schools of the district by the direction of the board of education, but that is allowable under the school law, as the same has been construed. Nothing contained in the bill shows the school is not an English school, in which the common medium of instruction is the English language. The mere fact the German language is one of the branches of study prescribed does not change its character as an English school.

"The judgment of the Appellate Court will be affirmed.

Judgment affirmed.

"WALKER, J.: I fail to find any authority in the statute empow ering the directors of schools to permit the teaching of anything but the English branches of a common school education in the common schools. In the absence of such statutory authority, I think the directors are powerless to authorize the teaching of any foreign language, and I think the judgment of the Appellate Court should be reversed."

APPENDIX.

[Attention is directed to some matters in the APPENDIX.]

THE ILLINOIS INDUSTRIAL UNIVERSITY.

At the head of the public school system of the State stands the Illinois Industrial University. For an account in detail of the work and facilities of the University, I refer all interested to the Regent's report, page 3, Appendix, and to the catalogue of the University, and the report of its_Trustees, which may be had on application to Dr. S. H. Peabody, Regent, Champaign, Illinois. In the early history of the University I was a member of its Board of Trustees, and I have watched its progress and growth from the beginning, with great interest. Broad foundations were laid in the outset, such being required, it is believed, to fulfil the spirit and the letter of the laws under which the institution was established; and the work has been continued in substantial accordance with the plans first adopted.

There are now attending the University:

Preparatory department

Freshmen class.

Sophomore class

Junior class..

Senior class

Whole number in University proper..
Resident graduates...

70

111

68

59

37

275

5

Total attendance.

350

I know of no institution in the country so young as this, which can make so good a showing. The institution has, too, a large and efficient corps of instructors, and abundant facilities and appliances for the use of teachers and students. But now the Trustees, having done so much and done it so well, find staring them in the face a difficulty for which they are in no way responsible: The abundant prosperity of our country has made money plenty and rates of interest correspondingly low; and the investments of the Institution bring now but little if any more than one-half as much as they did ten years ago, and their total income has in this way been reduced about one-third. Two years ago, the legislature appropriated $5,700 per annum for the current expenses of the Institution. I am of the opinion that it would have been wise to have given the Trustees a

larger amount then. When they come before the next Legislature for further appropriations, they will be obliged to ask for more than they asked for two years ago, since their necessities will be greater. The State of Michigan appropriated for the current expenses of Michigan University $31,500, and for the current expenses of its State Agricultural College $3,624. Less than half the amount which Michigan gives the two annually would meet satisfactorily the needs of our own University.

Having recognized a University as a legitimate part of our school system, and having accepted the grants of the general Government, and established a University which has, while yet in its youth, won its place among the schools for superior instruction in the country, we shall but act the part of wise men in giving that support which our material prosperity warrants us in giving, and which our voluntarily assumed obligations, as well as a due regard for our own interests, demands that we shall give.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS NORMAL UNIVERSITY.

This school for the training and education of teachers, though not so largely attended as the State Normal University, owing chiefly, no doubt, to the fact that the southern portion of the State is more sparsely populated than the central and northern parts are, is steadily gaining friends, as its excellent facilities for preparing its students to teach are becoming better known. It is supplying a longfelt want of that section of the State for a school for training young men and women for teachers. In my judgment it merits, and I bespeak for it, the appropriation needed for its continued and increasing usefulness.

STATE CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

As the law requires, I have visited such of the charitable institutions of the State as are educational in their character, and I take pleasure in saying that they seem to me to be doing for the education of those committed to their care all that could reasonably be expected of them. In fact, I found that much more was accomplished in this direction in several of them than I had supposed possible. I was highly gratified to learn that our State has made such liberal provision for the education of those of its citizens needing special care and attention.

Believing as I do, that many of the unfortunate of the State can be helped by instruction, and made self-supporting or capable of aiding in their support, I respectfully commend the institutions established for their benefit to the favorable consideration of the General Assembly.

It will be observed that the report of the Illinois Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb includes the Proceedings of the Tenth Convention of the American Instructors of the Deaf and Dumb. The meeting was one of more than ordinary interest and importance, and for this reason it was thought proper to give its

proceedings in full, in order to show the extent and character of this branch of public education. Very many will, I believe, find these proceedings of special interest.

COLLEGES, SEMINARIES AND ACADEMIES.

It will be noticed that the number of these institutions reporting is much larger than heretofore, and it is to be hoped that all of the chartered institutions of learning of the State will comply with the law relative to such reports.

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS' REPORTS.

I desire to call the attention of all interested in learning the condition of the schools of the State to these reports, since they are prepared in most cases by persons who are in a position to know their condition, and who are qualified to give an intelligent opinion of the school interests of their respective counties.

SKETCH OF THE PERMANENT PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDS OF

ILLINOIS.

By W. L. PILLSBURY.

Illinois has two classes of permanent public school funds. Funds of the first class are trust funds, and consist either of moneys received from the general government, or of lands received from the same source, and the proceeds of the sale of such of these lands as have been sold. Funds of the second class consist of moneys which the State has by law set apart for the use of the schools. The term, permanent funds, is used because the income only may be expended.

The funds of the first class are:

1. The Township Fund.

2. The Seminary Fund.

3. The School Fund Proper.

4. The College Fund.

5. The Illinois Industrial University Fund.

The funds of the second class are:

6. The Surplus Revenue Fund.

7. The County Funds.

THE TOWNSHIP FUNDS.

By the treaty of Paris, the Mississippi was fixed as the western boundary of the United States. Many of the colonies had claims, more or less definite, to the unsettled territory on their west, but in accordance with recommendations and resolutions of Congress, these unappropriated lands were ceded or relinquished to the United States by the separate States. The cession by Virginia, March 1, 1784, exclusive of Kentucky, contained 265,562 square miles, including what was known, a little later, as the Northwest Territory. The policy of reserving a part of this domain to promote education among the settlers in the new country, was adopted in the first act providing for the survey and sale of the land.