New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-07-14
VALUE OF EDUCATIONAL STATISTICS.
WRITTEN REpoP~ PA 'sIs BEFORE THE NATIONAL
c. NCIL r EDUCATION.
lar TEL.-D..arH TO THE TnIBUNE-1

tBr TEi-,...aTh To THE Tribune
SARATOGA July 13.-The National Council
of Education listened to-day to paper on School Re-
ports" written by John d. Phihrck OF Danvers Mass
chairman OF the Committee Educational Literature.
and read for him by r. u. stockwcll. The committee
also included W. T. Sheldon The paper was discussed
by Messrs. Hewitt, Ronds. Boyden, HoOsc, White.
Thompson. Tappan. stockwcll Cove Sheldon. Payne,
Smart. Hancock, Lyon and Eatoc The summary Of
recommendations and suggestions offered in II is fol-
lows
That all State reports be annual that NIL county super
inendents make annual written reports 10 be- included
In state reports printed separately Tor inc counties or
districts that all city boards supcrntcndents print
annual reports for the use 81 the Inhabitants oil the
cities that school boards Of townships where there afc
county superLendcnis print annual reports that all
reports printed III pamphlet form OF the Ordinary
bound and all index and begin with statistical
SUMMARY; that the State reports contain the actual
OF the State approximate date distinguishing be-
rural ami urban schools and city reports contain
school OF each grade to eliminate false averages from
Statistics that tue reports maintain the distinction OF
State regulate the number OF state reports
TO be printed aud distribute them to the departments ~
education In other States to normal schools eyes
public libraries tine educational newspapers and other
presons bodies as the superintendent may see IT.
The paper read at the afternoon session one OF
considerable importance and caused good deal OF dis
cusson II read by t. W. Nicknell, o. Boston, the
subject being Educational Statistics
The value OF statistics said he, depends first, the
proper classification adopted second the uniformity
thorOugness collection Of data, and fourth. the
careful collection Of the facts under their proper classes
Their to measure certain conditions ana move
nents In society. and determine the value an sgnin
OF the factors employed As the evidence of pro
the ground OF many Of the moral and social move
nents OF the "a AN argument to use AGAINST enemies
and indictment to efficiency the
part OF school officers statistics are or great value.
The status OF population ana education as related 10
each other should be- frequently determined For
general purposes a nomenclature aud uniform
terms snoui be used In regard 10 the same grades OF IN
XII
satisfaction: Elementary education secondary ednca-
ton high education and professional education. The
rst applies training furnished by primary inermedi
grammar aud district or graded schools; secondary
education should Include graded schools, high
schools academies and senIinares higher education
includes that OF colleges. universities etc aud pofes-
sional education the training OF normal school Jaw;
medical, theological. polytechnic art and industrial
schools BY these AT home and abroad we have
classification by when we may compare the wofG Oh
towns cities States aud Nations without such uniform
terms get no definite Ideas as the names OF the dier
localities
The committee recommends that elementary education
be included within the rst eight years or grades D school
work, excluding kindergarten and infant instruction.
secondary education include the next onf years or
grades, higher education the next FOUR an professional
special. education include three years above or co
be taken as the unit In reports The committee would
suggest that AS supplement, TO the decennal National
school each state should take an annual censns
The population registration should include additional
data color, nativity occupation aud eracy or
obtain the following important statistics: Number OF
by years under twenty pne the OF tne
OF other state. child population to
each loo people, children, male ana fenae OF Ameri
foreign white and cOlOred parenage. average
laton to square mile. average school population 10
square MILE child population ard population oil Cities
etc.
lively discussion took place on the question whether
1t was better eEumerate children under twenty one
years OF ago or OF stated period Of from six Ia six
After foil explanation tho Council approved tho
connttccs report recommending the enumeration OF all
Under twenty-onc years There general approval OF
the committees endaton TO have full census
with vital statistics on which sanitary measures coulu
be based well population. details OF buildings,
FINANCE, etc.