The so-called public schools, although differing widely as to
efficiency between new States and old States, between rich States and
poor States, all conform closely to a traditional type, except so far
as differences arise according as schools are in sparsely or in densely
settled districts through the opportunity for grading the pupils
which exists in the latter case. As regards, however, schools giving
instruction higher than or other than that given in the ordinary
public school, the greatest and most confusing differences exist as
to designation, organization, and schemes of instruction.
The following table (XL.) presents the results of the compilations
of the statistics of schools of the various classes by the United
States Bureau of Education:—
Schools.
Teachers.
Pupils.
Normal schools
153
1394
40,325
Commercial and business colleges
239
1040
47,176
Kindergartens
417
945
21,640
Institutions for secondary instruction
1440
7566
151,050
Preparatory schools
197
1434
21,031
Institutions for superior instruction of women
204
2123
27,143
Universities and colleges
345
4720
67,642
Schools of science
90
974
10,532
Schools of theology
142
803
6,344
Schools of law
49
283
3,054
Schools of medicine, of dentistry, and of pharmacy
175
2829
16,407
Training schools for nurses
29
139
837
Institutions for deaf and dumb
61
596
7,411
Institutions for the blind
29
623
2,412
Schools for feeble-minded children
16
636
2,942
Reform schools
43
877
9,213
Industrial and manual training schools
63
582
13,300
Religion.
The census has since 1850 attempted to obtain the number of
church edifices, with the aggregate number of sittings, belonging
to each principal sect or denomination. The results have not been
highly satisfactory, either as to accuracy or as to classification. At
the census of 1880 the attempt to collect the statistics of churches
proved an almost total failure. It seems best, therefore, to adopt, for
the present purpose, the figures (Table XLI.) presented by the
representatives of the various denominations, as they have been revised
and digested by a competent authority, the Rev. Dr W. H. Dupuy,
only adding the remark that no statement of this kind can be made
to meet the views of all persons interested. The statement of Dr
Dupuy does not include the Roman Catholic Church, whose authorities
claim from six and a half to seven millions of adherents.
