CHAPTER I. GENERAL SUMMARY OF CONDITION OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS. COURSE OF STUDY FOR IOWA SCHOOLS. SUMMARY OF LEGISLATIVE ENACTMENTS. PROPOSED LEGISLATION. EXPRESSION OF OPINION AND APPRECIATION. STATE OF IOWA DEPARTMENT OF Public Instruction. THIRTY-FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. INTRODUCTION. The statute requires the report to contain a statement of the condition of the common schools in the state, the number of school townships, and districts therein, number of independent districts, number of teachers, number of schools, number of school houses and value thereof, number of persons of school age, number of scholars in each county attending school the previous year, number of books in district libraries, the value of all apparatus in schools, and such other statistical information as may be of public importance. It is also required that plans matured or adopted for the more perfect organization and efficiency of the common schools; "and any suggestions he may deem important regarding further legislation, which will strengthen the common schools of the state," shall be given. In compliance with the law which requires a statement showing the number of school townships, etc., the following table giving statistics from the admission of the state to the present time is presented: |