161 0.85 The amount expended for each person of school age in 1867, was The amount expended for each person registered in the public schools... The amount raised by tax for each person over four and under 20 years of age in 1866, was.... $4 08 4 09 6 34 The average cost of tuition per day including expenses, was In 1867 In 1866 Increase.. Average cost of tuition per month (of 22 days), was In 1867 In 1866 Increase.... $0,089 0,076 80,013 $1.96 1 67 $0.29 II.-EDUCATIONAL FUNDS. The productive educational trust funds of the State were, on the 30th day of September, 1867, as follows: Common School Fund.. University Fund.. Normal School Fund.. Agricultural College Fund.. Total... $2,096,307 60 193,884 88 602,791 92 18,417 00 $2,911,401 40 These funds are drawing interest at the rate of seven per cent. per annum, and are invested as follows: By the courtesy of J. A. Bate, Esq., chief clerk of the Land Office, I am enabled to furnish the following statement of the nonproductive educational trust funds, consisting of lands owned by the State, and for sale, September 30, 1867: There are in addition to the foregoing, 70,000 acres of land to be equally divided between the Drainage and Normal School Funds, which have not yet been brought into market. III. SCHOOL FUND. The school fund consists of— 1. The proceeds of all lands that have been or hereafter may be granted by the United States to this state for educational purposes, (except the lands granted for the purposes of a University. 2. All moneys, and the clear proceeds of all property that may accrue to the state by forfeiture or escheat. 3. All moneys that may be paid as an equivalent for exemption from military duty. 4. The clear proceeds of all fines collected in the several counties for any breach of the penal laws. 5. All moneys arising from any grant to the state where the purposes of such grant are not specified. 6. 7. The five hundred thousand acres of land granted by Congress under an act approved September 4, 1841; and The five per centum of the net proceeds of the sales of public lands within the state. The productive School Fund, on the 30th of September, 1867, was as follows: Amount due on certificates of sale,.. Total.... $535,015 56 166,392 04 1,394,900 00 $2,096,307 60 This amount is $18,584 57 less than the amount reported last year, but as an overpayment of $80,703 25 was included in the productive fund of 1866, and which has since been refunded, there is an actual increase of the fund, (after deducting $352 01 paid to counties for taxes collected by the state, and $1,047 78 refunded for overpayments in the transactions of the past year) of $35,118 68and there remains a balance not yet invested of $31,869 25. The amount due on certificates of sales is $19,335 18 less than was reported last year, and the amount due on mortgages is $26,249 39 less. These changes will be understood from the following statement : Amount due on certificates of sale, Sept 30, 1866 $554,350 74 The receipts and disbursements of the school fund during the past fiscal year were as follows: |