Annual Report of the Superintendent of Public Schools of the State of New Jersey for the Year 1863

Trenton, New Jersey: Printed by David Naar, "True American" Office, 1864. Near Fine condition. Clean and tight. Three tiny chips near the spine. A very attractive copy, remarkably well preserved, especially considering the age (published 1864) and fragility of its thin paper binding. SEE PHOTOS. NO foxing. NO underlining. NO highlighting. NO margin notes. Includes Ricord's report to Joel Parker, Governor of New Jersey, on the condition of the state's public schools. A substantial appendix lists reports by the various town superintendents in each of 21 counties from Atlantic to Warren. Since this report was published while the Civil War was still being fought, the section on "Schools for Colored Children" may be of some interest: "There is no section of the law nor any decision of the courts that deprives colored children of the advantages of public school instruction… it shall be the duty of the trustees of the several school districts to apply the money apportioned … to the establishing and maintaining of free schools … in which shall be taught… all the children… the law makes no distinction between children of one nationality, or race, and children of another…" A fold-out chart (SEE PHOTO) lists 27 key education statistics for each of the state's 21 counties. For example, one column records the "Number of colored children who have attended school" in each county, and a statewide total (3,029). There are also figures by county for the number of students and teachers; average daily attendance; average teacher salaries for males vs. females; etc. Bound in the original tan printed wraps.. First Edition. Softcover. Near Fine condition. 175pp.