EDUCATION. Arkansas. like the other Southern States, has labored in the face of very unfavor able conditions for the establishment of ade quate schools. There is a very large and widely scattered rural population, and the experience of every State bears testimony to the difficulty of the solution of the rural educational problem. The average length of the school term (about 70 days) is less than that of any other State, with one or two possible exceptions. Of a school popu lation of 349.000 whites (1900), 230,000 were enrolled and 142.000 were in average attendance; while of 135,000 blacks, S4,000 were enrolled, and 52.000 were in average attendance. Of the total school population 65 per cent, were enrolled, and 62 per cent. of these were in average attendance. The excellence of the schools varies with the com munity, each being dependent almost wholly upon itself for financial support. The school interests are in the hoods of local school directors. The
State has a permanent school fund of $1,118.709. The interest on this, together with the amounts arising from the 2 mills State school tax and other sources. aggregates nearly $500,000 an nually, and constitutes the common school fund, which is apportioned among the various coun ties. The district tax in 1900 amounted to 000 end the poll tax to $163.000; making a total school revenue of nearly $1,500,000 as against an expenditure of $1.369.000. Of the 6959 teachers employed. 4152 are males. a larger proportion than in any other State. There are twenty-four secondary schools in the State. A State Uni versity is situated at Fayetteville. There are no State normal schools, hut private enterprise has provided several answering their purpose. Pri vate and seetarian interests also maintain several small colleges, six of which are for the educa tion of the colored race.