Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-03-01

generally at the start. There would be
much friction and many objections, and it
might take years to get it to operate in its
entirety. But no State would long hesitate
II 1t was deprived of the aid from the Ma
tional Government, and the teachers would
soon qualify themselves IN this particular
branch, so that every enumerator would
be in measure an expert. Examinations,
records and school years would be modi-
fed, enlarged or changed to conform TO
the general plan, and after a few annual
returns only partially successful, the sys-
ten OF an annual census, complete and &C.
curate, would begin TO assume shape as a
harmonious whole. 1t is probable that
cities where many female teachers are
employed would offer at first
considerable difficulty, but even
that would, in time, be mainly
overcome by keeping a system of records
and registrations. And then the special
supplementary work in certain lines of in
dustry would have to be carried on by the
Federal Government. through experts, as
now. But even the necessity of that would
lessen year by year.
Let me now elucidate some of the adj
vantages to be gained from system of an
nual censuses gathered by the teachers, and
returned through the educational authority
of the State.
1. 1t would unity the different school
systems of the country, without danger of
centraliEing them under one administra-
ton Methods and systems would be IN
consciously drawn closer together, and
would derive mutual strength from the
contact.
Statistics themselves would become
force in education. and lead to a closer
study of civil government and political
economy, thus indirectly elevating the
standard of citizenship.
A large branch of the civil service
would be taken out of politics, and the
dangers of the spoils system lessened to
that extent.
A. 1t would provide the public service
with an efficient army of non partisan Of
ficials. whose integrity and ability are
guaranteed by special certificates
5. 1t would furnish the means of not
only securing annual reports, but of keep
ing constant records available at any time.
Each teacher would keep sort of intelli-
gence bureau for the district taking note
| of all changes, not only of population, bat
of establishments, OF vital statistics, of
| migrations, of acreage, productions, etc.
| 6. The people would soon become fami-
| liar with the kind of intelligence required,
and would realize the importance of accu-
rate returns and learn to answer more
freely and fully.
| These suggestions will undoubtedly be
met with the objection that they are
| imprac icaole, but l am constrained to
| think that they would be found entirely
practical if tried. Even under what little
| latitude the present census law allows. it
might be demonstrated whether or not the
plan is feasible, so far as the mechanical
| execution of il is concerned
| Take, for instance, State like California,
| whose school year ends on the Both of
June, which requires annual reports about
! the time the census is to be taken. Let
| the Supervisor of Census select one or
more counties that have a continuous sum-
mer term of school, and appoint the
| teacher in each district the enumerator of
that district. In one or two days work the
report will be completed and forwarded 10
the Supervisor. What objection is there to
| trying the experiment? Some teachers
would, undoubtedly, refuse to act; but
many would be glad of the opportunity.
Enough would serve to show with what
expedition and accuracy the reports could
| be made, and be of value to future trials.
! Except for the purpose of apportioning
| Representatives to the several States, the
| object of the census is purely educational.
| The facts gathered and compiled are pub
| lished for the benefit of the people and
! their Government. Such publication en-
ables them to shape the policy of the Gov
| eminent for the best interests of the ma
| jority. 1t also enables the representative
citizen to acquaint himself with what may
be to his advantage. Is not the object of
all education the same?
| How senseless does it appear, then, to see
the national authority putting forth great
efforts at great expense to ascertain facts
many of which the local Government is
! gathering at the same time by means of
| another set of officers. And both are
working for the same object, viz: The edu-
| cation of the people and more intelligent
government Perhaps under no other sys-
| tenn of government would such an anoma-
lous condition be possible 1. e., of the Cen
trail Government being prevented by
sentiment. prejudice or diseonnection
from availing itself of the services
of local officers. The teachers are
moro widely and evenly distributed
| than the members of any other class or
profession They are better fitted by
training for this kind of work than
any other class of people. The nature of
their work gives them better opportunities
and more leisure to perform these duties
than any other class.
l cannot attempt in this article TO even
approximate to the probable cost of an an
nual census by this method, but can give
some CONGRATULATIONS which may be &C.
cepted or rejected by each reader at his
own discretion. The National Govern
ment may well afford to appropriate sew
eral millions of dollars each year in school
bounties to those States which will, in re-
turn, furnish the Government certain sta
tistics
If such appropriations are made this
winter, and the States of California, Michi-
gan and Kansas should accept the PROPOSE
ton, it is my opinion that in less than
three wears each of those States would be
furnishing much more complete and accu-
rate statistics than are now gathered BY the
census, without dollars additional cost
to the State. More than this. at the end of
three years each State would have more
efficient corps of teachers and more con-
| scientious performance of duties.
J. NJ. EDDY.
Eureka, Cal, January s, 1890.
DoNT take any chances with stubborn
cold, but get rid of it nationally with the
F, aid of DR.. Jayne's Expectorant, healing
=