A GRADUATED TABLE, &c. In preparing the following Table, the Income of the Surplus Revenue, whenever appropriated for the support of the Public Schools, has been added to the amount of money granted by the town and raised by a direct tax;—the former being as really a contribution as the latter, for the education of the children, and, like the latter, being expended for the benefit of all. The amount voluntarily contributed for board and fuel is not included in the estimate. The considerations pertaining to this item fall under a different head. These contributions depend upon the will of the inhabitants of the several districts; and, of course, they fluctuate with that will. While, in some districts, much may be contributed,-in others, there will be little; and, in others, nothing. So, too, these contributions vary greatly, from year to year, in the same district. Now, as it is obvious that the only sure and permanent reliance of all the children in the town, for an education, is upon the town appropriations,—those modes of sustaining the schools which do not combine permanence and universality of advantages, are greatly inferior in value. Still, however, such voluntary contributions modify the town's apparent liberality; and they are therefore exhibited in the Table. They show what amount of money was expended, in the town, for Public Schools; but they do not show whether the children of all, or of only a few of the districts, participated in its benefits. These are Neither is the Income from Local Funds included in the estimate. usually the proceeds of donations which were not made for the purpose of relieving the towns from a pecuniary burden, but for the purpose of increasing the educational advantages of the children;-not to be subtracted from, but added to, what the towns would otherwise grant. No mention, therefore, is made, in this connection, of the Income from Local Funds. Against the name of each town, at its left hand, is set, not only the No. which indicates its relative liberality, as compared with other towns in the State, in raising money for the support of schools for the year 1845-6, but also the No. which indicated its relative standing for the preceding year,—that of 1844-5. It may thus be seen at a glance, in regard to any town, whether it has risen or fallen in the scale of merit, since the last year. For instance, Brookline, which was No. 2, last year, is No. 1, this year; and Nantucket, which was No. 15, last year, is No. 2, this year; and so of the rest. |